At that time, colonies are consisted of components such as house, wewa (Water reservoir), high lands, paddy fields, grassy lands, and forest. High lands were used to grow grans, yams, vegetables, fruits while paddy cultivation was undertaken at marshy lands. Further, cattle farming was also done at the highland to obtain milk. Cow done was used as fertilizer for the cultivations in this villages. This self-sufficiency agricultural background had been lasted until the foreign invaders captured the country.

 At the British colonization, Sri Lankan agriculture converted to commercial type. Foreigners have introduced commercial crops such as Coffee, tea, rubber and coconut to cultivate in large scale. As a result of this, plantation on those crops have become popular. These crops were specially aiming at foreign trade.Plantations were covered in large extend. In line with this revaluation in agriculture, infrastructure facilities such as roads, hydroelectricity, transports, and communicational facilities have been developed. some industries have also been established within and around plantations.

 Agricultural Zones

According to historical reports, Sri Lanka had been self-sufficiency in rice before colonial era. Rice has been grown predominately in districts such as Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kurunagala etc. grains such as Amu,Meneri, Kurakkan, etc. were sown in dry zone under chena cultivation. Rice cultivation was flourished under the patronize of kings ruled in Sri Lanka. They built Wava or tanks to reserve water for cultivations. Most of the tanks built by kings are still used for cultivations. 

Wet zone and some parts of the intermediate zones covered with plantations such as tea rubber and coconuts, cocoa, cinnamon, Pepper, nutmeg, cloves. They are all produced to export foreign countries. Most of the Tea plantations situated in hill country district such as Nuwaraeliya, Kagalle and Rathnapura. they are called high grown tea. Some small tea plantations were situated in Galle district. They are low land grown tea.  

Topography 

Agricultural pattern in a country is depended on its climate on the region and topography. A complex landscape is placed along with the hill country at the center to low land plain at the costal line around the island. It can be identified three major topographical zones in the country. They are: -.

1. Coastal line plain from sea-level up to 30 m in height. 

2. Internal plain from 30 m to 300 m in height. 

3. Central hill country more than 300 m in height

Climate

Temperature 

Annual Average Temperature in Sri Lanka is about 270 C. however, this temperature varies from zone to zone due to elevation. Accordingly, Temperature in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Piduruthalagalahas been dropped with the high elevation. There are two dry areas in southern and north western provinces. They are “Manner” and “Hambanthota”. Elevation, Closely location to Indian continent, monsoonal wind direction, and distance from costal area effect on unequal dispersion of temperature level of the country. 

Rain Fall 

Distribution of rainfall of the country has shown various pattern among the provinces. Low rainfall is experienced apparently in Northern, Eastern and South- Eastern areas. But, Central hill country receives more rainfall than other areas. There are three ways to receive rainfall. They are; monsoon rainfall, Convectional rainfall and cyclone rainfall. There are two seasons that monsoon rainfall is prevailing. One is South western monsoon (From May to September). Other is North-Eastern Monsoon (From December to February). Also, convectional rainfall is experiencing in Sri Lanka during March and April in first of year and during October and November in Second half of the year. Impact of Cyclone rain fall in Sri Lanka predominately is seen in November and December. Origination of the more Cyclone is Bay of Bengal. Cyclones that entered to land area from Eastern coast exit from North-Western province. Therefore, Northern and Eastern provinces receive high precipitation from Cyclones.  

Climatic Zones 

There are five climatic zones in Sri Lanka. They are: -  

1. Low country wet zone


1. 

   This includes South -Western plain area in Sri Lanka. Annual average rainfall of this area is more than 2000 mm. Annual average temperature is 270C. This area receives high rainfall during the south western monsoon.


2. Low country dry zone 

2. 

   This is the area belong to annual average rainfall in between 1250mm to 2000 mm. there is a wet season as well as a dry season. This is the zone located in the plain of Northern and Eastern provinces. Rainfall is received during the Northern-eastern monsoon and cyclones occasionally built up in the Bay of Bengal.


 3. Hill country wet zone

3. 

   This zone is located in western part of central hill country. The annual average rainfall is 3000 mm. even though the rain is available normally during the year, there may be dry winds during months of December, January and February.


4. Hill country dry zone

4. 

   Eastern part of the hill country belongs to this zone. Annual average rainfall varies from 1750 mm to 2000 mm. North-Eastern monsoon provide showers to this zone while dry winds are experiencing during the year. 


5. Semi-arid zone 

5. 

   This zone is located in two parts of the island. They are Mannar and Hambanthota. Annual average rainfall of the regions is from 650mm to 1250mm. rainfall is very fewer than other zones. Evaporation is very high. Only, Convectional rainfall can be seen.

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