ComBank brings stakeholders together to prepare Lanka’s agriculture sector for El Niño
In response to emerging climate risks, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has launched a proactive initiative through its Development Credit Department, to equip Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector against the potential impacts of the 2026 El Niño climate pattern.
Seeking to move the industry from reactive loss management to early climate preparedness, the Bank partnered with leading state universities to execute a two-part educational and technological intervention in September 2026.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture when Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology reported an 80% probability of El Niño conditions emerging between June and August 2026, with effects expected to persist through November and beyond.
As highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), El Niño acts as a risk multiplier for rural livelihoods, food production, and water supply.
To mitigate these threats, the Bank’s initiative creates a collaborative network uniting academic institutions, agricultural extension services, technology providers, farming communities, and the financial sector.
The awareness programme on El-Niño and its impact on agriculture was supported by 12 Commercial Bank branches, and engaged with more than 1,100 farmers at 15 diverse locations, including Vattapalai, Muththajankaddu, Palampas, Oddusuddan, Siyambalanduwa, Lindula, Neluwa, Kalawana, Pannala, Madampe, Mannar, Vavuniya and Kumalamunai.
The series commenced in Kilinochchi at the District Secretariat’s Skill Development Hall. Organised in collaboration with the Bank’s Kilinochchi Branch and the University of Jaffna, the program brought together approximately 100 participants to focus on climate risk management. Key sessions led by Prof. Nagamuthu Piratheeparajah, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Jaffna, alongside Dr. (Mrs.) Suvanthini Terensan, Head of the Department of Agricultural Biology, and Maheswaran Rajeethan, Managing Director of Inthira Group, educated local farmers on practical measures to safeguard agricultural yields against climate variability.
The second phase took place at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University. Led by Faculty Dean Prof. M.H.J.P. Gunaratne, Prof. N.S. Abeysingha and senior lecturers E.J. Kosgollegedara and H.G.S.C. Wickramasinsooriya, the session broadened the scope of climate resilience by introducing IoT-based smart weather monitoring.
These programmes were designed as complementary interventions: the Kilinochchi programme focused strongly on awareness and agricultural risk management, while the Rajarata programme added a practical technology dimension through IoT-based weather monitoring.
Through these workshops, participants were guided on translating localised climate data into actionable farming decisions, including Strategic Crop & Water Management – adjusting planting schedules, selecting drought-tolerant crop varieties and adopting efficient irrigation techniques; Soil & Moisture Conservation – implementing soil protection practices to preserve farm investments and maintain yield capacity during periods of heat and water scarcity; and Smart Technology Integration – utilising real-time, IoT-driven weather updates to make data-informed agricultural decisions.
This pioneering programme stands out for its multi-regional, cross-sectoral approach.
Source : Daily News
