Climate
The climate is equatorial and tropical influenced by elevation above sea level, but marked by only
slight diurnal and seasonal variations. Temperature in Colombo (at sea level) varies from 25°C to
28°Celcius and in central massif (site of highest elevations) 14°C to 16°C.
Sri Lanka is subjected to southwest monsoon from mid May to October and northeast monsoon
December to March. Rainfall uneven; divides country climatically into wet zone comprising
southwestern quarter and dry zone on remainder of island. Annual precipitation in wet zone averages
250 centimeters; in dry zone precipitation varies from 120 to 190 centimeters.
Calamities
Flood/Drought prone areas are mainly in the plains. Lack of rainfall results in lack of water in dams
and consequently affect rice production. On the other extreme, excessive rainfall in the plains can
cause floods in certain areas. Climatic changes may result in change of temperature in coastal ocean
water, consequently resulting in sea erosion, which affects the fishing industry. The tropical monsoons
are differentiated to the northeast monsoon, which falls from December to March and the Southwest
monsoon, which runs from June to October.