Browsing by Author "Sakalasooriya, N"

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Community adaptation for frequent urban flood the case from Keravalapitiya GN Division
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Buddhima, S.M.D; Sakalasooriya, N
This study investigates the community adaptation for a frequent urban flood. In tropical climates, urban flash floods have been increased and the vulnerability is also increased due to climate changes. According to the international rankings, Sri Lanka has been ranked second among the countries most affected by extreme weather events in 20 years since 1998. The 2019 Long-Term Climate Risk Index, published by Germanwatch, has listed Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, and Dominica as the top three affected countries. The study has selected the Keravalapitiya G.N division in the Wattala urban council area of the Gampaha District in the Western Province of Sri Lanka because this urban area faces frequent floods due to the geographic location on the coastal belt of the This study was done under mixed-methods and the primary data were collected from 50 households using a questionnaire. Maps, satellite images, aerial photos have been used for the secondary data. The study reveals that community adaptation is not satisfactory because each time the victims are suffered from the flood. Anyway, this community does not migrate to a safer area because they are lower-income families and they have no other alternative. The study points out that, all the victims of the flood are an economically and socially marginal community. According to the low gradient of the slope, drainage pattern, climate pattern, and frequency of floods, the most sustainable solution is to relocate the community into a new housing scheme.
Differentiations of development standards of the colonists settled under the Mahaweli Development Programme in Sri Lanka; A comparative study of Teldeniya and Uttalapura villages
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Dissanayake, H.K.V.S; Sakalasooriya, N
Mahaweli development program is considered as a successful project implemented in Sri Lanka. People from different parts of the island were provided lands and the main objectives of this multipurpose development project are to reduce the density of the population in the wet zone, increase food production, reduce poverty, and increase hydropower generation. Consequently. The number of people moved from marginal areas of the wet climatic zone to newly irrigated lands of Dry Climatic Zone in Sri Lanka. This comparative study examines the contrast of economic, socio-cultural, and political development of these new settlers in Dry Zone and people who stayed at their traditional villages in Wet Zone. A clear understanding can be obtained here, as to who has achieved a higher development level. The study has been carried out both in The Uttalapura village which belongs to the Mahaweli System- “C” in Ampara District, and in the Teldeniya in Kandy district. Primary and secondary sources have been used in collecting data. In this study, 20 families were chosen from Uttalapura village and another 20 families were chosen from the Teldeniya under a random sampling method. The results clearly show that the settlers who were settled earlier under the Mahaweli scheme had slow progress of development than traditional villagers who have stayed in their marginal settlements. On the other hand, there was a drawback in their educational and social development compared to the villagers who remained in their native places. Future more there is a tendency for people to get into early marriages. Though there is a low level of socio-cultural development in their infrastructure facilities. People who remained in areas like Teldeniya depend on the salary drawn from their respective employers. They have less opportunity of earning an additional income. But the people who were settled under the Mahaweli development project can grow other crops which bring them an additional income in addition to paddy cultivation. They are also provided with modern machinery by the government and they carry on various other business affairs with the help of the government. Because of these reasons they are economically developed. The conclusion is that the people who settled in Mahaweli development areas are liable to adjust themselves to new situations than those who remained in their traditional villages and therefor their socio-economic development and educational development level will gradually improve in the future.
Environmental Sensitivity of farmers in intensive subsistence agriculture: The case from Madagama Agrarian Service Area in Moneragala
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Priyadarshani, H.M.R; Sakalasooriya, N
The farmers who engage in intensive subsistence agriculture directly depends on the natural environment and its processes. Accordingly, the farmers must have an appropriate environmental understanding of their natural environment. In intensive subsistence agriculture, the framers are constantly connected with environmental factors and processes like weather, topography, soil, drainage, and vegetation, etc. Especially, in the Dry Climatic Zone of Sri Lanka, there are many environmental fluxes Belong unaware the above environmental factors can create environmental problems like soil erosion, soil degradation, deforestation, salinity, forest burning and biological threats. Likewise, the main objective of the current research is to examine the level of environmental sensitivity of rural farmers and how they apply their knowledge to sustain agriculture. This study was done under the approaches of Agricultural Geography and Human Ecology with the mixed method. A sample of fourteen farmers was selected to collect primary data from the Thambana domain belonging to the Madagama Agrarian Services Area in Moneragala District. The random sampling method was applied to Madagama selected as the simple according to a random sampling method to obtain primary data. Primary data were collected by questionnaires, interviews and site observation. Quantitative data was analyzed by MS excel and GIS software, then produced ables and charts for presenting evidence. The study clearly shows that the environmental sensitivity of farmers is significantly low and consequently, the research revealed that the lack of environmental awareness has led to environmental problems such as greening, forest burning, soil degradation, salinity, animal hunting, and wild animal invasions, and environmental pollution. The farmer awareness programs on their natural environment should be conducted by the Agrarian service centers because all the farmers in Dry Climatic Zone suffer from the results of climate changes.
Factors affecting Underutilization of land in rural peripheral areas by Dompe Divisional Secretariat.
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Priyadarshani, K.N; Sakalasooriya, N
Agriculture is primarily linked to the rural sector. Accordingly, an agricultural society can be found in the rural sector. Dompe Division can be identified as a rural peripheral area. The land is important as an asset in an agrarian country like Sri Lanka. With the increasing population, the problem of not using land properly is a problem when food production is a challenge. It can be identified as an obstacle to development. Unemployment in Sri Lanka is not only a matter of food supply but also of the importance of utilizing agricultural land more effectively in import and payment issues. Interviews and questionnaires were used as primary data for the study, while the secondary data was obtaining from articles, papers, journals, etc. Form several institutions that were involved in the study. Three villages in the Dompe area were selected on a judicial scale under the non-random sampling method as the study sample. A total of 45 units were selected as the study sample from 15 farmer families in three villages at 12%. The main reason for this is the lack of knowledge of the farmers on their land development. Another major factor is the lack of coordination between official and landlords. Farmers should be provided with the necessary advice and knowledge to develop their home garden in accordance with a proper land-use plan. Improvement of land resources development, micro utilization and sustainability for a better future through measures of attitudinal change.
Factors determining the changes in agricultural land use pattern in Nugethota Grama Niladari Division: 1971 -2008; A political ecological analysis
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Ayeshika, W.K.D; Sakalasooriya, N
The land is the most important natural resource and it provides fundamental human needs such as water, air and food and minerals etc. However, the equilibrium of the environment has been collapsed at present due to the attempts of fulfilling the unlimited wants of humans. Consequently, modern agriculture land-use patterns have also been changed due to many reasons. This study investigates the major land-use changes and the major causes of these land-use changes in the Nugethota village. This study uses the politicalecological approach under the mixed method of study. The land-use maps, aerial photographs, and Google images between 1971 to 2018 have been used as secondary data. For finding the causes of land-use changes, the primary data was collected from field observations of, focused group discussions, and questionnaires. According to the study, the economic value of land and the price fluctuations of agricultural products are the main reasons for land cover changes in the area. Personal attitudes, lack of agricultural labour, development projects in the area and surrounding regions are the other reasons.
Factors of rural chronic poverty in Sri Lanka: The case from Ridiyagama Grama Niladari Division
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Madhusanka, K.A.L.; Sakalasooriya, N
As a lower-middle-income country, Sri Lanka has different types of poverty including chronic poverty. Though all the successive governments of Sri Lanka have implemented different types of poverty reduction programs and strategies, still there is chronic poverty in both urban and rural settlements. This study examines the factors of rural chronic poverty and to make possible recommendations for policymakers to eliminate rural chronic poverty in Sri Lanka. The study uses mixed-method and especially attention.on the case study method using qualitative and quantitative data. Ridiyagama Grama Niladari Division of Ambalantota Divisional Secretariat Division in the Hambantota District was selected for the study area. Hence to achieve the target, randomly selected 50 families have been interviewed with a semistructured questionnaire. Field observations focused group discussions and key informant discussions have been used to collect qualitative data. The secondary data were collected from Central Bank reports relevant books, findings of similar researches, maps, websites and databases and resource profiles of the case study area. The study has revealed that the lower education, lack of job opportunity, social stratification, undernutrition, and poor health conditions, cultural attitudes, lack of political and social strengths, dependency on government subsidies, are the main reasons of chronic rural poverty. It is essential to identify and map the chronic property clusters in the rural area and close monitoring and evaluation processes should also be introduced to eliminate rural chronic poverty.
Factors of transforming knowledge, attitudes, and skills of the undergraduates of the Faculty of Arts in Sri Lankan Universities; A case from the Faculty of Social Sciences in the University of Kelaniya
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Deeshana., G.D.T.; Sakalasooriya, N
A large number of students are recruited to the faculties of arts in the state university of Sri Lanka. The Faculty of Social Science of the University of Kelaniya also has a large number of undergraduate compared to other faculties. The question is that arises when the graduate who follows a degree in Arts has a competent level of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become a perfect graduate to the current job market and social wellbeing. It is also questionable whether the graduate has a significant role in Sri Lanka at present. The objective of this research is to investigate the factors that influence the development of the students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes during the four year of study in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Kelaniya. The final year undergraduates of the Faculty of Social Sciences were selected for this because they have already spent four years in the university. The final year students who are all studying in 18 streams of the 12 Departments of Social Sciences were selected as the sample. Accordingly, the number of final year undergraduates in the Faculty of Social Sciences was 833. Accordingly, the questionnaires were given to the selected students under the sampling method, representing 10% of all the fields of study. Analyzing the data and finally drawing into conclusions, it was revealed that the use of the internet has been a major contributor to knowledge transformation. Being able to associate with different people has transformed attitudes. The majority were willing to be a public sector employer. There has been a significant improvement in presentation skills and no significant improvement in other skills.
Progress of the university internship program on professional skill development of undergraduates in Faculty of Social Sciences in University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Hansika, D.G.N; Sakalasooriya, N
This study evaluates the Progress of the university internship program on professional skill development of undergraduates in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Kelaniya. The majority of Arts graduates of Sri Lankan universities have been suffering to finding a first job. On the other hand, the researches show that the lack of professional experience is one of the major reason for hunting a job. Consequently, The Arts faculties of Sri Lankan universities have introduced an institutional internship program to provide professional experience and targeted to reduce the waiting period for the first job. In the process, it is imperative to find out how the internships offered by the universities contribute to the development of students' professional skills. There has also been the realization that imparting the relevant practical skills is a partnership between the training institution and prospective employers through student internships. However, despite these positive intentions, interns on field attachment have faced serious challenges among which are insufficient time and lack of funding for the programs. The main objective of this program is to study the problems and challenges they face during the training period Concurrent studies often identify a gap in the quality of these training, and there are some problems when it comes to employer or marketplace services. The Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Kelaniya was selected as the study area for this study The reason for the selection of this sample was the fact that the University of Kelaniya has the lowest graduate employment rate of 41.6% and the unemployment rate is 25.5%. 80 students were selected from 833 students in the Faculty of Social Sciences under the simple random sampling method. Secondary data and primary data are used for data collection The observational method collects data under a selective, questionnaire Internship training is very important in the development of students' professional skills in this research. The need for the reorganization of the training was identified to be beneficial to the student professionally while minimizing the problems and challenges encountered in the training. Similarly, quarterly training on vocational skills development is influenced by the changes that need to be made at the university, institutional and individual levels.
Reasons for rapid urbanization in Kadawatha, Sri Lanka
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Madubashini, H.A.C.; Sakalasooriya, N
Comparatively to other developing countries, the growth of cities and urban populations is very slow in Sri Lanka. Kadawtha was a small township on the Colombo-Kandy road and it has been rapidly developed during the last 20 years. This research discloses the reasons for rapid urbanization in Kadawatha town during the last 02 decades, 2000-2019. Especially, the Kadawatha has located within the Colombo megalopolis. The study was designed under the approaches of Urban Geography and especially concerned about morphological changes and expansion of services service locations of the town during the 20 years. Google images, satellite images, land use maps and published reports and documents of relevant data gathered for secondary data. Using questionnaires, focused group discussions, observations and key informant discussions were the main strategies to collect primary quantitative and qualitative data collections. According to the study, the expansion of the expressway network and Kadawatha expressway interchange is the main reason for the rapid urbanization. Expansion of medical facilities and newly established hospitals in Ragama junction near to Kadawatha, expansion of new bus stand, increasing the inmigration into Kadawatha and surrounding areas, newly established Kadawatha “Kandy” shopping mall and development plan of Colombo megalopolis are the other major reasons for Kadawath rapid urbanization.
Scopes for increasing saving opportunities in rural low-income households; with special reference to Kalahagala Grama Niladari Division
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Gunasekara, S.C.P. D.S; Sakalasooriya, N
Sri Lanka is a developing country for a long time and now it has become a lower-middle-income country. In the development process, human resource contributes a lot and household plays a major role. Their income and expenditure levels decide the household savings. The significant number of rural households still can be categorized as low-income households. Therefore the savins rate of rural areas is significantly low. There are 82% of the total population of Sri Lanka live in rural areas. Therefore it is essential to increase the savings of rural low-income households. The main purpose of this study is to study the barriers to improve the savings of rural low-income households in Sri Lanka and find the scopes for increasing savings in rural lower-income families. In this research, Kalahagala Grama Niladari Division of Thamankaduwa Divisional Secretariat Division in Polonnaruwa District was selected as the study region. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Especially the primary data were collected by questionnaires, interviews and site observations mixed methods. Secondary data were collected from the books, research reports, Samurdhi bank reports and journal articles on websites. The study reveals that the barriers of the money savings of the rural low-income households were new trending of people to apply for loans from micro-financial institutions and people expanding money without a farsighted plan. Consequently, these loan processes have increased the rural indebtedness unprecedently. Therefor new scientific understanding of investments and entrepreneurship should be provided to the rural lower-income families.
Scopes in the non-agricultural sector livelihoods for the rural community; The case from Siripagama Grama Niladhari Division
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Nilmini, K.D.G; Sakalasooriya, N
Sri Lanka has long been recognized as a country with an agricultural economy. The rural people were accustomed to a self-sufficient way of life based on agriculture. Agriculture contributed much to the Sri Lankan economy. Sri Lanka’s agriculture, which began with paddy cultivation was subsequently based on commercial crops. It has caused a new transformation in the economy of the country. The rural population had to adapt to that transformation in agriculture. Later industrialization spread throughout the world. This has led to a gradual decline in the demand for agriculture. It also affected Sri Lanka. At present many people are engaged in agriculture due to the lack of other strategies. It is impossible to earn a profitable income. As such, the nonagricultural sector is important as an approach to relieve the rural masses from poverty and go to gain economic benefits. Accordingly, the main objective of this research was to identify the potential for directing the people towards nonagricultural income generation and to make them aware. This research was conducted in the Siripagama GND of the Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat. Primary data were collected through questionnaires, direct or indirect privet discussions and observation. Secondary data were obtained from the Grama Niladhari Officer, Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat, Books, Maps, Charts, Census records, Periodicals, and the Internet. This research identified several non-agricultural livelihoods that could be implemented in the Siripagama GND and also introduced some innovations to create a new market and generate a higher income.
Social impact of chronic poverty in rural areas of Sri Lanka; An experience from Ridimaliyadda
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Gunasekara, R.M.R.D; Sakalasooriya, N
This is an analytical study on the social impact of chronic poverty in the rural sector in Sri Lanka. According to the statistics of the Department of Census and Statistics, the Ridimaliyadda Divisional Secretariat (DSD) of Badulla District is one of the major chronic poverty-stricken areas of Sri Lanka. Though all the successive Government has implemented many poverty reduction programs, there is still chronic poverty at a different level in different areas of Sri Lanka. This study examines the social impact of chronic poverty in Rideemaliyadda DSD. It is randomly selected 25 families from 02 Grama Niladhari Divisions with the highest rate of poverty. The study is based on primary and secondary data under mixed methods. The secondary data were collected from the Department of Census & Statistics, Centre for Poverty Analyse, Badulla Divisional Secretariat Office, Ridimaliyadda DSD. MS Excel & Arc GIS were used to analyze the data charts, Maps and tables were produced to present data, Lower education, lack of permanent jobs, lack of lands for agriculture, caste, powerlessness are the major social impact of the chronic poverty.
Spatial distribution pattern of religious populations in Gampaha District
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Sewwandi, W.K; Sakalasooriya, N
Religion is a phenomenon with a tremendous potential to transform human thought, history, and civilization. Geographically, religion can be identified as a complex process that spans time and space. Sri Lanka can be identified as a multi-religious country and the Gampaha district is prominent. There is a high concentration of people in the Gampaha district as an urban area and there is a high population of many religions. Accordingly, the objective of this research is to study the spatial distribution pattern of religious populations in The Gampaha district and the factors that influence it. Due to the various invasions and colonization of the district, which had a large Buddhist population many centuries ago, other religious people were concentrated in different areas. At present 71.48% of Buddhists, 2.28% of Hindus, 21.19% of Catholics, 5.01% of Muslims and 0.05% of other religious people have been spatially distributed in different parts of the Gampaha district. Accordingly, this study has sought to identify the distribution pattern and the factors that influence it. The study was primarily based on secondary data and interviews and observations were made with people belonging to major religions to obtain primary data. Descriptive statistics including charts, tables, and maps used to analyse the data. This study has identified the spatial distribution pattern of the religious population in the Gampaha district and revealed the important historical socio-economic and cultural factors influencing this pattern. The findings of this study confirm the lack of willingness and trust in other religious communities. This has had a major impact on the socialization of racist ideologies and ideas. This study has attempted to inform the public about the problems that can be created in today's society and future societies through the spatial isolation of religious people to different areas based on the above mentioned factors.
The transformation of an ancient tank – based village (Wew Gama) in the past 50 years. The case from Bongama village
(Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Wijesooriya, W.M.I.R .; Sakalasooriya, N
Due to the giant development projects, the social-economical and the environmental aspects of the traditional and ancient tank–based villages have started to fade away. Especially because of the Mahaweli development project, which was established to develop the dry zone areas, the people who lived in the ancient tank–based villages have begun to migrate. By that, the transformation of the ancient tank–based villages can be understood. No – 104 Bongama village was selected to study this transformation of the ancient tank–based villages in the past 50 years. So this study is based on the following areas in 104 –Bongama tank village. Also, these areas are based on paddy fields and Chena cultivation, cultural aspects of the society, rural life based on tank and school, customs and traditions, beliefs and rituals, society status, land ownership, possession and usage styles, relationship, family and marriage, wild animals and environment, division of labor. According to the above-mentioned areas, the transformation in the last 50 years of the 104-Bongama village is discussed. Primary data were collected from families based on simple probability from the Bongama village. Besides, on this data collection, the above-mentioned transformations have been discussed. Questionnaire and interview methods were applied to the sample to abstain from the primary data while other data were gained from secondary data sources, such as own observations, official data, MS Excel. And Geographic information system techniques were used to analyze the data maps charts and tables were used to present the data. Numerical and descriptive analysis were used in the data analysis. According to the research, Bongama village as a Mahaweli GN division village and Girathalana village as an ancient village are suffering from deteriorating and few heirs are willing to develop the village by the tank. It has been concluded that through this development many current problems in the Bongama division will be solved.