A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE SOCIAL CAPITAL IN UPCOUNTRY TRADITIONAL SINHALESE VILLAGES IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Social capital is a significant concept that can be used for analyzing social networks in an effective way. There were various social networks and mechanisms to perform important functions of social organization for the well-being of society in traditional Upcountry Sinhalese villages in Sri Lanka. Hence, the main objective of the study was to analyze the nature of social capital in upcountry traditional Sinhalese society with a specific focus on livelihood activities, kinship, marriage, religious beliefs and rituals, and cultural customs. This study was based on qualitative methodology, and the functional method was used for the study. According to the research objectives, secondary data were collected from books and journal articles in the relevant disciplines using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using the descriptive-analytical method. Bonding social capital in upcountry traditional villages in Sri Lanka were mainly based on family, kinship and endogamy. Bridging social capital could be identified based on the caste system. Caste hierarchy of social relationships, connectivity in paddy cultivation (Kaiya, Attama), unity and belongingness among family and kinship relationships could be identified as main features of network configuration related to structural social capital. Buddhist ideological concepts such as karma, pin, and pav, collective objectives to achieve common tasks of social networks, common rituals, rites and customs were the main elements of the cognitive dimension of social capital. Reciprocity, trustworthiness, mutual respect, political obligations based on Rajakariya, sanctions of incest, and exogamy of social relationships related to the relational dimension could be identified. In conclusion, it was proved that social capital embedded in social networks in upcountry traditional villages performed numerous functions for maintaining connectivity and integration, and finally for the well-being of traditional social organization.