Sri Lankan Village Suffers Double Blow from Cyclone 'Sitara' and El Niño

The community of Kalugahakandura, located in Sri Lanka's Badulla district, is grappling with a devastating dual crisis. Following the recent impact of Cyclone Sitara, which ravaged the region, residents are now facing the harsh realities of the El Niño weather pattern, further compounding their suffering.

Cyclone Sitara left a trail of destruction, damaging essential resources for the villagers. Many kitul, areca nut, and coconut trees, which formed the backbone of the local economy, were destroyed. Those trees that survived the cyclone are now withering due to the prevailing El Niño conditions, which have brought about dry weather and increased temperatures.

This environmental onslaught has crippled the livelihoods of the Kalugahakandura residents. They previously relied heavily on the kitul tapping industry and the sale of areca nuts for their income. With these sources now severely diminished or destroyed, the villagers find themselves in a state of extreme hardship and desperation.

Compounding their woes, the limited number of surviving kitul trees are yielding only a meager amount of sap, making the production of traditional products like kitul treacle and jaggery impossible. Furthermore, the water sources in the village, including springs that gave Kalugahakandura its name, are drying up day by day. This dire situation leaves the community facing an uncertain future, struggling to recover from the combined impacts of the cyclone and the climate phenomenon.