Sri Lanka is facing one of its worst El Nino-driven droughts in decades, with key farming districts recording rainfall deficits of 85% to 100% below long-term averages. The government has arranged water deliveries for tens of thousands of people, but access varies sharply: households near main roads may receive drinking water every three to five days, while remote communities can wait as long as 23 days. Water levels in hundreds of small irrigation tanks have fallen to about 10%, while rivers, lakes and other sources used for crops and drinking are drying up. The crisis is damaging farm incomes and making loan repayments and daily meals more difficult. Forecasters have said this year could bring a super El Nino, potentially the strongest on record, a weather pattern that often produces drier conditions in parts of Asia.