• La Niña affects Pacific Ocean temperatures and alters tropical rainfall patterns

By Huzefa Aliasger  

Sri Lanka is likely to experience less rainfall during the inter-monsoon and Northeast monsoon period, which starts from October to February, due to the event of La Niña which occurs every three to five years, an official said.  

During a La Niña event, the changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures affect the patterns of tropical rainfall, these changes in tropical rainfall patterns affect weather patterns throughout the world. This is forecast to reduce the average rainfall for the inter-monsoon season below 479 mm and the Northeast monsoon season below 558 mm.  

The Irrigation Department (ID) has reported that they plan to cultivate 756,897 acres of cultivation area for the upcoming 2024/25 Maha season, with 725,348 acres allocated for paddy and 31,548 acres for other field crops. 

 The Irrigation Department anticipates the water availability in major and medium reservoirs will be sufficient to support a successful 2024/25 Maha season.  

The Water Management Secretariat reports (WMS) water distribution for the 2024 Yala season is almost completed and water distribution for the 2024/25 Maha season will be started October 15 onwards and planning to cultivate 100 per cent of cultivation area.