Aug 15, Colombo: The Agrarian Services Department of Sri Lanka says that close to 100,000 acres of paddy land in the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts have been destroyed by the drought.

The Department has also stated that the destruction of the paddy lands has affected close to 400,000 families in the respective districts.

Commissioner General of the Agrarian Services Department, Sunil Weerasinghe has told the media that the Department is currently assessing the damages to the paddy lands in the districts.

He has said the worst affected districts are Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in the North Central Province.

However, the Commissioner General has noted that the Department has not yet been informed by the Treasury about compensation schemes for the affected farmers.

The government last month said it is considering a 6,000 rupees monthly payment as relief to the drought-stricken farmers.