Covid-19 Socio-Economic Impact on Sri Lanka
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COVID-19 SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ON SRI LANKA Part-II The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka COVID-19 SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ON SRI LANKA Part-II The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. November 2020 Copyright © 2020 by Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Ruhuna No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed to “Attention: HSS Research Coordinator”. Publisher: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Wellamadama, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka. Tel +94 412222681 Ext. 3102; Fax +94 412227010 [email protected] First Published in 2020 Printed in Matara ISBN 978-955-1057-73-2 The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors (team of contributors) and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the University of Ruhuna (UoR) or its Administrative Authority or the Government they represent. Please contact [email protected] for clarifications and copyright permission. How to cite this publication: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (2020). COVID-19 Socio Economic Impact on Sri Lanka Part-II: The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka, Matara: University of Ruhuna. © Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences-2020 ISBN 978-955-1057-73-2 ii Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka Acknowledgements The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is based on the research findings of “The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka” in 2020 carried out by a research team of university academics of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Ruhuna. Many people have been involved in this research in numerous ways from its inception to the publication of this final report. As the Coordinator of the “Social Impact of COVID-19” research team, I wish to place on record my sincere appreciation to the following individuals for their expertise and assistance throughout all aspects of this report: • I wish to express my gratitude to Senior Professor, Sujeewa Amarasena, Vice Chancellor, University of Ruhuna for proposing and assigning this task to our Faculty, and the constant support and leadership provided throughout the project. • I am grateful to Professor Upali Pannilage, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Ruhuna, for his support and words of encouragement for the accomplishment of this task. On behalf of the research team I thank him for his cooperation, hospitality and continued support. • My special thanks goes to Dr Nandasiri Keembiyahetti, the Overall Coordinator of the ‘COVID-19: Socio-Economic Impact on Sri Lanka’ for his continuous enthusiasm towards the successful completion of the report. • I wish to acknowledge Dr Wijeratne Bohingamuwa, Editor- in- Chief for his contribution in editing this report, which is much appreciated. • My sincere appreciation goes to Senior Professor E. A. Gamini Fonseka, Chief Language Editor for his generous commitment and valuable inputs in structuring the text which added more value to the report. • I am particularly grateful to Mrs Indu Gamage and Dr S. G. S. Samaraweera, not only for the service rendered as language editors, but also for their moral support to the team for the successful conclusion of the report. • I am grateful to all respondents who participated in this research, by way of semi-structured interviews and the structured questionnaire survey, for data gathering and narrations about COVID-19, which assisted the research in filling the intellectual gaps in the field of knowledge. • More importantly, I would like to express my heartiest gratitude and appreciation to all the contributors of the research team. My dear colleagues, all of you provided useful insights based on research data which contributed towards the success of this report despite a long and stressful period. Your iii Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka Acknowledgements The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka enormous commitment, tolerance and patience meant a lot. I appreciate the time and effort each one took to conduct and analyse the research findings with great concern. • Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr Nalin Wijesinghe for his generous support in formatting and designing the report and Dr Palitha Amaraweera, Dr Kokila Ramanayake, Miss T. D. K. Silva and Miss H. E. B. Pathmakulasooriya for their genuine support in extending technical assistance to the successful completion of this task. Dr M. A. C. G. Wijesundera Coordinator Social Impact of COVID-19 Research Project Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Ruhuna Matara. iv Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka Contributors The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka CONTRIBUTORS Editor-in-Chief/ Co-researcher Chief Language Editor Prof E.A. Gamini Fonseka is the Senior Dr Wijerathne Bohingamuwa is a Senior Professor in the Department of English and Lecturer at the Department of History & Linguistics at the Faculty of Humanities & Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities & Social Social sciences, University of Ruhuna. Sciences University of Ruhuna with research Professor Fonseka on completion of his interests in Irrigation Archaeology of Sri Bachelor’s degree at the University of Lanka, Indian Ocean maritime connections, Kelaniya in 1981, he studied at the Goethe Indigenous communities and traditional Institute, Colombo, and Universities of lifestyles. He holds a BA Honors degree (First Zurich, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Vaasa, Oregon Class) in Archaeology from the Banaras (online), and Maryland Baltimore County Hindu University, India MA in Prehistoric (online). He joined the University of Ruhuna Archaeology from the Deccan College in in February 2005 in the capacity of a Grade I Pune, MPhil (High Pass) from the University Senior Lecturer and became a Professor in of Cambridge and PhD from the University of English in May 2007, and a Senior Professor Oxford. He is a Clarendon Scholar and the in English in May 2015. Before joining Editor of the Journal of Royal Asiatic Society Ruhuna, he was at the General Sir John of Sri Lanka. Kotelawala Defence Academy as Head- Languages, and at the Sabaragamuwa [email protected] University of Sri Lanka as Director-Staff Development and Coordinator – Rahangala Campus Extension Program in English. He has research experience in English Literature, Language, Applied Linguistics, Oral Culture, and Stylistics. He is a dramatist, storyteller, painter, essayist, literary critic, and popular public speaker. [email protected] v Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka Contributors The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka Language Editor/ Co-researcher Language Editor Dr S. G. S. Samaraweera is a Senior Lecturer Mrs Indu Gamage is a Senior Lecturer attached to the Department of English attached to the Department of English Language Teaching, Faculty of Humanities & Language Teaching, University of Ruhuna. Social Sciences, University of Ruhuna. Dr S. She has obtained her BA, M.A., and MPhil. G. S. Samaraweera possesses a PhD from degrees from the University of Kelaniya, Sri the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Lanka. She has been a TESL practitioner for PhD, MPhil, and MA from the University of more than 15 years. She is a writer of poetry Kelaniya, and BA from the University of Sri and short stories and has published many of Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka. He possesses them to her credit. Her research areas are over 16 years of experience in ELT in Reading, Narratives and Story Telling. university. He has been a TESOL (Teaching [email protected] English to Speakers of Other Languages) and [email protected] TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) practitioner and has published over 12 conference publications related to TESL. [email protected] [email protected] Coordinator of the Research Team/Co-researcher Dr M. A. C. G. Wijesundera is a Senior Lecturer attached to the Department of Sociology, University of Ruhuna. She graduated from the University of Colombo in 1996, completed MSSc in Sustainable Development and Gender in 2001 and was conferred the PhD in Globalization and Family Studies in 2014. She joined the University of Ruhuna in 1998 and at present she is serving as the Coordinator/ MA in Sociology Programme in University of Ruhuna. In addition, she performs as a public speaker on media and for government and non-government organizations. Her specialized fields and teaching areas are Gender and Family Studies, Sociology of Religion, Sustainable Development, Organizational Management and Globalization. Her research areas are Gender and Family Studies and Sustainable Development. [email protected] vi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka Contributors The Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka Co-researcher Co-researcher Dr Wijekoon Banda is a Senior Lecturer Mr Suranjith Gunasekara is a Senior Lecturer attached to the Department of Sociology in Sociology and Head, Department of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sociology, University of Ruhuna. He started University of Ruhuna where he has been a his career as a sociologist at the Integrated faculty member since 1994. Prior to joining Development Association, Kandy, Sri Lanka Ruhuna, he was an Assistant Lecturer at the from 1995 to 1998.