By Ajith Siriwardana   

Some 171,781 people belonging to 51,641 families in thirteen districts have been affected due to the dry weather conditions prevailing in the country, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.   

According to the DMC, the Northern and Eastern provinces have been severely affected due to drinking water scarcity where 75, 165 people from 23,568 families in the Northern Province and 63,131 people from 18,951 families in the Eastern Province were among those affected.   

The DMC said in its situation report that Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts in the Northern Province and Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts in the Eastern Province have been severely affected.   

Some 14,116 people from 4,039 families in the Ratnapura District in the Sabaragamuwa Province and 10,043 people in Puttalam and Kurunegala districts in the North Western Province have been affected due to drinking water scarcity.   

DMC said some 7,512 people from 1,513 families in Badulla and Moneragala districts in the Uva Province and 1,809 people from 1513 families in Hambantota District in the Southern Province have also been affected.     

• Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts in the Northern Province and Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts in the Eastern Province have been severely affected