Sea temperature around Sri Lanka rises

The sea surface temperature around Sri Lanka increased by another degree Celsius amid the El Niño condition, the Department of Meteorology says.

The department stated that both daytime and nighttime temperatures are taking higher values due to this.

Meanwhile, severe warm conditions prevail during the daytime in the Eastern and North Central provinces, as well as in certain areas of the Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, and Monaragala districts.

The Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board stated that nearly 8,000 acres of crop damage occurred so far due to the dry weather affecting several provinces alongside the El Niño condition.

They point out that nearly 7,000 farmers were affected due to the destruction of their crops as a result of this.

Against this backdrop, Director of the Water Management Unit, Engineer Nilantha Dhanapala, mentioned that reservoirs under the management of the unit currently hold a 55% water capacity.

However, he requested farmers to begin cultivation activities for the Maha season during the upcoming rainfall period.

The Disaster Management Centre stated that 81,865 persons from 25,628 families in the Ampara, Badulla, Batticaloa, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura, and Hambantota districts were affected by the dry weather.