Browsing by Author "Wasala, W.M. Madu"

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Food Preservation Methods in the Traditional Sinhalese Society (with Relevance to Traditional Villages in North Western Province)
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Wasala, W.M. Madu
Food security is the reliability of the physical availability of nutritious, safe and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. Any change that makes a food unfit for human consumption can simply be defined as food spoilage. Food preservation involves the reduction or cessation of the effects of food on its quality, edibility, nutrition, or effects that accelerate spoilage. The purpose of this study is to investigate and study the methods of preserving food in the traditional Sinhalese society. This is primarily a qualitative method-based research which is based on empirical data and secondary sources. For primary data, information was obtained from the elderly living in the villages above 60 years of age through interviews, and as secondary sources, books and research articles were used in accordance with the purpose of the research. Since certain foods are limited to a certain period of time, food safety can prevent food wastage, allow devouring in the off seasons, allow effective usage, and minimise wastage of resources. Prominent among such traditional strategies are the systematic storage methods. Atuwa, Bissa, clay pots, Valankuttu, and bags have been used for preserving grains. Moreover, wood ash and plant leaves have been used. In preserving other types of food, the methods of burying in the soil, drying in the sun, smoking, air drying, using sugar and salty acids, deep frying in oil and using honey have been used. It is important to use natural strategies of food preservation and post-harvest conservation strategies at the household level and the national level as a solution for economic and social problems in the country. Moreover, these conservation strategies, followed by utilising natural resources, will also help to create a healthy society.
Old Equipment and Tools Used by the Sinhala Village Society in Food Preparation and Food Consumption (Based on the Traditional Villages of Galgamuwa Division)
(Department of Sinhala, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2023) Wasala, W.M. Madu
In the creation of tools and equipment used in ancient society, priority was given to the work of cooking and consumption. The ancients used to fulfill the need very simply and the equipment and tools produced using primary raw materials were used as much as possible. The purpose of this study is to investigate the equipment and tools used by the Sinhala village society in food preparation and food consumption. This is research based on empirical methods and it is based on empirical data and secondary sources. Primary data, information was obtained from the elderly living in old villages through interviews and secondary sources, books and research articles were used following the purpose of the research. An exploration of the knowledge systems given by one generation to another generation following the traditions of the villages with environmental and social education has been done here. The ancients used simple equipment and tools to meet the needs of life in an environmentally friendly way. These tools and equipment contributed to the preparation and consumption of food and beverages in such a way that their medicinal and nutritional properties are not lost. As long as the ecosystem in traditional villages remains intact, it can be recognized that traditional life processes remain intact. This tradition of life, which was maintained without cultural change, has been subjected to a strong cultural shock with the political and social changes that have taken place later. Encouraging the re-establishment of the production of these instruments and tools made using local raw materials and getting used to them are important as simple strategies that can be used as solutions to the economic, social and health problems of this country. This will solve the environmental, health and economic problems caused by the use and consumption of non-biodegradable products such as plastic, aluminium and polythene. It is suggested that natural resources and traditional knowledge strategies are identified and used as a national need and that self-health development features with cultural identity as development and health needs are updated as a national need and thus the foundation for sustainable human development can be established in every household unit.
Traditional caste hierarchy and services in Sinhala society (from the traditional villages in Kurunegala district)
(The Library, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Wasala, W.M. Madu
In any society there are economic, social, and cultural imbalances between groups of people. Sociologists have called this ‘Social Stratification’. Accordingly, caste and class status are a representation of social inequality. Caste can be identified as one of the layers of stratification which is common throughout society, like the highness and lowness of the person, the social level of mankind. in practice, people with historical values who are considered superior by most of the society are Upper caste and those who are defined as inferior based on specific measurements by the same group are considered inferiors. Caste is identified as a charged condition that comes with the birth of the person and the purpose of this study is to investigate the ‘Traditional Caste Hierarchy and Services in the Sinhala Society’. Field research and non field research were used in data collection for this study. The data collection techniques of observation, participant observation, questionnaires and interviews were used in the field research and the source study was done through the library references in the non-field research. The caste system of ancient Sri Lanka, which dates to the sixth century, was established by people who periodically migrated to Sri Lanka from India and established colonies here. The special feature of the Sri Lankan caste system that was formed and developed in this way is that it was shaped according to the culture of the country. It can be concluded that the Sinhalese caste system, which had a great impact on many aspects of society in this country until the recent period, is currently on the decline and many evolutions have taken place in it. But even though the society’s attitudes towards caste is undergoing a change, it was revealed that it is by no means a defunct social institution.