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Writer's pictureNimali Fernando

Distinctive Geography of Sri Lanka

Updated: Sep 26

Sri Lanka, nestled in the Indian Ocean, takes the form of a teardrop and located near to southern coast of India, with no other nation lying to the south. The teardrop shape ironically mirrors the poignant narratives of her history, embodying the adversities and tragedies endured by her people throughout her existence.


  • Capital of Sri Lanka - Sri Jayawardana Pura

  • Commercial capital Colombo


Landscape

Sri Lanka is divided into three distinct elevation zones, with the land gradually rising as you move towards the central region.

They are:

  • First Zone Coastal low lands - 0 to 270 M from sea level

This stretch of coastline encircles the island, bestowing upon it the

distinctive charm of pristine beaches that dominate much of the

country.


  • Second zone is plains - 270 M to 1060 M from sea level

In this area, one can discover smaller mountains and hills, encompassing

30% of the island and adorned with lush vegetation.


  • Third zone is central Highlands - 1060 M to greater than 2500 M

This region constitutes the heart of the island. Here lie high plateaus, mountains,

and awe-inspiring landscapes veiled in clouds and verdant greenery.


Rivers and Manmade Lakes of Sri Lanka

There are 103 rivers, with the "Mahaweli" being the longest, originating from the central Highlands. Additionally, numerous lakes, constructed by ancient kings, were utilized for agricultural irrigation purposes at the time.


In the renowned tourist destination of Sri Lanka, Nuwara-eliya, there exists a well-known lake created by the British Governor William Gregory in 1873.



Communities in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is smaller than Scotland but has four times the population of Scotland.

Ethnicity of Sri Lanka includes:

  • Sinhalese 74.9 % - Mostly Buddhist and few Catholics or Christians

  • Tamil 15% Mainly Hindus and few Catholics or Christians

  • Muslims 10%

  • Other 1%

Sri Lanka, though small in size, boasts diverse locations scattered across its stunning landscape, easily accessible via private transportation within a short timeframe. We suggest it's really important to think about how far you plan to travel each day on your vacation, keeping in mind the potential tiredness from all that moving around.


Experiences of hiking through beautiful landscapes of Sri Lanka hill country:



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