Climate change taking a heavy toll on Sri Lanka

This year, yet again, flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains came and receded. Meanwhile, this year alone, more than one million people have been hard hit by the worst drought in 40 years. In Sri Lanka alone, costs from natural disasters, losses from damage to housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and from relief are estimated at LKR 50 billion (approx. USD 327 million). The highest annual expected losses are from floods (LKR 32 billion), cyclones or high winds (LKR 11 billion), droughts (LKR 5.2 billion) and landslides (LKR 1.8 billion). This is equivalent to 0.4 percent of GDP or 2.1 percent of government expenditure. (#SLDU2017). Floods and landslides in May 2016 caused damages amounting to US$572 million. Even more alarming, these numbers are likely to rise as droughts and floods triggered by climate change will become more frequent and severe.
Source: The World Bank, 2017

Flooding of the Southern Expressway E01 (දක්ෂිණ ලංකා අධිවේගි මාර්ගය), near Matara. May 2017.