II.

Land and Resources

An outstanding feature of the topography of Sri Lanka is a mountainous mass in the south-central part of the country, the highest point of which is the peak of Pidurutalagala (2,524 m/8,281 ft). In the upland area are two plateaux, Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains, which are major centres of commercial tea plantations. The plateaux are noted for their cool, healthful climate. North of the mountains, and extending south, is an arid and gently rolling plain known as the dry zone.

Sri Lanka’s coast, particularly the west, south, and south-east, is palm-fringed and indented by lagoons and inlets. The more rugged north-eastern coast contains Trincomalee Harbour, considered one of the best natural harbours in the world. On the south-western coast other harbours include the largely artificial one at Colombo and one at Galle.

A.

Rivers and Lakes

Rivers and streams that are broken by rapids are especially numerous in the mountainous south-central region. The longest river is the Mahaweli Ganga, which empties into the Indian Ocean south of Trincomalee. Other rivers include the Kelani, the mouth of which is near Colombo; the Kalu, which reaches the sea near Kalutara on the south-western coast; and the Aruvi Aru, which flows north-west across the dry zone to a point near Mannar.

B.

Climate

Because Sri Lanka is situated near the equator, the climate is generally hot and humid. The hill and mountain areas, however, are cool, and the humidity is relatively lower in the dry zone. The average annual temperature is 32.2° C (90° F) in the lowlands and 21.1° C (70° F) in the higher mountainous regions.

Precipitation is characterized by wide seasonal and regional variations. The monsoon season in the south-west is from May to September, at which time the rainfall is exceptionally heavy. The hills and the lowlands of the south-western section, which is known as the wet zone, normally have some rainfall throughout the year, but peaks occur in May and June and in October and November. In the northern dry zone the main precipitation of about 1,016 mm (40 in) annually occurs during the monsoon season, which begins in December and lasts until February. Most crops in the dry zone, however, require irrigation.

C.

Natural Resources

The natural resources of Sri Lanka are chiefly agricultural, but most of the land is not easily cultivated. The mineral deposits of the country are limited.

D.

Plants and Animals

Sri Lanka is noted for the beauty and variety of its vegetation. Dense tropical jungles occupy extensive areas in the south-west, and the upper mountain slopes are thickly forested. Many varieties of palm, including the areca, coconut, and palmyra, flourish in the lowlands along the coast. Mangroves and screw pines abound in coastal areas. Numerous varieties of timber trees, notably mahogany and many species of resin-yielding fruit trees, are indigenous to the wet zone. Among the timber trees that are common in the drier sections of the island are ebony and satinwood. Ferns, water hyacinths, orchids, acacias, eucalyptus trees, and cypresses flourish in various regions.

The animal life of Sri Lanka, including many species that may be in danger of extinction, is varied and includes the cheetah, leopard, several species of monkey, and elephant. The island contains numerous species of birds and reptiles.

E.

Environmental Concerns

Deforestation and soil erosion are two major environmental concerns in Sri Lanka. In all, 28 per cent (1995) of the country's total land area is forested. Population pressures threaten those forests though, and large tracts of forest have been cut down for fuel wood or for timber export and have been replaced by farms. This has led to loss of wildlife habitats and to increased soil erosion and degradation. The animal life of Sri Lanka is diverse and includes many species that may be in danger of extinction, such as cheetah, leopard, several species of monkeys, and elephant. A number of threatened species continue to be hunted illegally by poachers.

Other issues are increased pollution and degradation through industrial activities, and freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff. The island's coastal ecosystems suffer from pollution caused by mining activities and the tourist trade, and freshwater resources are being polluted by industrial waste and sewage run-off. Much of Sri Lanka's mangrove forest, an important coastal habitat, has been cut down to make way for farmland and fish cultivation ponds. The government of Sri Lanka has taken action to conserve wildlife, however. Nearly 13.3 per cent (1997) of the land is protected. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which protects the largest remaining stand of primary rainforest on the island, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988.

The government has ratified international environmental agreements on biodiversity, climate change, desertification, endangered species, environmental modification, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, nuclear test ban, ozone layer protection, and wetlands.