News
A tale of two weather patterns
Blowing wet and dry– This is the current weather pattern being experienced in the country with monsoon rains in certain areas and drought conditions in others
Aluthgama: Rough seas due to monsoon weather
Meteorological Department Deputy director Anusha Warnasooriya told Sunday Times that heavy showers are to be expected from tomorrow, with the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, and North Western Provinces and districts such as Galle and Matara to get showers in the morning hours and certain areas of the Eastern, Uva, North Central and Northern Provinces to experience thunder showers..
Ms.Warnasooriya said according to data collated by the Met Department an average of 30 to 40mm of rain is expected within half an hour in these areas although there was no risk of flooding. She asked the people to be vigilant as the thunder showers will be accompanied by gusty winds.
Meanwhile Director (Development) of the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy and Media Spokesman, Sulakshana Jayawardena told Sunday Times that the current water levels in the main six reservoirs were adequate to produce the hydro power electricity generation required by the country.
He said the average water level of all six reservoirs was 48.3% — with Castlereagh at 73.7%, Maussakelle 76.7%, Kotmale 69.1%, Victoria 28.7%, Randenigala 27.2% and Samanalawewa 39.2%.
Explaining further Mr. Jayawardena said on a rainy day when there was a reduction in the demand for electricity there was an increase in the inflow of water to the reservoirs. On a hot day when there is an increase in the demand for electricity there is a reduction in the inflow of water.
All-island Farmers Federation national organiser Namal Karunaratne commenting on the effect of the recent weather pattern on the agricultural sector said in some areas only 40% to 50% of the land is being used for agriculture due to the inability to supply water to a larger area.
Puttalam : Going in search of drinking water. Pic by Hiran Priyankara
“The harvest this time around has reduced due to the lack of water in those areas,” he said. Mr. Karunaratne added that certain parts in some provinces had not received rain for the past few months–they included the Rajarata areas such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and from the Eastern district Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Some of the worst affected areas in the northern province, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Jaffna had not received much rainfall. In the North Western Province districts such as Kurunegala and Puttalam had not received rains affecting the crops in the area.
“I have received several telephone calls from farmers in Mahiyangana another area that has not received a drop of water. They are pleading for a solution for their crops,” he said. He said the Government’s policy on water was mainly to find solutions for potable or drinking water but it was essential with the change in weather patterns that the Government also looked at the crisis in the agriculture sector,
Dambulla: Working on parched farmland and below a farmer holds up a failed crop Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa