The Mahakanna food crops cultivation was a total failure because the rains did not arrive at the right time. Due to lack of water in Buttala, Kataragama, Gonaganara and Tissamahara areas cultivation of food crops has dwindled gradually. The farmers in these areas have lost hopes and their livelihood had become miserable.

As the dry weather prevailed green gram, maize and kurakkan cultivations have been destroyed and paddy cultivation in those areas has also seen a downward trend, according to A. G. S. Priyantha of Gonaganara.

We get into debt to cultivate and we cultivate 6 months and reap harvest. The income we get is spent on childrens’ education and food. Due to lack of rains, 3 acres of paddy lands were destroyed. K. D. Malani said that she took a loan of Rs. 15,000 and purchased seeds. She also had to pawn a gold chain to a bank to buy basic requirements. When my children felt hungry there was nothing left to feed them.

Deyakritha K. D. Malani added that wells in Buttala, Kataragama and Tissa had gone dry and if this weather conditions prevailed the farmers would have no alternative but to drink poison.