In drought-stricken Sri Lanka, farmers watch wells empty and wildlife crowd shrinking water holes

Farmers in north-central Sri Lanka are facing a severe water crisis as a prolonged drought causes wells to run dry and forces wildlife to congregate around dwindling water sources. The lack of rainfall has jeopardized the livelihoods of agricultural workers who had previously returned to the region following the conclusion of the country's decades-long civil war.

For residents like Samantha Pushpakumara, the current environmental conditions represent a significant setback to the stability they sought after the end of the conflict. The scarcity of water is creating a precarious situation for both local farming communities and the surrounding wildlife, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the region's agricultural sector.