The physiography of Sri Lanka categorized it into 3 zones (Figure 3 ): the highest peneplain, the middle peneplain, and the lowest peneplain. There are two theories suggested by Adam and Wadia on the origin of these peneplains. According to Adam, the highest peneplain is the oldest due to the slow vertical rising of the island throughout the geological history. However, Wadia suggested the other way around saying that the highlands are the youngest by vertical uplift of large blocks of the crust along the faults. This is called as block uplift.

The rugged Central Highlands, is least like a peneplain but more like a complex of plateaus, mountain chains and valleys, is the heart of the country. The core of this area is a high plateau, running north-south for approximately 65 kilometers also extending east and west, stretching from Kirigalpotta (2395 m) to Pidurutalagala (2524 m) and then Namunukula (2,036 m) to Sri Pada (2,243 meters). On the east, the Uva Basin consists of rolling hills, traversed by some gorges resulting number of fine water falls (Diyaluma, Bambarakanda etc). To the north, separated from the main body central highlands, lies the Knuckles Massif. South of Sri Pada lie the parallel ridges of the Rakwana Hills.

This middle plain starts with 600 m and run up to 1200 m above mean sea level. The abrupt transition from the plain to the Central Highlands is in the southeast of the mountains is appear to rise up like a wall.

The island's surface consists of plains 600 m above sea level and categorized into the lowest peneplain. On the west the peneplain is narrower in extent than in the north. The north coastal peneplain is remarkably flat. Number of scattered steep sided rock hills (Sigiriya, Yapahuwa) is present throughout this flat plain. These are called ‘erosion remnants’ or ‘inselbergs’. They are made of weathering resistant granitic rocks with a large proportion of quartz, one of the most indestructible rock forming minerals. These gave an indication of the original height of the peneplain.  The best place to observe the three major peneplains is Haputale in a sunny, clear day.

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