Climate Regions of Sri

Lanka
S. Senadheera
Geography of Tourism
TUMT 1212
Group Z
Name Registration number Index number

Dinuha Vihwajith SSH/2018/135 SH 5274

G.A.S.H.Madumalee SSH/2018/289 SH 5417

H.A.N.Malmi SSH/2018/305 SH 5430

M.M.K.Pabasara Mapa SSH/2018/333 SH 5454

U.G.I.D.Prasadini SSH/2018/354 SH 5472

N.S.Premasiri SSH/2018/362 SH 5479

R.M.S.P.Rajapaksha SSH/2018/373 SH 5490

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Sri Lanka is a harmonious country. Sri Lanka is a small island located close to the equator at a
distance of about four latitude’s and two longitudes. Sri Lanka’s climate is characterized by an
average temperature of about 27 degrees Celsius due to its narrow altitude and proximity to the
equator.
Sri Lanka is located between 5, 55’ and 9 51’ north latitude and between 79, 42’ and 81 52’
south longitude in Sri Lanka is close to India sub-continent and located in Indian Ocean.

The relative location of Sri Lanka can be identified as the Indian continent in the north and the
Indian Ocean in south. East and west. In this way due to the importance of Sri Lanoka’s location.
The climate of Sri Lanka has been created accordingly.
Sri Lanka can be easily identified as country with a monsoon climate in the Southeast Asian
monsoon belt. Kepans climate classification describes Sri Lanka as a country with a tropical
climate. It has been found that convective rainfall mainly affects the climate of sri lanka rather
than the monsoon climate ,also inter tropical convergence zone ( ITCZ) is an important factor
influencing the climate of sri lanka.
And also Sri Lanka in proximity to the Bay of Bengal influence of low pressure belts, proximity
to the Indian sub-continent, and influence of warm and dry winds. Those thing are factors
affecting to the Sri Lanka climate.
1. Precipitation
2. Temperature
3. Wind
4. Humidity

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 5. Pressure
Those are the element of Sri Lankan climate regions of Sri Lanka has been on the precipitation
and the temperature.
Temperature
Sri Lanka’s temperature is characterized by an equatorial location between 5 10 degrees north
latitude. Which results in high solar temperatures throughout the year, but not as high as other
equator regions? Effect of ocean and conventional process, located as an island those are reason
for the temperature decreasing.
The convention process takes place throughout the year except for a short period of time. The
relative humidity of the atmosphere increases due to global warming due to high levels of solar
heat throughout the year. This controls the temperature associated with the polo plane.
The location of the Indian Ocean and the sea breeze that blows from it control the temperature in
Sri Lanka. The average temperature in the coastal region of Sri Lanka is around 27.5 0 C
temperatures in an island’s plains have normalized due to the effects of the sea.
Elevation and topography are another major factor controlling in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has a clear
temperature range between the coastal plains and the central high lands. It can be seen that the
temperature decreases as the altitude gradually increases above sea level.

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Precipitation
There is three ways receiving methods to Sri Lanka.
1. Monsoon
2. Convection
3. Cyclone

1. Monsoon
Sri Lanka receives rainfall from two monsoon
1. Southwest monsoon winds
2. Northwest monsoon winds

I. Southwest Moon winds

Southwest monsoon from May to September the ITCZ belt blows to north. Then create a low
pressure area in north because the solar radiations is very high in this area.
Although there is high pressure area in the south areas. The high pressure wind move to low
pressure area. Because the fill out the low pressure area. The high pressure wind move to low
pressure area bringing the water vapor. There is long destination to low pressure lands.

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This wind move to north through the sri lanka owing to the relief features west slops of the
central high lands receive a large amount of rainfall. Because the wind a crossing the Indian
Ocean eastern side of mountain gets less rainfall. The wind blowing to north a crossing.
The Sri Lanka rainfall falls rapidly from these maximum areas to higher elevation and in nuwara
eliya it drop 853mm.The shift towards the southwest coast is less rapia and the coast will receive
100mm-1600mm of rain fall over the next five mounts minimum rainfall will be recorded from
the north and southeast.
Colombo, Galle, Rathnapura, Kaluthara districts are faced to southwest monsoon rainfall. This
monsoon is affected from May to September.

II. North wet monsoon winds

Northwest monsoon wind, rainfall from December to February. The ITCZ belt blowing to south
latitude 5-10. Winds blow from the northeast. South area created the low pressure belt. Because
the solar radiation high for the south area. So that south area’s created low pressure. There is
high pressure in north areas. Then the high pressure wind blows to south for fill the space. The
wind move to south area through the Sri Lanka.
Northwest monsoon with move to south area in Indian Ocean. Due to the wind carry water
vapor. The northeast monsoon receives less rainfall than the southwest monsoon winds as it
blows over the plains of the dry zone. The dry winter winds blowing from India will establish
relatively cool dry weather conditions in many parts of the island creating a pleasant and pleasant
weather environment around except for a few cold mornings. Cloudless skies create bright
sunshine cool nights. The highest annual rainfall during this period is recorded in the
northeastern slops of the mountains and the eastern slops of the knuckles, Rangu Range. The
highest rainfall during this period was recorded from the kobonella estate. The lowest rainfall is
recorded in the puttalam. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Jaffna, districts affect the northwest
monsoon.

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 2. Convention Rainfall
The main feature of convention rain is that is a short term rainfall pattern. During the day, the
land air, which is extremely hot, expands and light air currents rise. Then the place creates a low
pressure zone, wind flows from the high pressure zone to fill that gap. Water vapor is present in
large amount in the air that blows from the sea to the land. This rising water vapor causes
convection rain. Convection is most active in Sri Lanka during the months of March –April and
October- November. The maximum rainfall is 1000mm and is limited to the southwest areas.
Convection rain, which is active during October- November, is known as the second inter-
monsoon rainfall is mostly balanced during this period and every part of the island receives a
monthly average rainfall of more than 160mm.
3. Cyclones
The solar eclipse, which occurs equator. Affects Sri Lanka during the period from October to
November, westerly winds across the Bay of Bengal bring rain to the northwestern and eastern
parts of Sri Lanka. It causes heavy rainfall in the northern and eastern regions.
Mr. S.F De Silva was the first to present the climate classification by observing the climatic
features prevailing in Sri Lanka. It based on rainfall. Then be divided dry. Wet arid zones in Sri
Lanka.

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However, for further classification of the current climate in Sri Lanka, five major climatic zones
have been identified based on climatic criteria such as temperature and precipitation.
1. Low land wet zone.
2. Low land dry zone.
3. High land wet zone.
4. High land dry zone semi-arid zone.

a) LOW LAND WET ZONE

The low land wet zone of Sri Lanka is the wetland area with an elevation of less than 300m. This
zone includes several districts such as Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Galle, Mathara and
Rathnapura which have a constant convection line of 2000mm which receives high temperatures
throughout the year and the average annual temperature is around 270 C. the humidity of the air
is high and the sky is often overcast. The rainfall is very heavy and receives more than 2000mm

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of rainfall. The main source of rainfall is the southwest monsoon winds which blow from May to
September. Convectional rainfall too gives heavy rain for this areas.
b) LOW LAND DRY ZONE
About 670/0 of that land area of Sri Lanka belongs to the dry zone with the exception of few
isolated highlands. The land consists of low lands. Extremely hot zone. The average annual
temperature is amount 30 0 C. annual rainfall is between 1250mm-2000mm. the northeast
monsoon rains from December to February bring significant rainfall, followed by convective rain
fall, in October. Southwest monsoon rainfall is very limited. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa,
Vauniya, Ampara districts located in low land dry zone.
c) HIGH LAND WET ZONE
This includes the wet zones area with an altitude of more than 300mm. high land wet zone
included Nuwara Eliya, Mathale, Kandy, Kegalla. Areas with an average annual temperature of
less than 22 c are common and around Nuwara Eliya the temperature drops to 15 0 C. the
humidity in the air is high and sky is often foggy.
The annual precipitation is more than 3400mm.
Ex-; Watawala
Malinboda

Heavy rainfall drops southwest monsoon and convection rainfall.

d) HIGH LAND DRY ZONE
The high land dry zone includes high land areas more than 300m east of this line connecting the
cities of Mathale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Haputhale. Temperature below 250C are recorded
below sea level. Annual Rainfall is between 1250mm-2000mm. most of the rainfall falls on the
north east monsoon.
e) SEMI-AREA ZONE
The southeastern and northwestern part of Sri Lanka is known as the semi-area zone. It belongs
to the districts of Mannar, Puttalam and Hambanthota. Annual rainfall is less than 1250mm and
there is very long period of drought.
There are the climate regions in the Sri Lanka.