Environmental devastation seen as precipitating economic crisis in Northern Sri Lanka

As parched soil cracks underfoot and once-thriving fields lie fallow, the farmers of Mannar are living on the frontlines of a crisis that is no longer just environmental — it's economic. Climate change has tightened its grip on this northern region, and with each failed monsoon and dwindling harvest, the livelihoods of entire communities are evaporating.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), along with local stakeholders, has raised urgent concerns over the increasingly hostile conditions faced by farmers in the region. At the heart of the problem are erratic weather patterns — prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme heat— all of which disrupt the delicate balance required for traditional farming practices.

"The erratic weather patterns triggered by climate change are not only drying up water sources but also pushing already vulnerable farming communities deeper into poverty, Dilena Pathragoda, Executive Director, CEJ told The Island Financial Review.

He added: "The economic consequences are severe — from crop failures to loss of livelihoods — and without timely interventions and climate-resilient strategies, the long-term sustainability of agriculture in regions like Mannar is in jeopardy."

In 2024 alone, nearly 3,000 acres of paddy land in Mannar District were left uncultivated due to lack of water, according to data from local agrarian offices.