• Animals in national parks hard hit without water  
• Livelihood of 50,000 farmers affected 

By Yohan Perera, Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk and Dayaratne Embogama   

Nearly 100,000 people from five districts - Jaffna, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Trincomalee and Ratnapura Districts were said to be affected without proper drinking water, the Disaster Mangement Centre said yesterday.   

Livelihood of some 50,000 farmers across the country was also affected due to lack of water, according to Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera. The minister ordered the relevant officials to estimate the damages caused to the crops due to the dry spell. Security was tightened in Matara as farmers were expected to walk into the private residence of Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera.   

Animals have also become victims of the prolonged dry spell with 106 small streams which are used by them at the Wilpattu National Park going dry.   

The animals in the area were reported to be suffering from thirst according to our correspondents who quoted park authorities.   

Major tanks and reservoirs including Udawalawa, Chandrika Wewa, Maduru Oya and Kalawera were said to be going dry.   

Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology forecast showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts during the coming days.