The government is to launch a special programme to provide drinking water to people in districts affected by the current dry weather, including Batticaloa, Monaragala and Ampara, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
The decision was taken at the third meeting of the Special Ministerial Sub-Committee and Officials’ Committee appointed to address the impacts of the El Niño climate phenomenon. The meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (17), chaired by Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi.
According to the PMD, the water distribution programme will be implemented through the respective district secretaries, with relevant officials to be informed of the arrangements.
The committee also discussed measures to be taken if dry conditions persist and groundwater levels decline further.
Action plans submitted by the plantation, agriculture, wildlife and water resources management sectors, which could be directly affected by El Niño conditions, were also reviewed.
The meeting considered forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology and measures to protect sectors that could be affected by the climate phenomenon.
Officials also emphasized the need to keep the public informed through the media about the latest developments related to El Niño.
Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister Dr. Susil Ranasinghe and Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe were among those who attended the meeting.
Chief of Presidential Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, who serves as secretary and convenor of the ministerial subcommittee and chairman of the officials’ committee, also attended, along with ministry secretaries, Meteorology Department Director General A.L.K. Wijemannage and other officials. (Newswire)