Females have eight mammae. Otherwise, this rodent has been reported to burrow only rarely and to locate its nest on the ground or just above the ground, usually in dense grass. The globular nest is made of plant fibers and is 150-230 mm i n diameter. Golunda is a good climber but usually moves about on the ground in definite runways. It is most active in the early morning and evening.
Individuals generally live alone or in family groups.
The number of embryos averaged 6.6 and ranged from 5 to 10. Earlier reports indicated the usual number of young to be 3-4. When coffee was grown in Sri Lanka, the bush rat became extremely plentiful and did great damage to the crops by eating the buds and blossoms of the coffee plant. It has been suggested that the animals migrated to the plantations, but it is probable that they simply increased in numbers in response to the abundant food supply. Coffee is no longer planted in Sri Lanka, and bush rat numbers have decreased substantially.