Topography
The topography of the division consists of typical hills and plain lowlands and three main topographic zones can be identified.
- Steep Slope Upland Zone – These features are found in the southern half of the Divisional Secretariat where forest and rubber plantation are the main land uses. Kalupahana Kanda takes the maximum here and it is 251 meters.
- Moderately sloped zone – This characteristic zone in the northern half of the division is dominated by rubber and coconut cultivation.
- Plains Zone – These features are found in the central and southern parts of the division. Paddy and temporary crops are grown in this zone.
The soil
The main soil type of the divisional secretariat is red and podzolic soil mixed with soft lateroite. Agalawatta division does not have a great variety of soil types due to the uniform climate and mountainous features throughout the division. There are two main categories of soil distribution according to topography.
- Plains – humic brown soil mixed with alluvial soil, mixed alluvial soil, marshy soil, reddish yellow podzolic soil mixed with soft laterite.
- Upland – Red-yellow podzolic modal soil, red-yellow podzolic soil in stony and eroded areas, red-yellow podzolic soil in stony and eroded areas, humic alluvial brown soil, marshy soil and alluvial soil with mixed textures.
The Highways
The main road from Kalutara to Matugama extends through Agalawatta towards Kalawana. This road covers a distance of about 24 kilometers to the Divisional Secretariat. There are main roads leading from Bulathsinhala towards Agalawatta and from Agalawatta to Vallavi. The minor roads connected to the small towns of Latpandura and Baduraliya are spread throughout the Agalawatta division.
Weather
Agalawatta Divisional Secretariat belongs to Lowland Wet Zone (WLI) in terms of agro-ecological zone. The annual rainfall is about 1900-3175 mm. The highest rainfall is received in the months of May and June and it is about 3000 mm. Precipitation is mainly received by southwest monsoon winds and significant rainfall is received by northeast monsoon winds and convection systems. The average temperature is around 27.5 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity is 80 – 85 %. There is sunshine throughout the year and there are no periods of strong winds. February is the hottest month.
Flooding
The water table area already protected in Agalawatta Divisional Secretariat is 16 hectares. It is 0.18% of total Bm. These include small canals fed by Gallak canal and canal, which is a feeder canal of Kalu River flowing northwards in the Regional Secretariat Division, small canals fed by Pelawathu Oya which is a feeder canal of Bentara River flowing in the south direction, and small canals fed by Beravadola which is a tributary canal of Bentara River flowing in the west direction. The capacity of the water bodies is reduced due to people using these water bodies for economic crop cultivation and habitations in the catchment areas (water sources) as well as plantation companies removing rubber plantations and cultivating coconuts. This problem can be largely avoided by protecting water sources. Water sources can be identified in all 34 domains of the division. Many tributaries leading to Kalungga originate from this divisional secretariat. The Maguru River flows from south to north in the middle of the Ala Division. Halukiridola, Perani Ganga and Makeliadola coming from Agalawatta North/North-Eastern border join together in Bulathsinghala Divisional Secretariat to form Kuda Ganga and it joins Kaluganga.
Precipitation
As it is situated on the south-west border of the central hills, it receives heavy rainfall during the south-west monsoon during the yala season and during the remaining months of the year. Rainfall is between 4000-4500 mm. The annual average rainfall is about 4000 mm. Rain is received throughout the year through the following methods.
- March-April – Inter-monsoon period
- Mid-May – September – Southwest Monsoon period
- September – October – Inter-monsoon period
- November – January – Northeast monsoon period