Dr.B.V.R.Punyawardena, Head Agro-Climatology Division of the Department of Agriculture issuing a release said that even in the month of December, the entire island will continue to receive at least normal rains. Thus it seems that water shortage conditions may not curtail the cultivations of current Maha Season, but excess soil moisture conditions and drainage problems may arise in the rain fed upland cultivations and even in tree fruit crops cultivations such as Papaya and Grapes, he added.

Therefore, he said to undertake precautionary measures to improve the drainage in upland cultivations wherever possible. Moreover, water levels of the major reservoirs of the country remain at a satisfactory level and the situation will be further improved with prevailing rainy weather conditions, he further stated.

Nevertheless, Punyawardena pointed out that care must be taken to use the available water in reservoirs sparingly by maximizing use of receiving rains to ensure reasonable carryover storage for 2016 Yala Season for these reservoirs.
The Agro-Climatology Division further said that an updated outlook will be issued in mid December for rest of the 2015/16 Maha season and outlook for Yala 2016.