GALWELA YAYA, Sri Lanka – In the small village of Galwela Yaya, Ampara district, farmer A.M. Pathmasena, 48, is watching his well run dry for the first time in more than thirty years. The water that does seep in is barely enough for his family’s two cows and basic household needs.
El Niño drives historic drought
Weather experts warn that a “super” El Niño may become the strongest on record, bringing unusually warm Pacific sea‑surface temperatures that translate into severe dryness across South Asia. Sri Lanka’s north, east and southern regions have already seen rainfall deficits of 85%‑100% below long‑term averages.
Government officials say water levels in hundreds of tanks have fallen to roughly 10% of capacity. In response, the state has arranged truck deliveries of drinking water for tens of thousands of residents, but many remote households wait up to 23 days between deliveries.
Families scramble for water
Villagers gather at tube wells and line up with large blue plastic barrels to collect the last available water for bathing, cooking and washing. “We supplement the deliveries by gathering the last bit of water from our well, but even then we sometimes run out,” said 49‑year‑old Konara Mudiyanselage Sumanawathie of Monaragala, another hard‑hit district.
Farm incomes collapse
Before the drought, Pathmasena earned about 20,000 Sri Lankan rupees (≈ $60) a month growing cowpeas. The parched fields have stripped him of that income, forcing him to seek daily‑wage labor to survive. His son shut down a small chicken farm weeks ago because of the heat and water shortage.
“On some days, when we have nothing, we skip meals,” Pathmasena said, noting that he now must prioritize water for his cows before feeding his family.
Government response
Authorities continue to truck water to the most accessible villages every three to five days, while remote communities await longer intervals. Officials acknowledge the drought could be the worst in decades and are monitoring tank levels closely.
For families like the Pathmasenas, the combination of dwindling water supplies and lost farm revenue underscores how climate extremes are reshaping daily life in Sri Lanka’s rural heartland.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
