DYING FOR RAIN

Several farmers in Sri Lanka have committed suicides in recent times largely due to crop failures. Most of the cases have been reported in Hettipola, nearly 80 kilometres from Colombo, which has probably highest suicides rates in the world. Most of the areas in Hettipola have been converted into parched village due to current drought in Sri Lanka. Sumithrayo, a volunteer group, recorded 8,519 suicide cases in Sri Lanka during 1996.