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Drought looms over Hambantota

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka

Residents of Hambantota fear that their district could be heading for a drought again.

Hambantota District Secretary Ananda Amaratunga told the Daily News that the district has faced a water shortage as only a little rain was received during the April-May South West monsoon.

"If the district does not experience inter monsoon rains from end September to November, we will face a severe drought like last year," he said.

Director of the Meteorology Department N. A. Amaradasa is doubtful whether the Hambantota district will receive enough rain during July and August. If the district does not get rain from September to November, the district will face a drought.

He said that during April and May Puttalam and Mannar received good rain but Galle, Matara and Hambantota did not receive much rain.

District Secretary Amaratunga said that basically the Hambantota district is a dry area. If the inter-monsoon is delayed, the Maha cultivation in the District will be affected badly.

He said that arrangements have already been made to provide drinking water to residents in Lunugamwehera, Hambantota, Tissa, Tangalle and Suriyawewa areas.

People in the district have appealed to the Government to make a permanent arrangement to solve the water shortage by diverting a reservoir to the area.

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