Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
under forest or wildlife conservation areas. The remaining 34 % is under tea
cultivation, pasture, patana grass (
Chrysopogon zeylanicus
) and urban uses.
•
A concerted effort is now being made to formulate land use policies and a
land use plan. Many organizations in Sri Lanka are responsible for guiding
land use related enterprises. The major responsibility lies with the Ministry of
Lands, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development, which includes decisions on state
lands not already allocated to other institutions. The Land Commission, Forest
Department, Department of Wildlife, and Irrigation Department are the major
departments under this ministry dealing with land matters. The Soil Conservation
Division of the Department of Agriculture is the authority for implementing the
provisions of the Soil Conservation Act. The Ministry of Plantation Industries
is responsible for the development and control of plantation agriculture in
the private sector. The Rubber Control Department and Tea Commissioner's
Division are involved in new plantations and re-plantation schemes and have a
control on conservation measures The Ministry of Coconut Industries handles
enterprises related to coconut cultivation and industry.
Keywords
Desertification • Biodiversity • Salinization • Sri Lanka • Climate •
Land allocation. Slash and burn • Coastal dunes • Uplands • Tea • Forestry •
Deforestation • Biodiversity •
Chena
•
Patana
grass • Rubber
1
Introduction
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is an island in the
Indian Ocean off the south-eastern coast of India, a member of the Commonwealth
of Nations (Fig.
16.1
). Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Polk Strait and
Gulf of Mannar. Lying between the two nations is a chain of tiny islands known
as Adam's Bridge. The greatest length from north to south is 440 km (270 miles);
the greatest width is 220 km (about 140 miles) and has about 1,340 km (827 miles)
long coastline. The total area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 km
2
(25,332 sq miles). The
administrative capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura (Kotte), and Colombo is
the commercial capital and largest city.
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 plateaus, Nuwara
Eliya and Horton Plains, which are major centers of commercial tea plantations.
The plateaus 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.
The population of Sri Lanka (2011 estimate) is 21,401,300, yielding an overall
population density of 316 persons per km
2
.
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