Sri Lanka's Air Force has flown Buddhist monks over drought-hit areas in an attempt to encourage rain through divine intervention. On Saturday evening, three saffron-robed monks chanted prayers and sprinkled holy water from a Y-12 fixed-wing aircraft. This symbolic act aimed to invoke the gods to end the drought affecting the largely agricultural nation.
The Sri Lankan meteorology department has warned of severe drought and heavy rains likely to hit the country during the rest of the year due to the El Nino climate phenomenon. El Nino is a natural climate variation that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, leading to worldwide changes in wind and rain patterns. This phenomenon is expected to bring significant weather changes to Sri Lanka.
The drought has already impacted Sri Lanka, with two out of six blocks at Yala, the country's largest wildlife park in the southeast, closed to visitors. Water reservoirs, including those supplying hydroelectric power stations, are currently at around 50 percent capacity. While this compares well with previous years, concerns arise if drought conditions intensify next year as forecast.
Sri Lanka's electricity utility has previously held religious services to appease the gods when hydro reservoirs run low. The recent flight of monks is part of a broader effort to mitigate the effects of the drought. The air force stated that the aircraft took to the skies in a symbolic act of compassion as the nation faces hardships due to dry weather.
Weather experts forecast that the dry conditions will give way to heavy rain from late September until December, followed by a prolonged drought early next year. The meteorology department has warned of heavy downpours over other parts of the South Asian nation of 22 million people. This shift in weather patterns is attributed to the El Nino climate phenomenon.
Human-caused climate change can amplify the effects of El Nino, making extreme weather events more severe. A warmer ocean and atmosphere provide more energy and moisture to feed these events. Sri Lanka is taking measures to address the drought and prepare for the expected heavy rains.
The Sri Lanka Air Force's effort to seek divine help for rain highlights the country's struggle with severe weather conditions. With its agricultural sector significantly affected, Sri Lanka continues to monitor the situation and explore various means to mitigate the impacts of the drought and upcoming heavy rains.
Key points
- Sri Lanka's Air Force flies Buddhist monks over drought-hit areas to seek divine help in inducing rain.
- The country faces severe drought and heavy rains due to the El Nino climate phenomenon.
- Water reservoirs are at 50 percent capacity, and concerns arise if drought conditions intensify next year.
