Sri Lanka is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, with a warm and humid climate influenced by its geographical position between 6°N and 10°N latitude. The country has four distinct climate seasons: the two monsoons—the southwest monsoon (Yala) from May to October and the northeast monsoon (Maha) from December to March, as well as two inter-monsoonal periods. The southwest monsoon brings heavy rainfall to the western, southern, and central highlands, while the northeast monsoon affects the northern and eastern regions (Climate Change Knowledge Portal). Average annual temperatures range between 28°C and 30°C in coastal areas and can drop to around 15°C in the central highlands. However, due to climate change, Sri Lanka is experiencing increasing temperatures, with projections indicating a rise of up to 3.5°C by 2100 under high-emission scenarios (World Bank Group). 

Additionally, Sri Lanka is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, landslides, and cyclones, which have intensified in recent decades. Sri Lanka experiences significant spatial and temporal variations in droughts and floods. Climate change is intensifying these challenges by increasing rainfall variability and extreme temperatures, leading to new risks such as salinity intrusion, coastal erosion, and sea level rise. The rising frequency and intensity of climate-induced disasters pose a growing threat to the country’s socioeconomic development. (Asian Development Bank).  

In response, Sri Lanka has developed various adaptation and mitigation strategies, including commitments under its NDC (2021) to the Paris Agreement. These efforts focus on enhancing disaster resilience, promoting sustainable agriculture, improving water resource management, and transitioning to renewable energy sources.