Browsing by Author "Dharmasiri, L.M."

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Issues and Solutions for Municipal Waste Management in Sri Lanka
    (Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kularatnte, M.G.; Amarasinghe, A.G.; Premarathna, W.M.A.G.H.; Premarathna, W.M.A.G.H.; Dharmasiri, L.M.; Chandrasena, U.A.; Sakalasooriya, N.; Waniganeththi, G.; Fernando, V.; Rathnasekara, S.; Wijesekara, S.; Senarathna, D.; Arunashantha, S.
    The waste disposed into the open environment from day today human activities, gradually has increased and created significant socio- economic, health and environmental issues. Ultimately it has become a burning political problem at present. Inefficiency in waste management strategies further aggravate the issues preventing national objective of the clear environment. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the factors that influence technical efficiency of waste management and ways and means to maximize that efficiency under Pilisaru Project funded by Central Environmental Authority in Sri Lanka, The data has collected from the sample size which is represented 22% of currently active compost plants by the stratified random sampling considering all forms of administrative local authorities (LAs). Though several Pilisaru projects have achieved a satisfactory level of expected results. The majority are inefficient due to some reasons. The projects mainly target to produce only organic compost and some biomass power generation but no other alternatives concerned. Segregation of waste for compost production is a prerequisite, however, waste segregation is an unsolvable issue due to the various reasons. Another issue is whether condition which is beyond the control of human effort of the natural process of composting. LA s mainly collects only solid waste and they do not collect liquid waste from the sources of waste generation. Basically, compost production in the Pilisaru compost plants is labour intensive. Therefore, it requires more man power for handling the compost production. Lack of land for the expansion of the compost plants and the ongoing process of composting is time consuming are other barriers. Finally, ongoing compost production system is not the eco-friendly. Compost users do not satisfy and trust with the quality of compost produced by the municipal solid waste and no proper market mechanism and distribution. Labourers and other employers are not satisfied with the benefits they get including salary. The efficient waste management system must ensure to produce all possible product other than organic compost. For this new technology should be introduced. Compost should be promoted among the small scale/ subsistence farmers at first and then in large scale agricultural areas with the proper certification procedure. Municipal waste is hidden treasure on the development of righteous agriculture in Sri Lanka with the application of proper scientific and technical method of waste treatment. Therefore, we recommend establishing "Waste Recycling Centres" with the environmentally recycling system (ERS) such a High Speed Indigenous Microbes Fermentation System (ERS).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Land ownership and land management: a case study of Karuwalagaswewa, Sri Lanka
    (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, 2009) Dharmasiri, L.M.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Some insight into the land use issues in the irrigated settlements in Sri Lanka: a study at East-Peraru Colony in the Kanthale Divisional Secretariat
    (Culture, Globalization and the Developing World, 2nd ICSS, 2013) Rathnayaka, R.M.R.B.; Peiris, T.S.U.; Alwis, L.K.K.D.; Rathnayaka, R.M.C.P.; Chathurangi, K.D.D.; Ediriweera, E.P.P.; Dharmasiri, L.M.
    Land has been man?s habitat, living space and a matter of life and death of survival or starvation. Being one of the most scare resource in the world, the demand for land has been accelerating due to continuous growth of population and providing them with shelter, food production, commercial activities, infrastructural facilities and cultural requirements etc. Land utilization at different levels and scales has also been changing temporally and spatially to satisfy those human needs. In a country like Sri Lanka, where the population density is high and small size of the country, land fragmentation is very much evident in the context of changing land use pattern. In particular, the process of land fragmentation along with encroachments and unsuitable land use practices persist in the irrigation settlements in the Dry zone of the country in response to emerging pressure on land. The objective of the study was to find out the prevailing land use issues in the East-Peraru village of the Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka. Field level data were obtained from the sample of farmers by administering structured questionnaires and conducting individual discussions. Land use changes were examined by using 1:50,000 maps which have been prepared by the Department of Survey and field level observations. It was further analyze by using GPS and GIS methodologies. The major outcomes of the study are (a). Encroachers of state land are higher among farm families, (b). Nearly 35 percent of lands are yet underutilized and (c). Land productivity is below the optimum level. A systematic land use plans and land ownership regulation measures are needed to overcome the present issues. Attention of the Government officials as well as peasants of the area should be focused to maintain sustainable land management system.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Spatial and Temporal Variation of Drought Hazard in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka
    (Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Gunawardhana, L.M.A.P.; Dharmasiri, L.M.
    Drought is the deficiency of water for various purposes or shortage of rainfall within the expected period of time. There is no universal accepted definition for drought because it is vary from region to region. But impacts of drought are higher than other natural hazards because drought can be extended large geographical area. Sri Lanka is one of the countries which is highly prone to drought hazard. Especially, North Central Province (NCP) is wholly situated in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka which receives less than 1750mm annual average rainfall therefore more vulnerable for drought. More than 95% of people in the NCP are depend on agriculture. Due to the frequent drought events they losses their agricultural production causing many socio-economic and environmental issues. The study was aimed at to identify spatial and temporal variation of drought in the NCP using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Geographical Information System (GIS). Both primary and secondary data were used for this research. Primary data were collected using questionnaire, group discussion, interviews. Secondary data were collected from the Department of Meteorology. Nine meteorological stations covering last 60 years and the NCP selected for the study. GIS interpolation technique used to identify spatial distribution of rainfall over NCP. Time series analysis and calculating SPI were used to identify temporal distribution of drought in the NCP. Results highlighted there is a significant variation of spatial distribution of rainfall in the area. Negative SPI values clearly indicate drought events is frequent and increasing during the past six decades. It was evident that the farmers have been adopting different techniques to face the challengers of drought hazards.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item