The importance of less developed countries to increase the agricultural production, in order to improve food supplies and generate employment and income, requires the removal of resources constraints by improving agricultural practices and identifying land suitable for different agricultural activities. This Minor Field Study (MFS) is made within the present Sida/SAREC-financed research project ìRegional Development in an Open Economy ñ a comparative study of Hambantota and Gampaha districts, Sri Lankaî. The purpose is to investigate, by the means of both the qualitative measures of interviews and the quantitative measures of a land suitability classification, the cultivation potential in the study area. The study area is located within Hambantota district in the dry southeastern part of Sri Lanka. Twenty-six interviews of farmers and administrative personnel were performed, and the interview analysis shows that, even if it is impossible to extend the cultivated area, it seems possible to increase the crop yield, to change between crops and especially between wet paddy (rice plant) and banana. A point system was used in the land suitability classification with respect to the physical and chemical requirements of wet paddy and banana, and the classification includes the parameters of soil fertility, drainage, texture, depth and pH. The results shows that three of the five great soil groups present in the study area to a certain extent are suitable for paddy cultivation and that two of the five great soil groups to a certain extent are suitable for banana cultivation. As a simple test of the classification, the percentage of the total paddy area that falls within the area of suitable soils were calculated and resulted in the percentage value of 96.4 %. Even if there are limitations in the classification, it does fulfil the purpose of picturing the situation, and above all, it points at the possibility of a more accurate and elaborate fuzzy land suitability classification in the future.