Geography
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Item An Investigation on the Historical Factors led to the Conceptual Origin of Sustainable Development(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, 2012) Senarathna, S.P. Dinesha RasanjaliThe concept of sustainable development emerged as a result of an effort to direct two longstanding different means of thoughts into one direction. It accounts to the stream of thoughts in respect of humanly centralized physical development and ecologically centralized environmental preservation. There are various historical events which led to bring these streams up to one single direction. These events could be identified in the fields of social, economical, political and environmental aspects. As a general result of the above, the emergence of a sustainable development concept of the orthodox paradigm took place. The objective of this research is to investigate in to the historical factors that led to the emergence of this concept. This research was carried out on the lines of qualitative research methodologies based on secondary data. Secondary data were gathered by way of scrutinizing information from various sources of books, magazines, internet and web sites. In accordance with the above data, the events that led to the emergence of the concept of sustainable development were differentiated clearly and each of them were streamlined periodically. Subsequently, while studying through the inter-‐relationships of these events, an investigation was carried out to ascertain the manner in which the background was created for the concept of sustainable development. The circumstances that led to the emergence of sustainable development could be identified as two major sectors. The main sector is environmental disasters that felt the necessity of a sustainable developmental concept. Secondly, it was identified as environmental seminars, conferences and organizations that pioneered toward the emergence of the concept of sustainable development. Most of these massive environmental catastrophes could be identified as man-‐made disasters. Most out of them could be reckoned as technological hazards too. They are mostly centralized in developed countries. Few examples for such situations are discovery of love canal, atonic explosion of Chernobyl, contamination of mercury into Minamata Bay and leakage of oil in St. Barbara sea etc. The main reason for the emergence of sustainable development concept that led to important events such as seminars, conferences and organizations are due to the environmental calamities that took place worldwide. Accordingly environmental disasters and environmental conferences are inter-‐related.Item Potentials and Problems of Using Religious Places for Urban Recreational Needs: a Case Study Related to Kelaniya Buddhist Temple – Western Province, Sri Lanka(Songkla University, Thailand, 2013) Senarathna, S.P. Dinesha RasanjaliA recreational activity can be defined as an activity undertaken for the pleasure, leisure or satisfaction. In highly urbanized area availability of recreational spaces are important specially because of the high population density, lack of vacant lands and environmental pollution. Under such conditions the urban environment can negatively affect the mental and physical health of their residents. Therefore, the recreational facilities have become a fundamental human need that should be facilitated in urban environment. In fulfilling the above requirements the place which are of religious and cultural values take a major position of importance. Kelaniya temple regarded as a very important Buddhist religious site situated within the western province of Sri Lanka which is density populated and is important by way of historical and religious values. Kelaniya temple bears its religious and historical importance as Load Buddha is said to have visited Kelaniya on His third arrival Sri Lanka. This temple is situated above 6 miles away from the Colombo city which is commercial capital of Sri Lanka and the extended of the entire land is around 10 Acers. The surrounding of the Kelaniya temple consists of the attractive landscape with a beautiful environment because it stand facing a braided flow swirl of Kelani river. Kelaniya temple has become an attraction of foreign and local tourists due to the above notable reasons. The objective of this research is identify the abilities and related problems in adapting the environ of Kelaniya temple to fulfill the urban recreational needs of the people which is situated in a close proximity of a religious locality with religious, environmental and cultural value near a highly populated urban area. The study has been conducted with the help of both primary and secondary data. Primary data was gathered using questionnaires, field observations, interviews and focus group discussions. Altogether 60 visitors arriving at the Kelaniya temple were selected by random sampling methods. The secondary data was collected from different sources. Gathered data was generalized, classified and summarized. Charts, maps, diagrams and percentages were arranged and used as data analysis methods. The ability of developing the recreational needs related to Kelaniya temple site remains at a satisfactory level. This area of Kelaniya river could be made use for water related recreational sports activities such as boat riding, swimming and diving etc. Either side of the riverbanks and the surrounding greenery also could be adapted for outdoor passive recreational activities. This locality could also be put into the use of the purpose of meditational activity which can develop the mental relaxation of participant. Certain problems and challenges will arise in organizing recreational facilities as noted above mainly organizing the recreational center in a suitable manner appropriate to the religious site, disposing of garbage of the religious site and the problem in eliminating the beggars who are used to frequent the religious site regularly. Minimizing these problems had to be carried out without causing any inconvenience to the pilgrims who visit the temple.Item Chinese culinary art experience: A strategy for developing Sri Lankan culinary tourism(Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, 2014) Senarathna, S.P. Dinesha RasanjaliItem An Assessment of the Community Forest Management Project for Rural Development: Case Study related to Kendahena GND(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, 2011) Rathnasekara, S.R.L.S.; Senarathna, S.P. Dinesha RasanjaliThis research is an assessment of Rural Development through a Community Forest Management Project (CFMP) which being conducted by the Forest Department, Sri Lanka considering on a Community Forest Management Project related to Kendahena GND. The objective of this research is assessing whether a rural development had taken place through this project. Primary data for the research were gathered through observation, interview conducted with the officers of the Regional Forest Office, Kurunegala and the discussions held with a selected group of the villagers. Moreover 50% out of 193 Households were randomly selected and primary data were gathered basically by giving them questionnaires. Secondary data were collected from books, Magazines, Journals, Internet and various other sources. The information gathered was simplified, classified and summarized. Percentage Method, Preference Ranking Method, Direct Metric Ranking Method were used as data analyzing methods. The analyzed data were displayed by charts, tables, maps and diagrams. Inefficiency of officers, lack of proper management and weak involvement in to the affairs of villages were the major weak points of this project. About half of the villagers participated in this project actively while the rest were only aware of this project normally. The contribution received from the level of household units towards family development and housing development is relatively in a lower standard. It could be observed that the general infrastructure facilities are in a very satisfactory condition.Item Potential for Urban Recreational Development in the Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Area(University of Sri Jayawardhanapura, 2011) Senarathna, S.P. Dinesha RasanjaliA recreational activity can be defined as an activity undertaken for the pleasure, leisure or satisfaction. In highly urbanized area availability of recreational spaces are important specially because of the high population density, lack of vacant lands and environmental pollution. Under such conditions the urban environments can negatively affect the mental and physical health of their residents. Therefore, the recreational facilities have become a fundamental human need that should be facilitated in urban environments. The aim of this research was exploration of the potential for recreation. To fulfill this aim, the study mainly constructed following objectives: To identify the urban recreational needs, their lifestyle and willingness for outdoor recreation, in a complex environment and the relationship between outdoor open spaces were and their leisure time. Primary data was gathered using questionnaires from 50 people who are living in 16 of the 33 Grama Niladari Divisions (GNDs) in the Kotikawatta-‐Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha which is an urban settlement area located in the Colombo district. The 50 participants and the GNDs were selected randomly. Moreover field observations, interviews and focus group discussions were used as the other primary data collection methods. The secondary data was collected from different sources. Gathered data was generalized, classified and summarized. Charts, maps, diagrams and percentages were arranged and used as data analysis methods. The study identifies many differences in recreational needs due to the sex ratio, age structure and ethnic composition. The financial capabilities has become a decisive factor to the leisure activities of urban residents. Playgrounds gardens and sports equipments are not satisfactory in comparison the population density in this region. But there is a high potential for developing this urban residential area on the basis of ‘Green City’ and ‘Recreational City’ concepts by successfully mixing the existing natural resources. This research also highlighted the importance of this area from an Urban Development perspective.