The local inhabitants are for the most part Sinharaja by race Buddhist by religion. Judging from studies done on village life on the north-western boundary, the villages of the area are not very large but consist of about 20 to 50 families living in a fairly close-knit community. The family structure is that of an extended family with parents, children and grandparents living together. Although the older generation of villagers have not had much formal education, the young are literate. Primary schools have been established just outside the boundaries of the Reserve. Secondary schooling is available only in the larger village of the region which are 5 to 10 kilometers away. Modern health facilities too are only found in the larger towns such as Kalawana which is 16 kilometers away from the forest. The villagers however are relatively healthy and physically fit.

                    The houses have a small floor area, averaging 25 square meters, and are constructed of wattle and daub. A house usually consists of a verandah, 1-2 rooms and kitchen, or perhaps, more simply of one single room divided into different areas with thatched screens. The roof is thatched with leaves of Beru (Agrostistachys serumica) or with bamboo leaves. (Ochlandra stridula). Lately however, coconut leaf thatch and clay tiles have begun to gain popularity as roofing material.

                The staple food is rice. Yams such as sweet potato (Ipomoea batata) and manioc (Manihot utilissima) ; bread-fruit (Artocarps incisus) and jak-fruit (A. heterophyllus), grown in home gardens, are often used as substitutes for rice. Other plants commonly found in home garden are vines of betel (Piper betel), black pepper (P. nigrum) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) ; fruit trees such as papaya (Carica papaya) and plantain (Musa paradisica) are also grown by the villagers. For his other needs the villager walks great distances to the closest town. Various forest plants are also used for food, medicine and small wood needs.