MONETABRIEF — Sri Lanka’s air force has deployed a fixed wing aircraft to sprinkle blessed water over drought hit areas of the island in a bid to seek divine help for rain, the service said.
Three Buddhist monks travelled aboard the Chinese built Y 12 aircraft while air force crew discharged “Pirith water”, or blessed water, from five litre plastic bottles.
"As the nation faces the hardships of dry weather, the Sri Lanka Air Force Y 12 aircraft takes to the skies in a symbolic act of compassion — carrying and dispersing blessed Pirith water over the land," the Sri Lanka Air Force said, Sundat sharing 20 photographs of the event on Facebook.
In one photograph, a saffron robed monk holds up a sheet of paper bearing the “wasi piritha” (the chant seeking rain) while airmen use a specially rigged mechanism to discharge the water.
"May the skies open, the earth be nourished, and hope return to every corner of our beautiful island," the air force said.
"A heartfelt prayer for rain, relief and renewal — for every family, every animal, every tree and every living soul enduring the heat and drought."
The air force’s spiritual operation came as the Department of Meteorology issued a heavy rain warning for the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and Matara.
The met department has also warned that the country could face severe drive conditions in the first quarter of next year due to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The Me Department said El Nino tends to bring higher than usual rain the wet period while intensifying the dry season that falls early in the following year.
Sri Lankan administrations have a track record of appeasing the gods: for rain in drought, and for dry skies in the rainy season when Sri Lanka has played winnable cricket matches.
The Ceylon Electricity Board is also known to have held poojas for rain to fill hydro electricity reservoirs. (COLOMBO/Sept20/2026)