Arid times in Sri Lanka this year.  We’re experiencing the worst drought for about 40 years and we’re doing a little rain dance, every day.

In Negombo, on the western coast of Sri Lanka the rainy season seemed to pass us by.  Usually, we experience heavy monsoon rains from October through to December, breathing life back into the soil, the plants and bringing a sense of renewal.

What actually happened was 1 night of very heavy rain in November and about 4 days of light drizzle – and nothing since.

What’s more, the scorching temperatures are causing havoc with our swimming pools, wells and plant life.  On the hottest day we can literally see a half inch of water evaporate from the swimming pool in front of our eyes.  It’s requires creativity to manage!

Scientists are saying that we’re unlikely to see proper rain until June or July 2017 and in general we can expect temperatures in the area to soar over the coming few years.  This really is climate change ‘in your face’ and it brings to life the absolute requirement for improved management of plastics and other waste.

How will drought affect our guests and other travellers? 

There are two things that travellers may notice.

  1.  Sri Lanka runs on Hydropower.  So, lack of water will create more country-wide power cuts (already seen in 2016).  If the property you’re staying in doesn’t have a back up generator then you might want to prepare for a few warm hours.
  2. If you stay at properties which are slightly off the beaten track, they may not have access to a government water supply and might only have a well.  As a result, their gardens and plants may be suffering from the weather – please be patient with them.
  3. The water shortages in 2016 have already had a major impact on agriculture and food prices are steadily going up.  When comparing the same food items from a supermarket I realised there has been at least a 20% increase on dairy products and dried goods as paddy fields are destroyed and crops lost.  So, if you came to Sri Lanka in the last few years, you’ll see an increase in food prices that may seem a little steep!

What can you do to help?

If you want to help then you can.  Here are a couple of ways:

  1.  Take short showers to save water.
  2. If you aren’t going to finish your water bottle then pour it into the ground.
  3. Look for places to recycle plastic bottles – if it’s not obvious then ask guest houses and hotels.
  4. If for any reason you suddenly experience a loss of water pressure or water in the property you’re staying in, please inform the management immediately.  This could mean that a water pump is running hot or they need to switch to a back up tank and if they’re busy they may not have noticed themselves. With all eyes on the problem we can all avoid expensive problems 🙂