A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF METEOROLOGICAL DROUGHT ACROSS CLIMATIC ZONES IN SRI LANKA: FOCUS ON POLONNARUWA, KANDY, AND KURUNEGALA DISTRICTS.

Abstract

Drought is a significant global concern, and its impacts are increasingly felt in Sri Lanka due to climate variability. This study analyzes meteorological drought across three distinct climatic zones in Sri Lanka; the Dry Zone, represented by Polonnaruwa District; the Wet Zone, represented by Kandy District; and the Intermediate Zone, represented by Kurunegala District. The study analyzed 30 years of monthly rainfall data (1993-2023) obtained from the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka using the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). Polonnaruwa emerged as the most drought-prone region, experiencing drought in 21 of the last 30 years, with 170 drought months, 102 of which occurred during the Southwest monsoon period. Kurunegala recorded only one moderate drought year (2003) and a total of 56 drought months, with most occurring during the Northeast monsoon. Kandy showed an increasing trend in drought events, with moderate drought conditions becoming more frequent in recent years. A correlation between rising Land Surface Temperatures (LST) and increasing drought frequency was noted in Polonnaruwa, suggesting that climate factors significantly exacerbate drought conditions. The study recommends adopting drought-resistant crop varieties, promoting water recycling practices, and enhancing reforestation efforts to mitigate drought impacts in these districts.