A new ADB- led study reveals that Sri Lanka spends $19 million per year directly on health-care costs associated with floods and droughts.

“Sri Lanka spends $19 million per year directly on health-care costs associated with floods and droughts. This cost is divided almost equally between the public purse and households, with 83% of it spent on flood-related health care and the rest on drought-related health care.” The study said.

“In Sri Lanka, both the frequency and intensity of droughts and floods are likely to increase because of climatic change. Consequently, the health burden associated with these events will likely increase,” it added.

The research was conducted by two economists, Diana De Alwis and Ilan Noy and the study was  titled ‘The Cost of Being Under the Weather- Droughts, Floods and Healthcare Costs in Sri Lanka’, relying on the 2012/13 National Income and Expenditure Survey and a national disaster database.