The Department of Meteorology said there will not be sufficient rainfall until October.

Director Shiromani Jayawardena said the southwest monsoon did not bring sufficient rain this year, due to the El Niño effect.

El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

She added that the highest rainfall is recorded in most parts of Sri Lanka during the months of October and November annually.

Meanwhile, the water levels in reservoirs are reducing rapidly, due to the dry weather.

Director of Irrigation (Water Management) of the Department of Irrigation Sudarshani Widanapathirana said the capacity of reservoirs has reduced to 33.3 percent.

She requested the support of farmers to work together to use water for their crops sparingly.

Deputy Director General of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka Nilantha Dhanapala said the capacity of the Mahaweli reservoirs has also reduced to 34 percent.

He said the Mahaweli and Walawe rivers are managed by the Mahaweli Authority, adding that the Mahaweli river basin provides water to the basins of the Kala Oya, Malwathu Oya and Yan Oya.

Dhanapala said 37 percent of the water in the Mahaweli river basin can be used, while only 3 percent can be used in the Walawe river.

He said issues have arisen in providing water to crops under the Udawalawe reservoir due to the water shortage, and a good flow of water is only required for another five to six days to save the crops.

Dhanapala said however sufficient water can be provided to the Kala Wewa and Anuradhapura areas for the Yala season.