International Conference on Social Sciences (ICSS)
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Item Energy Poverty in the transition from a Lower Income to a Middle-Income Country with special reference to Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Musafer, N.; Kularatne, M.G.The Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals of 2015 have clearly identified energy access as a pre-requisite to achieving broader development goals. Sri Lanka, having a per capita GDP of USD 3,835 (2016), and a national poverty headcount ratio of 6.7% (2012/13), is a lower middle-income country, with significant progress in human development, and social indicators. This paper investigates into the shifts in energy consumption behaviour with the transition of Sri Lanka to a lower middle-income country, and the presence of energy poverty in the country using secondary data. Poverty and energy deprivation go hand-in-hand. Energy poverty yet to be clear define with a consensus, it is ill defined, complex and multidimensional concept and not adequately captured or measured in a single quantitative indicator. Energy poverty is hard to compare between two nations due to heterogeneity of the inherent characteristics. In Sri Lanka, per capita consumption of household cooking fuel has increased from 171kg to 252 kg of LPG equivalent from fuelwood, LPG and kerosene from 2003/04 to 2012/13, while per capita domestic electricity consumption has been maintained around 226 kWh and 210 kWh respectively. Using per capita threshold values for cooking fuel as 35kg of LPG or equivalent and 120kWh of electricity to be energy poor. In the meantime, Sri Lanka has maintained lower levels of energy intensity compared to other similar nations. As for electricity consumption by the domestic sector, the per capita household electricity consumption for lighting and other general purposes has also declined from 226kWh to 210kWh per capita from 2003/04 to 2012/13 respectively. One major reason for the reduction could be the use of energy efficient appliances, but this behavior is contrary to some other studies. In conclusion, considering a threshold of 120kWh of electricity per capita to define energy poverty, again Sri Lanka demonstrate that she has not been an energy poverty nation during latter part of it being a low income developing country.Item Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Osmania University Post Graduate College, Siddipet Telangana State India(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Yadav, R.C.Developmental processes have several contradictions and poses difficult questions to different sections of society. The Telangana state in India, formed after a prolonged agitation, witnessed a particular discourse, strongly opposing dominant form of development process as was witnessed in united Andhra Pradesh. There is opposition to mega projects involving massive displacement and focus was more on tank irrigation in agriculture sector with active people’s participation. The characteristic features of discourse during Telangana movement are nondispossession and non-displacement. The incumbent government has ignored these aspects and has planned several mega, medium and small irrigation projects on various rivers, involving massive displacement and this has attracted widespread resentment, in particular with the construction of Mallannasagar, a lift irrigation project in Medak district. This paper examines the contestations over the project, with government arguing in favour and people, non-party organizations and political parties strongly opposing the way government is going ahead with developmental projects displacing farmers and landless farmers. How these contestations of various parties are being portrayed in media needs to be looked into? Media should indulge in objective reporting in coverage of development projects and has it done that is what needs to be examined. How media represented the movement and what are the politics involved in the representation are studied. Coverage given by the media about the displacement issues are studied over a period of two years and does it have an impact in changing any policies as far as providing rehabilitation is concerned is also pondered upon?Item Land Acquisition Policy and Social Violence: A Study of Kakinada Special Economic Zone, Andhra Pradesh State, India(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Muralikrishna, G.The social violence unleashed by developmental projects has reached unimaginable proportions in the developing societies like India with land acquisition, displacement, dispossession, loss of livelihoods being the main consequences of it. Projects undertaken in the name of development are posing a serious threat to millions of people attracting widespread protests from them. Development related violence is manifest in the form of land acquisition, displacement and violence is sought to be camouflaged in the name of development. The setting up of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is an important initiative in this process. This study critically examines the development induced violence by taking up the case of special economic zones launched in India which have resulted in the displacement of thousands of families through the acquisition of their farm lands and rendering them landless and homeless and thereby contributing to their distress. Through the case study of the Kakinada Special Economic Zone in the state of Andhra Pradesh State, India, which has witnessed large scale rural unrest mass protests, this paper attempts an in-depth analysis of displacement, dispossession and violence thus induced on various sections of society and the resultant disarray in the social fabric of villages effected by itItem From reconciliation to National Development through PModel Tourist Zone in Eastern Province of Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Liyanage, A.; Seneratne, P.; Herath, B.After experiencing an ethnic based civil war for 30 years and unfulfilled promises by authorities after that, Eastern province of Sri Lanka is still far behind the national development efforts. While being forced back by inadequate infrastructure facilities, lack of service industry oriented vocational training and underemployment, the province consist of enormous amount of historic and natural tourist attractions. The main problem identified for this research evolved in this back ground of having no sustainable model to reap the benefits from tourist attractions in the war affected areas in eastern province. The primary objective was to address the aforesaid issue by developing a Model Tourist Zone; a self-sufficient supply chain model with resources supplied from and within the region and minimized negative aspects related to tourism industry in Ampara district mainly Pothuvil, Lahugala and surrounding areas, which can be implemented in the other parts of the country as well. The secondary objective was finding out circumstances of tourism industry in this area. A group of 25 Tamils who were former rebel groups’ members who have entered into small scale tourism and/or politics, 15 Sinhala and/or Muslim tourism related business owners, local government members and government officials were considered for a series of focus group discussions and key informant interviews to gather information for the research. The key findings are distrust among majority of participants regarding government related development & reconciliation initiatives, inadequate infrastructure facilities, lack of tourism oriented vocational training facilities and favouritism towards corporate giants and maltreatments for small scale entrepreneurs in tourism. In conclusion, it is necessary to regain the trust of the underemployed former rebel members by skilling them on tourism and channelling their unity and strengths combined with the natural tourist attractions in the area towards national development through making them stakeholders of Model Tourist Zone.Item People’s Participation in Development Projects in Sri Lanka (With special reference of Kalthota village)(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Piyasena, M.L.U.K.; Fernando, R.L.S.The strong people’s participation in development projects enhances the greater possibilities for project efficiency, effectiveness, cost recovery, social accountability and sustainability. Since development is a participatory process, meaningful community participation must be there. Project has four stages named planning, implementation, beneficiary and evaluation. People’s involvement is essential for each four stages . The research was implemented to measure the level of people's participation in each stages of development projects and to find reasons for lower level people's participation in development projects. Kalthota village was the study area. Among the 290 families, 100 were selected as the sample. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected by using interview administered questionnaires. Among the 100 persons in the sample, 20 family respondents gave their opinions as lower level participation in development projects. The people’s participation is at a very lower level in each project stages. About 58% of respondents’ participation is at a lower level in planning stage and about 62% of respondent’s participation is at a lower level in implementation stage. In beneficiary stage about 41% of respondents’ participation is low. About 75% of respondents’ participation is at a very lower level in evaluation stage. The reason for lower level participation in development projects was the lack of information provided by the government.Item A study of the contribution of Rural Tourism as a development strategy to develop the household economy of rural areas in Sri Lanka(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Perera, A.The key objective of this paper is to analyze the contribution of rural tourism as a preliminary instrument of development of the household economy of rural areas in Sri Lanka. Potentials of Rural Tourism are very high as a household economic development strategy compared to other tourism related development strategies. As an island with rich natural resources and human capital, Sri Lanka has also been using Rural Tourism as an economic activity in rural areas like Meemure, Dambulla, Heeloya & Lakegala. However, using derived results the study has reviewed that the current contribution of those activities is not sufficient to eliminate various crucial economic matters of those households. The study used primary & secondary data which gathered by field trips, interviews with villagers & private tourist agents, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Department of Census & Statistics Sri Lanka & Ministry of Finance Sri Lanka to derive results using of Regressions & Correlation Co-efficient. Therefore the paper has discussed the importance of deriving a goal-oriented Rural Tourism frame work to accomplish the goal optimization of Rural Tourism activities as a household economic development strategy which has especially defined for Sri Lanka. Similarly the paper includes about other limitations which are existing at the moment regarding Rural Tourism activities such as matter of less attention of the government towards Rural Tourism as an economic activity, matter of intervention of multi-national organizations to organize Rural Tourism activities, difficulties of promoting Rural Tourism activities, influence of less developed infrastructure of rural sector on Rural Tourism and lack of a specific policy frame work for Rural Tourism in Sri Lanka with various methods to overcome these identified matters, which lead to improve the significance and the contribution of rural tourism activities as an economic development strategy to develop the household economy of rural areas in Sri Lanka.Item Guidance provided by Buddhism to properly utilize human labour: a study based on the Sutta Pitaka(University of Kelaniya, 2013) Piyananda, W.The ultimate ambition of every human being is to spend a happy and meaningful life. In order to achieve this goal, people often use their labour or 'working-capacity' in both good and bad ways. The topic of 'human labour is something which has attracted a major attention throughout the globe. Further, an international labour day has been devoted to the working people all around the world. Human labour is one of the major reasons behind the contemporary development. It is also clear that various misuses of this labour have resulted in a number of issues. Some of them are environmental pollution, endless production of weapons, terrorist organizations, and drug production and distribution. The present study seeks to inquire into the factors such as (a) the recommendations depicted in the Buddhist teaching with regard to the use of human labour; and (b) the major guidelines found in the Buddhist teaching with respect to that phenomenon. Buddhism considers human life as the most valuable life on the earth. It further emphasizes the importance of making human life an important one not only to the individual but also to entire society. According to the Dhammapada, the single moment which is spent in a meaningful way is more important than spending even hundred years without a proper meaning. The Buddhist Suttas include two fields with regard to the ways in which human labour has to be used. According to them, there are certain ways in which those who wish to attain nirvana should use their physical and metal labour. Such suttas as vyaggajja, and singalovada urges the laic people to use their labour (both mental and physical) in such a way that they could live a happy life and then make their afterlives successful. Thus, a peaceful and calm environment could be established only by providing the people who spend their manual labour equal opportunities. The present study focuses on studying the guidance provided by the suttas in order to achieve such a goal.Item Religious associations and development in India: a study of the Ramakrishna Mission(University of Kelaniya, 2013) Dutta, S.India has had a relatively long tradition of religious associations providing autonomous spaces of power, social and civic activism, which dates back to the birth of Buddhism and Jainism, followed by the medieval Bhakti and Sufi movements, through the plethora of socio-religious associations that had cropped up during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, until the ones that have emerged in the post-colonial era. Notwithstanding the fact that the fundamentalist and divisive politics of certain religious associations has led to several gory riots and the very partition of the country, many of them have played a pivotal role in ensuring that development remains inclusive, although, their role continues to be undermined in academic writings. Again, with the onset of the „LPG era‟ in India by the 1990s, that saw a roll back of the state mechanism, and the phenomenon of development taking a „participatory‟ turn following the 74th Amendment Act of the Indian Constitution, the gaps which evolved in service delivery are increasingly being filled up by civil society associations. In this context the proposed paper seeks to analyze the contribution of one of the most prominent religious philanthropic associations in India, the Ramakrishna Mission, in the field of development. Using the purposive and snow ball sampling techniques, the study interrogates the members of the Ramakrishna Mission, apart from the beneficiaries of some of its projects and a few state officials, to elucidate as to how a „traditional‟ association negotiates its existence within the paradigm of a „modern‟, bureaucratic and „secular‟ state. The study observes that through its emphasis on Practical Vedanta, the Ramakrishna Mission has made colossal contributions in the field of education, health, and relief work, rural and tribal development. In the ultimate analysis, the proposed paper compels one to rethink the relationship which religious associations share with the nebulous concepts of „development‟ on the one hand, and „civil society‟ on the other.