First meeting of the Editorial Board of the Soil Atlas of Asia, 12 - 15 March 2018, Quezon City, Philippines. The preparation of the Soil Atlas of Asia is sponsored by Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC-EC).

1. Reports and other soil maps that can be used for the Soil
Atlas:
1. Soils and Agro-Ecological Environments of Sri Lanka.
Information : Descriptions of Great Soil Groups of Soil Map of Sri
Lanka – 1972.
2. Soils of the Dry Zone, Intermediate Zone and Wet Zone.
Information : Morphology, Characteristics and classification of 122
soil series of Sri Lanka.
3. Fact sheets of soil series of Dry, Intermediate and Wet Zones
Information : Soil Physico-chemical properties of benchmark soil
profiles.
4. Soil K map of Sri Lanka (0-30 cm depth) by Vitharana (2017)
5. Soil Organic Carbon Stock Map of Sri Lanka (0-30 cm, 30-100 cm)
30 m resolution by Vitharana et al (in review process)
6. Detailed maps of P, K of paddy soils of Kurunegala, Pollonnaruwa
and Anuradhapura Districts (Rathnayake et al : only few maps
published)
Experience as editor:
Network:
Name of the presenter: Main areas of
expertise:
Country:
Dr. Udaya W.A. Vitharana
Sri Lanka Editor of Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka – 8 years
USA, Canada, Belgium, India, Thailand and China
Digital Soil Mapping, Pedometrics, Proximal Soil Sensing
Soil information available at National Level
Map : Soil Map of Sri Lanka - 1972
Scale : 1:500,000
Map Units : Great Soil Groups (Local)
: 27 map units
ClassificaCon: Soil Taxonomy – Great
group
: World Soil Resources (WSR)
Digital data: Available
Soil maps of Sri Lanka : Dry Zone (RF < 1750 mm), Intermediate Zone ( RF 1750 – 2500 mm) and Wet Zone (RF >2500 mm)
Scale : 1:250,000 to 1:500,000 Years: 1999 - 2010
Map Units : Soil Series – ConsociaCons, AssociaCons and Complexes
ClassificaCon: Soil Taxonomy – Sub group level, FAO classificaCon
Digital data: Partly DigiCzed informaCon available
Remarks : Individual maps can be integrated, maps of soil orders, suborders, greatgroups can be devised
Soil Priorities at the national level:
1. Combating Soil Erosion
Water and Wind erosion has caused decline of productivity in 50%
of agricultural lands.
Implementation of Soil Conservation Act (SCA)– 1956 in Sri Lanka
Declaration of Central highland of Sri Lanka as a high-sensitive area
under SCA.
Mapping of Erosion Hazard Zones (Jayasekara et al, 2017).
2. Fertility Decline
Net decrease in available nutrients and organic matter.
Productivity of 30% of Agricultural lands has significantly affected
due to declining soil fertility.
3. Dystrification
Lowering of soil pH by increasing acidic compounds
Upcountry (elevation >900 m) wet zone (RF >2500 mm).
4. Salinization
Affected the productivity of low country (elevation < 300 m) dry
zone (RF <1750 mm).
5. Soil Pollution
Agricultural areas : Contamination by trace metals such as Cd, Se,
Cu, As.
Presently, Base-line concentrations are being established.