Social Sciences

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    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.
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    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?
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    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 it
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    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.
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    A Study on the Effect of Urban and Rural Divide on Youth Development Index (YDI) in Sri Lanka
    (. 3rd National Research Conference on Applied Social Statistics (NRCASS – 2017), 2017) Kotigala, T.K.
    Youth development has become critical for young people worldwide, in order to realize their capabilities to pursue decent employment, education opportunities, health and wellbeing, as well as civic and political empowerment. As a result, Commonwealth YDI was built as a tool to measure relative youth development across countries. This study investigates on the effect of urban-rural division on a young person in determining their YDI level, as those have divergent facilities levels that clearly differentiate each sector. Hence, the study attempts to identify the difference in between the level of Youth Development in both identified sectors of Colombo district, within the age bracket of youth in between 18-34 years. A representative sample of 299 urban (Kolonnawa DS Division) and 86 rural (Homagama DS Division) youth were chosen using stratified sampling with proportionate allocation. Primary data collection method of survey questionnaires was used to gather data. Secondary data were obtained from Census of Population and Housing (2012), National Youth Survey III (2013) and UN Statistics on Sri Lanka (1990-2014). The sample data was tested for reliability and validity by using Cronbach’s Alpha (above 0.7) and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (P-value=0.00, KMO=0.927). With 95% confidence it can be stated that there is no population mean difference in YDI (T=-1.11/ P-value= 0.268) between urban (Avg. YDI=0.803) and rural (Avg. YDI=0.818) sectors. According to the results, the sector difference has not affected the YDI level of youth. Yet examining further, Colombo district has wide opportunities available for youth more than any other district, thus, this similarity presented in urban and rural YDI may not be seen in other districts. Thereby, the study provides strategic suggestions for Sri Lanka to improve on its youth development island-wide, by presenting recommendations for government and policy makers, civil society and youth, and finally for further researches.
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    The Impacts of Economic Development by Multinational Corporations on Developing Countries.
    (1st International Studies Students’ Research Symposium-2017 (ISSRS 2017) ,Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Mallawaarachchi, R.P.
    In today’s global economy Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are playing an important role especially in emerging markets. The simplest definition of a multinational corporation is an enterprise which possesses at least one unit of production in a foreign country .These Transnational Companies are referred to as “big business” and “engine of economic growth” where social welfare or human right concerns are purposely ignored. MNCs are subjected to changes in international exchange rates, tariffs, duties, and restrictions on trade. Previous research has identified the impact of MNCs on the economic situation of developing countries. Especially on the basis of Solow model, the positive effect on economic growth of all tested samples has been identified, but the economic growth in very poor countries tends to be less affected by the presence of Foreign Direct Investment than in middle income economies. The economic role of MNCs is simply to channel physical and financial capital to countries with capital shortages. By improving the efficiency of capital flows, MNCs reduce world poverty levels and provide a positive externality that is consistent with the United Nations’ (UN) mission. This is critically important for emerging markets as the sole purpose of their policy framework is to achieve increased levels of economic development for their county. The research has gathered secondary data through reports, books, online magazines, online videos and journal articles which have been analyzed using the case study method to express the researcher’s opinions on the given incidents. Therefore signifies the role of developing states’ policies towards MNCs and has suggested suitable recommendations for the review of policy changes. The findings from the case studies of Coca-Cola in India, Shell in Nigeria, Uniliver in Pakistan and Nike in Indonesia highlight the MNCs’ involvements into the internal situations in developing countries and how MNCs discourage the development of developing countries in present.
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    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.
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    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.
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    Issues in peace: special reference to poverty and development in contemporary world
    (Department of Economics, University of Kelaniya, 2016) Peiris, M.J.D.
    An issue is a matter of concern or of interest. Often people have different opinions about an issue and will discuss or argue about it in order to find a solution. Sometimes an issue can have a particular focus. For example, issues may have a political, social, environmental or economic focus.Therefore, Issues can also occur on different scales. When we talk about a global issue, we are usually referring to something that affects a number of countries and populations. It is an issue that affect upon or is important to the global community that could be a threat for peace.The idea of issues that are truly global in scale is new to us. It emerged late in the 20th century, perhaps when humans first saw images of the Earth from space a small blue-green planet devoid of boundaries and arbitrary political divisions. Regardless of their novelty, global issues are so important that they might literally determine the future of the human species. Moreover, global issues affect virtually all social, environmental, economic, health, and security concerns. Yet, those concerns are, in themselves, global issues. There are number of global issues have been identified yet, this article provides a framework of poverty and developmentwith regard to issues in peace.
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    Gender Inequality in Sri Lanka
    (Department of Economics, University of Kelaniya, 2016) Gunawardane, D.S.W.
    Gender equality is both a core concern and an essential part of human development. However, in no society do women yet enjoy the same opportunities as men. They work longer hours and they are paid less, both in total and pro rate. Their choices as to how they spend their time, in both work and leisure, are more constrained than they are for men. These disparities generate substantial gaps between how much women and men can contribute to society, and how much they respectively share in its benefits. As a conceptual tool, gender is used to highlight various structural relationships of inequality between men and women as manifested in the labour markets, income, economic resources, education and training. Discrimination is especially obvious in political leadership and decision-making positions and in economic top management. The objective of this study was to analyse how gender inequality indicate that different dimensions in Sri Lankan context. Study was based on secondary data gathered from literature survey which are directly related to the issues addressed in this study. The study was revealed that disadvantage and marginalization of women and discrimination against them is a global phenomenon. Everywhere in the world, there are still considerable differences in living conditions and upward social mobility opportunities between men and women due to unequal factors. In Sri Lankan context traditional women have much less social, economic, political and domestic power than men. However, they have played considerable role inside the family as homemakers. Especially rural women spend much time every day on agricultural and domestic tasks. However, after the independent, successive governments have invested heavily in education, health, and welfare programmes. As a result, both men and women enjoy relatively high standards in health and education. From this view, the status of Sri Lankan women has been changed last few decades. Though, poor women are facing several problems due to unequal factors of political participation, labour force participation and decision-making process. To overcome those disparities mobilization of women as equal partners in all developmental process therefore needs the priority attention of policy makers.