International Postgraduate Research Conference (IPRC)

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    Significance of Forest Tanks (Kuluwew) Renovations in the Cascade Tank Systems (Ellanga) in Dry Climatic Zone of Sri Lanka: The Cases from the Cascades in Puttlam District
    (International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Sakalasooriya, N.
    This study investigates the significant role of Kuluwew (forest tanks) to sustain the forest ecosystems and the Ellanga (Cascades) social-ecological systems of the Dry Climatic Zone ( DCZ) of Sri Lanka and points out the neediness of renovating these abandoned tanks. The wew (Tanks) civilization of Sri Lanka is unique and endemic because the tank systems have their own philosophy, science, technology, and arts. Basically, these tanks have been built by the kings of Sri Lanka under the Buddha’s thoughts. King Parakramabahu the Great (1153 AD –1186 AD) has concluded the philosophy of irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka as “truly in such a country, not even a drop of water that comes from the rain must flow into the ocean without being made useful to all living beings”. Under the concept, the cascade tanks lie on small valleys with low gradient in the DCZ to provide water for all needs of human beings and other living beings in the social and ecological systems. Consequently, there are many types of tanks in the same cascade and they play different roles. The kuluwew are located near to the forest or inside the forest for especial purposes like providing water for wild animals, reduce the silting, filtering the debris, store the rainwater and enrich the groundwater level, supply water to the irrigation tanks by seepage, maintain the food chain providing water, fruits, grass, leaves etc. Unfortunately, after the king's periods, the modern rulers did not pay adequate attention to protect those tanks and now they are malfunctioned. Consequently, lots of wild animals, have been migrated into the villages and it has become a major issue of tank villages in DCZ of Sri Lanka. Wild elephants, monkeys, porcupines, giant squirrels, wild bore, and hundreds of insects and caterpillars are invading the village ecosystems and threaten the whole wellbeing of settlers unprecedently. This study has done 07 case studies in 07 major cascade systems in Puttlama District. There are 159 tanks altogether in these 7 cascade systems and out of the 34 tanks are forest tanks. The main data collecting technique is PRA and resource and hazard maps, seasonal calendar, matrix analysis, transect walks, focus group discussions were the tools. The study has revealed that all the forest tanks have not been renovated for many decades and they are malfunctioned. Consequently, there is a lack of water and edible plants and fruits for the animals in annual dry periods from March to October. Therefore wild animals have been motivated to enter the villages and nearby farmlands. Sometimes some insects, rats and snakes are also coming into the residential and farming areas. The conclusion is that these forest tanks should be renovated systematically and the wild animal threat may reduce by 80 percent after a full renovation of all the forest tanks and restore the forest ecosystems
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    The Potential of Use Slope Gradient as a Criterion for Demarcating Agro Ecological Zones of Wet Zone, Sri Lanka: With Special Reference to Kegalle District
    (International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Silva, T.M.; Sakalasooriya, N.
    This study is focused to introduce the importance of slope gradient for existing criterion for demarcating agro ecological zones of the Wet Climatic Zone (WCZ). The case is special reference to Kegalle District. There are 46 agro ecological zones in Sri Lanka and those defines with considering similar climatic variations, soil condition as a major factor and beyond this stage, it has been concerned elevation regarded from the mean sea level (MSL). Then focus either level of precipitation and spatial changes or soil types when constant level precipitation with vary of soil types. This zonation is the major decision of agriculture; it is a major economic activity, which is majority of local population engaged. Apart from that, commercial and domestic agriculture is the backbone for cultural aspects of traditions Sri Lankan society. Agriculture is playing a key role of land use activities with dynamic scenarios plus unplanned land use and land cover changes are key roles to enhance disaster risk specially the WC. Consequently, there is essential to apply better land use practices including agriculture for the disaster risk reduction. This study points out that the slope gradient is an important factor for demarcating agro ecological zones in WCZ and the study recommends for applying micro level implementation for agriculture decision-making to risk areas of WCZ. Kegalle District is a one of high disaster risk district for landslide with identified risky and dynamic land use practices. The study based on spatial analysis with the secondary data collected from Land use and Policy Planning Department (LUPPD) and Department of Survey, Sri Lanka. Then, applied relevant geospatial techniques to manipulate the data for the research purpose. Selected manmade agriculture (MMALs) land covers in 1998 and 2016 as tea, home garden and rubber cultivation were concerned in whole Kegalle District. Arc Map 10.1 is the main Geographic Information System (GIS) for apply relevant Geoprocessing techniques. Couple of slope gradients selected here according to the LUPPD as 30 – 60% gradient use under proper soil conservation methods and more than 60% slope gradient keep with natural vegetation. The results show the MMALs has temporal changes with drastically increasing even in the slopes of more than 60% within last 50 years of period. This situation alarming to consider the slope gradient use as a criterion for demarcating agro ecological zones of WCZ with relevant conditions
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    Sustainable Solutions for Drinking Water Problem in the City of Matara
    (International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Ranasinghe, W.C.; Sakalasooriya, N.
    This study emphasizes how to give a sustainable solution for drinking water problems and how to manage water resources in the Matara city using a sustainable water management system. The main objectives of this research are to identify drinking water issues, identify the main causes behind drinking water issues and suggest sustainable ways to protect drinking water resources in Matara Municipal Council Area because it has been the main hub of Development plan of Matara District. A mixed methodology has been applied for the research. Both Primary and secondary data were collected to achieve the research objectives. A questionnaire survey and interviews have been conducted. Beside them, secondary data sources such as maps, institutional data, and previous research reports will be referred for higher accuracy. According to the first part of the research has identified the major issues of drinking water in the City of Matara, The River Nilwala is the main source for the supply of pipe born water for the Matara municipal area. Water is taken for treatment at the intakes of Nadugala, Kadduwa and Balukawala pumping station to the treatment plants at Nadugala and Malimbada and treated in conformity with the prescribed standards. The treated water is then delivered by the storage tanks. Seventeen water tanks supply water to Matara. People who lived in the Matara Municipal Council area they don’t have the volume of water needed for daily consumption. A major aspect of the water crisis in Matara that purified drinking water is used for every kind of water requirement of households. The population growth in the Matara town is expected to increase in the future and the water resources should increase. Clean drinking water is the well-being in terms of health and economy. Ensuring access to clean water service is the first step in eliminating poverty and essential for the overall economic and social development of a country. Therefore in the second step will focus on sustainable solutions for the drinking water issue of the City of Matara
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    Identifying the Negative Influence of Political Culture on Development Policies in Sri Lanka
    (International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Sakalasooriya, N.; Perera, B.K.K.G.
    The main objective of this study is to the negative influence of political culture on development policies that have been implemented by the successive governments in Sri Lanka since independence in 1948. Based on the descriptive analysis of this study, the impact of the political culture of Sri Lanka has badly affected the implemented development projects and it causes to make lots of issues of the expected results of the projects. Sri Lanka remains a developing nation in the Asian region even after 70 years of independence. Without a proper national development policy, the island nation has failed to come up to par with many other Commonwealth nations in a post-colonial era. Modes of thinking and policy stances of political parties in the country were influenced by their ideological allegiances. The difference and the contrast of the main political parties who have governed the country are directly and badly affected development projects. The United National Party (UNP), the right of the center of Sri Lankan politics, adopted a basically libertarian ideology, in combination with an element of social democracy. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the principal alternative to the UNP, was basically social-democratic in its ideological orientation but had also absorbed certain elements of socialist ideology from the radical left. But, many other Commonwealth nations have managed to pass Sri Lanka in the Development race thanks to their cemented and inclusive national development policies but as a country, Sri Lanka is yet to identify or launch a proper national development policy owing to the negative influences of its political culture in a post-colonial era
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    Changing Crop Pattern in Central Highlands of Sri Lanka; Reasons and Consequences (A Case Study of Aranayaka Samasara Mountain area)
    (19th Conference on Postgraduate Research, International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, Faculty of Graduate Studies,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Silva, T.M.; Sakalasooriya, N.
    The case study discusses changing crop pattern in central highlands of Sri Lanka and the case focused to Aranayaka Samasara mountain area. Especially it has drastically been changed the ecosystems of central highlands without concerning the land condition and their consequences. Disasters, which have been occurred in central highlands, have also been increased with the intensity and the number of disasters and Aranayaka landslide, which was occurred on 17 May 2016, is one of the best evidence. The case study paid attention about three crops as Tea, Rubber and Home Gardens. The main objective of the study is to identify the pattern of crop changes in the study area. There are two specific objectives as find out reasons and consequences reference to the crop pattern changes. This case study proves the significance of cropland management of hilly areas in Sri Lanka The study found the cropland pattern of the area had changed within last 50 years of period. The area encompassed by major Tea and Home Gardens with minor Rubber lands. Apart from that, the area had exposed to the excessive land preparation, and took very limited remedies as application for the conservation of slopes plus extreme land uses denoted near steep slopes of the area as remain poor land management system. When concluding with all above results the changes of crop pattern has changed without concerning the fragile environment of the area and just concern short-term benefits from the harvest of the croplands. The major consequence due to this crop pattern change is, the area has exposed to disaster as landslide and made unstable banks. These results were taken by applying both cartographical and ground level analysis. Cartographical analysis based on land covers in 1956, 1981, 1992, 2012 and 2016. Arc Map 10.1 used as a Geographic Information System (GIS) tool and relevant Geoprocessing techniques were applied. The ground level analysis verifies the story of cartographic contrast changes