The number of people affected by Sri Lanka's continuing dry-weather conditions has risen to 154,167 people from 47,368 families across eight districts, according to official-attributed disaster-relief figures.
The latest affected districts are Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Matale, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura.
The expansion to eight districts represents a further deterioration from previous Sineth News updates, which had tracked a progressive rise in the affected population and the spread of water shortages.
Drinking-water assistance
Authorities are distributing drinking water to 132,748 people from 40,945 families across the affected areas.
The latest reporting indicates that 36 Divisional Secretariat divisions are affected, with drinking-water distribution taking place across 35 divisions.
These water-distribution figures should not be read as meaning that every affected person is currently receiving supplied drinking water. They identify the population covered by reported drinking-water assistance within the wider dry-weather impact.
Monaragala records highest affected total
Monaragala has the largest reported affected population, with 42,429 people affected by the dry conditions.
Authorities continue drinking-water distribution and other relief measures in affected districts as the dry spell continues.
Matale joins affected-district list
Matale is now included among the eight affected districts.
This marks a geographic expansion from the previous seven-district update and shows that the dry-weather impact is continuing to widen.
Continuity
Earlier Sineth News coverage recorded lower affected-population totals, including the initial seven-district figures and subsequent increases reported through disaster-management channels.
The important current figures are 154,167 people, 47,368 families, eight districts, and drinking-water assistance for 132,748 people from 40,945 families.