Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple

Relief generation and soil in the dry zone of Sri Lanka

Research reveals that the dry zone of Sri Lanka, characterized by less than 1750 mm annual rainfall and at least three arid months, corresponds with the climatic boundary for recent latosol formation. The study identifies a youngest planation surface marked by inselbergs and inselberg massifs in regions like Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, and Dambulla. Higher elevations around these embayments exhibit strips of older planation surfaces visible from landmarks such as Sigiriya Rock and the Dambulla Cave Temple. The research also highlights large hollows or caves formed in bare rock inselbergs within this zone, offering insights into the geomorphological and pedological dynamics of the area.