Heavy rains destroy 600,000 acres of crops, vegetable prices likely to rise

27 November 2025 02:48 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

A A A

By Mangala Pavithrani

Colombo, Nov. 27 (Daily Mirror) - Heavy rains across Sri Lanka have destroyed around 600,000 acres of rice and vegetable crops, raising concerns over vegetable shortages and price hikes during the festive season, warned Anuradha Tennakoon, Chairman of the National Farmers’ Union.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tennakoon said the Eastern Province has been severely affected, with paddy and other food crops badly damaged, while vegetable crops in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla have also suffered significant losses.

He provided district-level figures for crop damage caused by the heavy rains:

Batticaloa: 25,500 hectares
Ampara: 33,000 hectares
Trincomalee: 23,000 hectares
Kurunegala: 15,000 hectares
Anuradhapura: 4,000 hectares
Polonnaruwa: 5,000 hectares
Monaragala: 55,000 hectares
For vegetables, the damage was estimated at:
Nuwara Eliya: 18,000 hectares
Badulla: 9,000 hectares

Tennakoon cautioned that the extensive crop destruction could lead to significant price increases during the upcoming festive season if recovery measures are not swiftly implemented.

Comments - 4

johan Thursday, 27 November 2025 03:49 PM

But do not hold NPP responsible these are happening every year and every monsoon. NPP must study the climate pattern for every district where cultivation are done in vast level to reduce farmers getting affected by rain and drought

3 5

enpeepee Thursday, 27 November 2025 05:02 PM

Okay.

0 12

Pusa Thursday, 27 November 2025 05:51 PM

Nice preemptive talk ! The NPeePee wouldn't be held responsible for the weather but it will be held responsible for the aftermath.

22 2

Cassie Thursday, 27 November 2025 07:29 PM

Tropical island. This is to be expected as it happens every year. Produce prices can be leveled out by increasing prices of alcohol, cigarettes and other useless things.

0 0

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.