Monaragala hardest hit by drought as Yala partially closes to protect wildlife

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 30, 2026

Severe drought in Sri Lanka's Monaragala and six other districts has affected over 84,000 people and endangered wildlife, prompting emergency water distributions and the partial closure of Yala National Park’s Zones I and II to protect animals. These actions aim to reduce ecological stress and prevent wildlife harm during the dry period, while authorities continue rescue efforts and urge the public to report illegal hunting.

Severe drought conditions across several districts in Sri Lanka are significantly impacting both human populations and wildlife, with Monaragala identified as the hardest-hit area. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported that as of this weekend, seven districts have been affected, including Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Hambantota, and Ratnapura, with drought conditions extending to 25 Divisional Secretariat divisions.

According to the DMC, a total of 84,545 individuals from 26,457 families have been affected by the drought. Efforts to alleviate water shortages have seen potable water distributed to 75,734 people across 24,144 families. Monaragala alone has received drinking water for 35,639 people from 11,074 households.

Wildlife across the region is also under pressure from the dry spell. The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has warned that many animals, driven by the search for water, are moving into more vulnerable areas, exposing themselves to natural dangers and human threats such as illegal hunting and snares. The DWC urged residents to report any information related to unlawful hunting or the bushmeat trade via their emergency hotline, 1992.

In response to drought impacts on Yala National Park, the DWC announced a partial closure of the park’s Zones I and II from September 14 to October 15 to protect wildlife during this period of environmental stress. Along with closing these zones to visitors, the wildlife department’s bungalows and campsites will also remain closed, with alternative dates offered to those who had previously booked accommodations.

The department explained that ongoing drought conditions and rising temperatures are causing heat stress within the ecosystem, and the presence of visitors could disturb the natural behaviors of the animals. During this closure, only authorized DWC personnel will be allowed entry into Zones I and II, while Zones III, IV, V, and VI of Yala National Park remain open to the public.

To support drought-affected wildlife, the DWC has deployed water bowsers to replenish water sources within the park and is conducting rescue operations for animals trapped in dried-up areas. In one recent incident, wildlife officers rescued 15 Black Turtles found by residents in an abandoned well at Ritigala Kaluleliya. The turtles were safely relocated to the Ritigala Demata Wewa after being deemed unharmed.

These measures reflect ongoing efforts to mitigate the consequences of the drought on both human and animal populations as the dry season persists.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.