Overview
The Meteorological Station of the Faculty of Agriculture serves as one of the principal meteorological observation stations of the Southern Region of Sri Lanka. It plays a key role in the collection, recording, and dissemination of meteorological data that supports both agricultural research and national weather monitoring.
Development & Modernisation
The station has undergone significant development over the years. With the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the station has been upgraded to a fully automated meteorological station. This upgrade has substantially improved data accuracy, real-time recording capability, and integration with national meteorological networks.
Collaboration
- Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka — The station shares data with the national Department of Meteorology as part of the national observation network
- JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) — Provided technical and financial support for the station’s automation and modernisation
- Faculty Researchers — Data from the station is actively used in faculty research projects on crop physiology, agroclimatology, and climate change impacts on agriculture
Data & Research Support
The station collects and records a wide range of meteorological parameters including:
- Rainfall (daily and cumulative)
- Temperature (maximum, minimum, mean)
- Relative humidity
- Wind speed and wind direction
- Solar radiation
- Evaporation
These data are invaluable to researchers studying crop water requirements, irrigation scheduling, disease forecasting, and climate variability in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.