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Forest Types Found Within the Island of Sri Lanka
Forest Classification Characteristics (Annual Avg.) Approximate Extent (Sq. km) On Island Districts Containing Forest Type *
Montane Forest Above 1500 m elevation Temperatures ~ 15 ° C Rainfall > 1800 mm with no moisture deficit period 31 Nuwera Eliya Kandy
Badulla
Matale
Ratnapura
Sub-Montane Forest Within elevations of 1000 m to 1500 Temperatures 15 ° – 20 ° C Rainfall > 1800 mm 690 Nuwera Eliya Ratnapura
Kandy
Matale
Badulla
Kegalle
Matara Anuradhapura Monaragala
Lowland Rain Forest Extending from the Coastal plains to 1000 m Temperatures > 20 ° C Rainfall > 2500 mm no moisture deficit period Vegetation –visible lichen and liana species 1,415 Ratnapura Kalutara
Galle
Matara
Kandy
Matale
Kegalle
Nuwera Eliya Colombo
Badulla Monaragala Gampaha
Moist Monsoon Forest Found at < 1000 m Rainfall 1800 – 2500 mm with a peak from October – January with a dry period of 3 months following. 2,439 Monaragala Polonnaruwa Ampara
Matale
Badulla
Batticaloa Ratnapura
Kandy
Nuwera Eliya Matara Kurunagala Hambantota Gampaha Trincomalee
Dry Monsoon Forest Has a distinct season: a rainfall peak from mid October to January (coinciding with monsoon rains) and a dry period for 3-6 months. Vegetation is semi diciduouse. At elevations of < 600 m often on slopes.

Rainfall 1000 – 1800 mm

 10,940 Anuradhapura Mullaitivu Monaragala Mannar Trincomalee Vavuniya
Puttalam
Ampara Polonnaruwa Killinochchi Battocaloa Hambantota Matale Kurunagala Ratnapura
Badulla
Jaffna
Matara
Riverine Dry Forest Found along flood plains and river valleys. < 600 m Rainfall 1000 – 1800 mm 224 Ampara Monaragala Hambantota Trincomalee Puttalam
Mannar Polonnaruwa
Mangrove Forest Present along intertidal sheltered coastlines, usually associated with river mouths and lagoons. Vegetation usually consisting of Rhyzophora species 87 Puttalam Trincomalee Batticaloa
Mannar Hambantota Mullaitivu Killinochchi Ampara
Jaffna
Galle
Gampaha Kalutara
Matara

* Districts are listed in order of highest hectare of forest type cover

Sparse forests totaling ~ 4,638 Sq. km are spread out throughout the island within all 25 districts. With Anuradhapura, Monaragala, Mullaitivu, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Mannar and Vavuniya having the highest concentrations.

Source: H.M Bandaratillaka. 1997. Arujana’s Atlas of Sri Lanka.