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Drought in 7 districts: SSD seeks Rs. 1.8b for relief
The Social Services Department has sought an additional Rs. 1,865 million from the Treasury to provide relief measures to people affected by the drought in some parts in Sri Lanka, an official said.

He said about 442,000 people from seven districts had been hit by the drought with Anuradhapura being the worst-hit where some 158,000 had been affected and tanks had gone dry, with little or no agricultural activity.

He said the department had doled out Rs. 2,431 millions so far this year among the affected people in the drought-hit districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Badulla and Moneragala.

"The North Central Province and the adjoining provinces are in the throes of a severe drought right now and what we hear are stories of misery and compassion, as water is the most sought after commodity", he said.

In the Polonnaruwa district, Minneriya wewa had gone dry and unless water is supplied via the Mahaweli, the plight of the farming community would be left to their fate. The situation in Lahugala is bad too. The drought has already destroyed more than 600 acres of paddy land. In Ampara, the situation is no better with wells going dry and power cuts becoming regular.

As there is insufficient water to be issued to farmers from the Senanayake Samudraya, they are left with the only option of abandoning their fields. People from drought hit villages such as Keenawatta, Muwangala, Uksiripura and Galmaduwa have to travel to Galoya ganga for bathing purposes. Our Kataragama correspondent said a barrel of drinking water was sold at Rs. 50 in the area.

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