International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies (ICSLS)
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Item Climate Change Research in Sri Lanka(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Nianthi, K.W.G.R.Climate is a dynamic component of the environment, which has a direct and an indirect influence on man and his activities. Most commonly, climate is known as the long-term average weather condition prevailing over an area. Climate is dynamic in many respects; for example, it varies in time and space, and changes occur over sufficiently long period of time. This paper summarises past and present research of the climatic changes of Sri Lanka. A few climates related scientists have started descriptive level studies since late 18th century. A number of studies have been carried out on the climate change in Sri Lanka since later part of the last century. Statistical analyses have been started in the 1950s. After this period the scope and the depth of climate change studies have increased. Climate change in Sri Lanka is mainly characterised by the temporal and spatial variations of temperature as well as rainfall conditions. In general, all the climate change studies reveal that the annual average surface air temperature has been rising in all parts of Sri Lanka. The positive temperature trends are noticeable during the Northeast Monsoon and the First Inter-Monsoon period. On the contrary, rainfall has been decreasing in most of the stations during recent period. Precipitation in the Southwest Monsoon decreased in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka since the last century. Some of the studies have found that the negative anomalies of rainfall are evident on the western slopes of the Central Highlands in Sri Lanka. All annual temperature series in Sri Lanka is correlated with the global temperature anomalies and the agreement during the last decades is very striking. As far as the rainfall is concerned the observations of a decreasing trend in Sri Lanka corresponds to the global trends. Future predictions on climate change will be briefly focused in this paper.Item Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka – An Outsider’s View(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Govinnage, S.Sustainable development focuses on the importance of meeting the needs of current and future generations through the integration of environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity. In the implementation of sustainable development strategies the communities, people and their values are considered to be of vital importance. “A Sustainable community would be secure, healthy and equitable, with a clear sense of place,” (Environment Protection Authority, 2002). After more than 130 years of colonial rule, Sri Lanka gained independence from the British in 1948. Today, the country is at crossroads following a brutal civil war which ravaged the country since 1983. Despite all the internal constraints and challenges facing economic prosperity, “Sri Lanka reaffirms the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 which emphasize the need to eradicate poverty and reduce disparities in living standards to achieve sustainable development…” (United Nations, 1997). The paper will question the extent to which Sri Lanka’s sustainable development strategy assists in developing a society which is secure, healthy and equitable, with a clear 'sense of place'. In this regard the paper will examine key issues which either link or separate Sri Lanka’s sustainable development programme from its national disaster management programme. Its objective is to highlight the need for developing an alternate, sustainable development strategy which will meet the needs of current and future generations, through the integration of environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity.