As many as 82,000 Tamils in Kilinochchi have been affected by drought in the region, according to a senior official from Sri Lanka’s District Disaster Management Centre.
According to the official, wells have run dry leading to a shortage of drinking water, with areas such as Poonakari, Kandavalai and Karachchi badly affected.
Tamil farmers in the region have also been suffering, with tanks and canals running dry. Wild elephants have also been reportedly coming into populated Tamil villages in search of water, causing damage to paddy fields and crops.
Drought has previously affected the island earlier this year and last year, with the North-East being the hardest hit.