Sri Lanka’s Air Force recently conducted a unique operation involving Buddhist monks in an effort to bring relief to parts of the country suffering from drought. On Saturday evening, three monks clad in saffron robes were flown aboard a Y-12 fixed-wing aircraft over drought-affected regions. During the flight, they chanted prayers and sprinkled holy water from plastic bottles, seeking divine intervention to alleviate the dry conditions.

The Air Force described the mission as a symbolic act of compassion amid the nation’s ongoing challenges with dry weather. The operation comes as Sri Lanka’s meteorology department warns of an intensified El Niño climate phenomenon, which experts say could trigger severe drought alongside episodes of heavy rainfall through the remainder of the year.

Sri Lanka, a country with a population of approximately 22 million, faces unpredictable weather patterns this year. Forecasts indicate that the current dry spell may be followed by heavy rains from late September through December. However, those rains are expected to give way to a prolonged drought early next year, raising concerns about water availability.

At Yala National Park in the southeast, two of the six park blocks have already been closed to visitors due to drought conditions. Meanwhile, water reservoirs supplying hydroelectric power stations stand at roughly 50% capacity. Although this level compares favorably to previous years, officials remain apprehensive about the potential impact if the drought worsens in the coming months.

The Sri Lankan electricity utility has previously conducted religious ceremonies to seek divine favor when hydro reservoirs were low, reflecting a broader cultural tradition of invoking spiritual support during environmental hardships.

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate cycle characterized by warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warming disrupts global weather patterns, including wind and rainfall distribution. Scientists note that human-driven climate change may exacerbate the effects of El Niño by increasing ocean and atmospheric temperatures, thereby intensifying extreme weather events.

With the dual threat of drought and heavy rains looming, Sri Lanka faces a challenging period ahead as it attempts to balance agricultural needs, water resource management, and environmental preservation.