Editing Sri Lanka (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Sri Lanka}}
[[File:Topography Sri Lanka.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A roughly oval island with a mountainous centre|Topographic map of Sri Lanka]]

Sri Lanka, an island in [[South Asia]] shaped as a teardrop or a pear/[[mango]],<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cmNuAAAAMAAJ |title=Sri Lanka, the Resplendent Isle |first=Richard |last=Simon |publisher=Times Editions |year=1989 |page=79 |isbn=9789812040602 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405080646/https://books.google.com/books?id=cmNuAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> lies on the [[Indian Plate]], a major [[plate tectonics|tectonic plate]] that was formerly part of the [[Indo-Australian Plate]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Seth Stein |title=The January 26, 2001 Bhuj Earthquake and the Diffuse Western Boundary of the Indian Plate |url=https://www.earth.northwestern.edu/public/emile/PDF/EAO147.pdf |website=earth.northwestern.edu |access-date=16 November 2018 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411211629/https://www.earth.northwestern.edu/public/emile/PDF/EAO147.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It is in the Indian Ocean southwest of the [[Bay of Bengal]], between latitudes [[5th parallel north|5°]] and [[10th parallel north|10°&nbsp;N]], and longitudes [[79th meridian east|79°]] and [[82nd meridian east|82°&nbsp;E]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jyotisha.00it.com/Lankaco.htm |title=Geographic Coordinates for Sri Lanka Towns and Villages |publisher=jyotisha.00it.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=20 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720060903/http://jyotisha.00it.com/Lankaco.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Sri Lanka is separated from the mainland portion of the [[Indian subcontinent]] by the [[Gulf of Mannar]] and [[Palk Strait]]. According to [[Hindu mythology]], a land bridge existed between the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka. It now amounts to only a [[Adam's Bridge|chain of limestone shoals]] remaining above [[sea level]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6996621.stm |title=Gods row minister offers to quit |publisher=BBC |date=15 September 2007 |access-date=16 September 2007 |archive-date=5 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205062935/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6996621.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Legends claim that it was passable on foot up to 1480 CE, until [[cyclone]]s deepened the channel.<ref name="Garg1992">{{cite book |author=Garg, Ganga Ram |title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World |volume=A–Aj |year=1992 |publisher=South Asia Books |place=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-261-3489-2 |page=142 |chapter=Adam's Bridge}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jul/04spec.htm |title=Ramar Sethu, a world heritage centre? |work=Rediff.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214082353/http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jul/04spec.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Portions are still as shallow as {{convert|1|m|ft|sigfig=1}}, hindering navigation.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Adam's Bridge |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Adams-Bridge |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-date=13 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113002452/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9003680 |url-status=live }}</ref> The island consists mostly of flat to rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part. The highest point is [[Pidurutalagala]], reaching {{convert|2524|m|ft|0}} above sea level.
[[File:Sri Paada1.JPG|thumb|A view of [[Adam's Peak|Sripada]] from [[Maskeliya]]]]
Sri Lanka has 103 rivers. The longest of these is the [[Mahaweli River]], extending {{convert|335|km|mi|0}}.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Aves, Edward |year=2003 |title=Sri Lanka |publisher=Footprint Travel Guides |page=372 |place=London |isbn=978-1-903471-78-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E_kbgCvVm4UC}}</ref> These waterways give rise to 51 natural waterfalls of {{convert|10|m}} or more. The highest is [[Bambarakanda Falls]], with a height of {{convert|263|m|ft|0}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka |title=Introducing Sri Lanka |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=17 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717232921/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka |url-status=live }}</ref> Sri Lanka's coastline is {{cvt|1,585|km}} long.<ref name="unep">{{cite web |url=http://www.rrcap.unep.org/pub/soe/srilanka_coastal.pdf |page=86 |title=Depletion of coastal resources |publisher=[[United Nations Environment Programme]] | url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331091614/http://www.rrcap.unep.org/pub/soe/srilanka_coastal.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2012 }}</ref> Sri Lanka claims an [[exclusive economic zone]] extending 200 [[nautical mile]]s, which is approximately 6.7 times Sri Lanka's land area. The coastline and adjacent waters support highly productive marine ecosystems such as [[Fringing reef|fringing]] [[coral reef]]s and shallow beds of coastal and [[Estuary|estuarine]] [[seagrass]]es.<ref name="faosl">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5627E/x5627e09.htm |title=5 Coral Reefs of Sri Lanka: Current Status And Resource Management |publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=7 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307052654/http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5627e/x5627e09.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sri Lanka has 45 [[Estuary|estuaries]] and 40 [[lagoon]]s.<ref name="unep" /> Sri Lanka's [[mangrove]] ecosystem spans over 7,000 [[hectare]]s and played a vital role in buffering the force of the waves in the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami]].<ref name="iucnas">{{cite web |url=http://www.elanguages.org/files/144094 |title=Information Brief on Mangroves in Sri Lanka |publisher=[[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126103137/http://www.elanguages.org/files/144094 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The island is rich in minerals such as [[ilmenite]], [[feldspar]], [[graphite]], [[silica]], [[kaolin]], [[mica]] and [[thorium]].<ref name="minr">{{cite web |url=http://www.indexmundi.com/minerals/?country=lk&product=graphite&graph=production |title=Sri Lanka Graphite Production by Year |publisher=indexmundi.com |year=2009 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=5 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205010400/http://www.indexmundi.com/minerals/?country=lk&product=graphite&graph=production |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="thor">{{cite web |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/13747 |title=Availability of sizeable deposits of thorium in Sri Lanka |work=[[Tissa Vitharana]] | year=2008 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224104852/http://www.asiantribune.com/node/13747 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Existence of [[petroleum]] and gas in the Gulf of Mannar has also been confirmed, and the extraction of recoverable quantities is underway.<ref name="prdssl">{{cite web |url=http://www.prds-srilanka.com/pdfs/Sri_Lanka_Seismic_EIA_Final_Report.pdf |pages=iv–vii |title=Three Dimensional Seismic Survey for Oil Exploration in Block SL-2007-01-001 in Gulf of Mannar–Sri Lanka |publisher=Cairn Lanka |year=2009 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126072118/http://www.prds-srilanka.com/pdfs/Sri_Lanka_Seismic_EIA_Final_Report.pdf |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Geography_of_Sri_Lanka#Climate}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map LKA present.svg|thumb|left|Sri Lanka map of Köppen climate classification]]

The climate is [[Tropical climate|tropical]] and warm because of moderating effects of ocean winds. Mean temperatures range from {{convert|17|°C|°F|1}} in the [[Central Highlands of Sri Lanka|Central Highlands]], where frost may occur for several days in the winter, to a maximum of {{convert|33|C|F|1|abbr=on}} in low-altitude areas. Average yearly temperatures range from {{convert|28|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}} to nearly {{convert|31|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}}. Day and night temperatures may vary by {{convert|14|C-change|F-change|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|18|C-change|F-change|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/theland/climate.htm |title=Climate & Seasons: Sri Lanka |website=mysrilanka.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010151923/http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/theland/climate.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The rainfall pattern is influenced by [[monsoon]] winds from the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. The "wet zone" and some of the windward slopes of the central highlands receive up to {{convert|2500|mm|in|1}} of rain each year, but the leeward slopes in the east and northeast receive little rain. Most of the east, southeast, and northern parts of Sri Lanka constitute the "dry zone", which receives between {{convert|1200|and|1900|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/theland/rainfall.htm |title=Sri Lanka Rainfall |work=mysrilanka.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102072708/http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/theland/rainfall.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The arid northwest and southeast coasts receive the least rain at {{convert|800|to|1200|mm|in|abbr=on}} per year. Periodic squalls occur and sometimes [[tropical cyclone]]s bring overcast skies and rains to the southwest, northeast, and eastern parts of the island. Humidity is typically higher in the southwest and mountainous areas and depends on the seasonal patterns of rainfall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.climatetemp.info/sri-lanka/ |title=Sri Lanka Climate Guide |publisher=climatetemp.info |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625222627/http://www.climatetemp.info/sri-lanka/ |archive-date=25 June 2012}}</ref> An increase in average rainfall coupled with heavier rainfall events has resulted in recurrent flooding and related damages to infrastructure, utility supply and the urban economy.<ref>[http://cdkn.org/resource/integrating-urban-agriculture-and-forestry-into-climate-change-action-plans-lessons-from-sri-lanka/ Integrating urban agriculture and forestry into climate change action plans: Lessons from Sri Lanka] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714214438/http://cdkn.org/resource/integrating-urban-agriculture-and-forestry-into-climate-change-action-plans-lessons-from-sri-lanka/ |date=14 July 2014 }}, Marielle Dubbeling, the RUAF Foundation, 2014</ref>

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{Main|Environment of Sri Lanka|Wildlife of Sri Lanka}}
{{See also|List of mammals of Sri Lanka|List of birds of Sri Lanka}}
[[File:Elephas maximus maximus - 01.jpg|thumb|The [[Sri Lankan elephant]] is one of three recognised [[subspecies]] of the [[Asian elephant]]. The 2011 elephant census estimated a population of 5,879.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/sri-lanka-survey-finds-more-elephants-than-expected-129086673/167947.html |title=Sri Lanka Survey Finds More Elephants Than Expected |date=2 September 2011 |publisher=[[Voice of America]] | access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129112134/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Sri-Lanka-Survey-Finds-More-Elephants-Than-Expected-129086673.html |archive-date=29 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]

The [[Western Ghats]] of India and Sri Lanka were included among the first 18 global [[biodiversity hotspot]]s due to high levels of species endemism. The number of biodiversity hotspots has now increased to 34.<ref name="Current Science">{{cite journal |last1=Gunawardene |first1=N. R. |last2=Daniels |first2=A. E. D. |last3=Gunatilleke |first3=I. A. U. N. |last4=Gunatilleke |first4=C. V. S. |last5=Karunakaran |first5=P. V. |last6=Nayak |first6=K. |last7=Prasad |first7=S. |last8=Puyravaud |first8=P. |last9=Ramesh |first9=B. R. |last10=Subramanian |first10=K. A |last11=Vasanthy |first11=G. |title=A brief overview of the Western Ghats—Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot |journal=Current Science |date=10 December 2007 |volume=93 |issue=11 |pages=1567–1572 |url=http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri_enews/newsletter/issue53/bibliography/115-a-brief-overview-of-the-western-ghats.PDF |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118022902/http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri_enews/newsletter/issue53/bibliography/115-a-brief-overview-of-the-western-ghats.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref> Sri Lanka has the highest biodiversity per unit area among Asian countries for flowering plants and all vertebrate groups except birds.<ref name="mahindapala">{{cite book |last1=Mahindapala |first1=R. |editor1-last=Carew-Reid |editor1-first=J. |title=Biodiversity Planning in Asia |date=2002 |publisher=IUCN |location=Gland, Switzerland |isbn=2-8317-0643-2 |page=451 |url=http://www.icem.com.au/documents/biodiversity/bioplan/sri_lanka.pdf |chapter=Sri Lanka |access-date=17 November 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407151019/http://www.icem.com.au/documents/biodiversity/bioplan/sri_lanka.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> A remarkably high proportion of the species among its flora and fauna, 27% of the 3,210 flowering plants and 22% of the mammals, are [[Endemism|endemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.mongabay.com/2006/1106-interview_ranil.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723163108/http://news.mongabay.com/2006/1106-interview_ranil.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2014 |title=An interview with Dr. Ranil Senanayake, chairman of Rainforest Rescue International |work=news.mongabay.com |access-date=15 July 2014 }}</ref> Sri Lanka supports a rich avifauna of that stands at 453 species and this include 240 species of birds that are known to breed in the country. [[List of endemic birds of Sri Lanka|33 species]] are accepted by some ornithologists as endemic while some ornithologists consider only 27 are endemic and the remaining six are considered as proposed endemics.<ref name="redlist2012">{{cite book |last1=Weerakoon |first1=D. K. |last2=Gunawardena |first2=K. |editor1-last=Weerakoon |editor1-first=D. K. |editor2-last=Wijesundara |editor2-first=S. |title=The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora |date=2012 |publisher=Ministry of Environment |location=Colombo, Sri Lanka |isbn=978-955-0-03355-3 |page=114 |url=http://www.cea.lk/web/images/pdf/redlist2012.pdf |chapter=The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Birds in Sri Lanka |access-date=18 November 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713202136/http://cea.lk/web/images/pdf/redlist2012.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Sri Lanka's protected areas are administrated by two government bodies; The [[Department of Forest Conservation (Sri Lanka)|Department of Forest Conservation]] and the [[Department of Wildlife Conservation (Sri Lanka)|Department of Wildlife Conservation]]. Department of Wildlife Conservation administrates 61 wildlife sanctuaries, 22 national parks, four nature reserves, three strict nature reserves, and one jungle corridor while Department of Forest Conservation oversees 65 conservation forests and one national heritage wilderness area. 26.5% of the country's land area is legally protected. This is a higher percentage of protected areas when compared to the rest of Asia.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Senevirathna |first1=H.M.M.C. |last2=Perera |first2=P.K.P. |title=Wildlife Viewing Preferences of Visitors to Sri Lanka's National Parks: Implications for Visitor Management and Sustainable Tourism Planning |journal=Journal of Tropical Forestry and Environment |year=2013 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=1–10 |doi=10.31357/JTFE.V3I2.1838 |s2cid=58915438 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Sri Lanka contains four terrestrial ecoregions: [[Sri Lanka lowland rain forests]], [[Sri Lanka montane rain forests]], [[Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests]], and [[Deccan thorn scrub forests]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |display-authors=1 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Flowering [[acacia]]s flourish on the arid [[Jaffna Peninsula]]. Among the trees of the dry-land forests are valuable species such as [[Chloroxylon|satinwood]], [[ebony]], [[Mesua ferrea|ironwood]], [[mahogany]] and [[teak]]. The wet zone is a tropical evergreen forest with tall trees, broad foliage, and a dense undergrowth of vines and creepers. Subtropical evergreen forests resembling those of temperate climates flourish in the higher altitudes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/for_cou_144.PDF |title=Forests, Grasslands, and Drylands – Sri Lanka |page=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027053304/http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/for_cou_144.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Rainbirder - Leopard (1).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Sri Lankan leopard]] (''Panthera pardus kotiya'') is an [[endangered species|endangered]] subspecies of [[leopard]] native to Sri Lanka.]]
[[Yala National Park]] in the southeast protects herds of elephant, deer, and peacocks. The [[Wilpattu National Park]] in the northwest, the largest national park, preserves the habitats of many water birds such as storks, pelicans, ibis, and spoonbills. The island has four [[Nature reserve|biosphere reserves]]: [[Bundala National Park|Bundala]], [[Hurulu Forest Reserve]], the [[Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya]], and [[Sinharaja Forest Reserve|Sinharaja]].<ref name="unesco biosphere reserves">{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/contact.asp?code=SRL |title=Sri Lanka |date=1 September 2006 |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |access-date=21 May 2009 |archive-date=4 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204011828/http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/contact.asp?code=SRL |url-status=live }}</ref> Sinharaja is home to 26 endemic birds and 20 rainforest species, including the elusive [[red-faced malkoha]], the [[green-billed coucal]] and the [[Sri Lanka blue magpie]]. The untapped genetic potential of Sinharaja flora is enormous. Of the 211 woody trees and lianas within the reserve, 139 (66%) are endemic. The total vegetation density, including trees, shrubs, herbs, and seedlings, has been estimated at 240,000 individuals per hectare. The Minneriya National Park borders the [[Minneriya Tank]], which is an important source of water for elephants inhabiting the surrounding forests. Dubbed "The Gathering", the congregation of elephants can be seen on the tank-bed in the late dry season (August to October) as the surrounding water sources steadily disappear. The park also encompasses a range of micro-habitats which include classic dry zone tropical monsoonal evergreen forest, thick stands of giant bamboo, hilly pastures (patanas), and grasslands (talawas).<ref name="Minneriya">{{cite web |url=http://trabanatours.com/locations/minneriya/ |title=Minneriya National Park |publisher=trabanatours.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=16 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516114439/http://trabanatours.com/locations/minneriya/ |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

[[File:Rhododendron arboreum zeylanicum flower.jpg|thumb|Maha rath mala (''Rhododendron arboreum'' ssp. ''zeylanicum'') is a rare sub-species of ''[[Rhododendron arboreum]]'' found in [[Central Highlands of Sri Lanka]].]]

During the Mahaweli Program of the 1970s and 1980s in northern Sri Lanka, the government set aside four areas of land totalling {{convert|1900|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} as national parks. Statistics of Sri Lanka's forest cover show rapid deforestation from 1956 to 2010. In 1956, 44.2 percent of the country's land area had forest cover. Forest cover depleted rapidly in recent decades; 29.6 percent in 1999, 28.7 percent in 2010.<ref name="forests">{{cite journal |last1=Ranagalage |first1=M. |last2=Gunarathna |first2=M. H. J. P. |last3=Surasinghe |first3=T. D. |last4=Dissanayake |first4=D. M. S. L. G. |last5=Simwanda |first5=M. |last6=Murayama |first6=Y. |last7=Morimoto |first7=T. |last8=Phiri |first8=D. |last9=Nyirenda |first9=V. R. |last10=Premakantha |first10=K. T. |last11=Sathurusinghe |first11=A. |title=Multi-Decadal Forest-Cover Dynamics in the Tropical Realm: Past Trends and Policy Insights for Forest Conservation in Dry Zone of Sri Lanka |journal=Forests |date=1 August 2020 |volume=11 |issue=8 |pages=836 |doi=10.3390/f11080836 |url=https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/8/836/pdf |doi-access=free |bibcode=2020Fore...11..836R |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106110416/https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/forests/forests-11-00836/article_deploy/forests-11-00836-v2.pdf?version=1596439027 |url-status=live }}</ref>