Lanka will face serious drinking water problem due to climate change, warns expert

By Saman Indrajith

Sri Lanka would face a severe drinking water problem in the coming years and the government must launch a programme to address it, Dr. Meththika Vithanage, Senior Lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura told the media yesterday in Colombo.

Climate change would be the main reason for water scarcity and the rainfall patterns had already changed, she said.

“We receive about 2,500 ml of rain a year, and we usually get this from May to September. However, because of climate change we might get all 2,500 ml of rain in May itself. We need to be ready for such an eventuality. A drinking water shortage is inevitable, especially in the dry zone,” she said.