COLOMBO, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre said in its situation report on Thursday that as many as 436,340 persons remained affected by drought in nine districts of Sri Lanka.

According to the report, six affected districts are in the northern and north-western parts of Sri Lankan and the remaining two in the central hills.

Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told Xinhua that the lack of rainfall in the agriculture areas resulted in crop failure or reduced harvest.

Senaratne said the government was responding to the disaster.

"The affected districts are the major rice cultivating areas of Sri Lanka. The drought affected our food production," he added.

However, Senaratne said the government had taken necessary steps to avoid any food shortage under the current circumstances.