Thousand Years of Hydraulic Civilization Some Sociotechnical Aspects of Water Management
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Anthropogenic Impacts on Urban Coastal Lagoons in the Western and North-Western Coastal Zones of Sri Lanka
1 2 Anthropogenic Impacts on Urban Coastal Lagoons in the Western and North-western Coastal Zones of Sri Lanka Jinadasa Katupotha Department of Geography, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Gangodawila, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka [email protected] Abstract Six lagoons from Negombo to Puttalam, along the Western and North Western coast of Sri Lanka, show signs of some change due to urbanization-related anthropological activities. Identified activities have direct implications on morphological features of lagoons, elimination of wetlands (mangrove swamps and marshy lands) and pasture lands, land degradation due to encroachment for shrimp farms, shrinking of lagoons, and production of higher nutrient and heavy metal loads, decline in bird and fish populations and degradation of the scenic beauty. As a result, the lagoon ecosystems have suffered to such a degree that numerous faunal and floral species have disappeared or have diminished considerably over the last few years. All these anthropogenic impacts were identified by the author during 1992, 2002, and 2006 as well as in a study on “Lagoons in Sri Lanka” conducted by IWMI between 2011 and 2012. Key words: Anthropogenic Impacts, Urban Coastal Lagoons, Garbage accumulation, Awareness program Introduction The island of Sri Lanka has 82 coastal lagoons that support a variety of plants and animals, and the economy [1]. Anthropogenic impacts, particularly lagoon fishing, human occupation of the land and water contamination have considerably reduced the faunal and floral population to a point that some of them are in danger of extinction. Such danger of extinction has been accelerated in urban lagoons of the western and northwestern coastal zones, e.g. -
National Wetland DIRECTORY of Sri Lanka
National Wetland DIRECTORY of Sri Lanka Central Environmental Authority National Wetland Directory of Sri Lanka This publication has been jointly prepared by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Sri Lanka and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The preparation and printing of this document was carried out with the financial assistance of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka. i The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the CEA, IUCN or IWMI concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the CEA, IUCN or IWMI. This publication has been jointly prepared by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Sri Lanka and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The preparation and publication of this directory was undertaken with financial assistance from the Royal Netherlands Government. Published by: The Central Environmental Authority (CEA), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka. Copyright: © 2006, The Central Environmental Authority (CEA), International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the International Water Management Institute. Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. -
History Education and Peace Promotion in Sri Lanka the Interplay Between Teacher Agency and the Formal Curriculum
History education and peace promotion in Sri Lanka The interplay between teacher agency and the formal curriculum (Point Pedro, photo by Rowan Cullen, 11 – 3 – 2019) Master thesis Anouk L. Strandstra International Development Studies Graduate School of Social Sciences UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES HISTORY EDUCATION AND PEACE PROMOTION IN SRI LANKA: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN TEACHER AGENCY AND THE FORMAL CURRICULUM A master thesis in International Development Studies Written by Anouk L. Strandstra Under the supervision of Dr. Mieke Lopes Cardozo Master International Development Studies Student number: 10587543 Second reader: Christel Eijkholt Word count: 26735 (incl. in-text references) Date: 15 – 06 – 2019 2 Abstract The bomb attacks during the Easter celebrations on the 21st of march 2019, once again illustrated the tension between societal groups in Sri Lanka’s complex post-war society. In this context, history education can be crucial in supporting or undermining peace within the society. This research assesses the relation between history education and peace promotion, hereby looking at the interplay between the formal curriculum and teacher agency, the latter is defined as the space of an actor to manoeuvre in relation to a structure. As such, the main research question is: How does the interplay between the formal curriculum and secondary history teachers’ agency support or undermine the peace promoting capacities of history education? Looking at this interplay allows for a comprehensive understanding of the relation between history education and peace promotion, which is unique in this field as the majority of research done thus far either focus on the formal curriculum or on teacher agency. -
Aspects of Early Sri Lankan History, C. 3 Century
Aspects of Early Sri Lankan History, c. 3rd century BCE – 13th century CE MA Lecture Course, 4 credits MPhil Lecture Course, 2 credits Mode of Evaluation: 2 tutorials + end semester examination This course is offered as part of the basket of non-Indian history courses that students can opt for at the CHS. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the historical processes occurring in the island country of Sri Lanka, from the early historic period until the early medieval period. Traditionally, the history of Sri Lanka has been understood by Indian scholars either in terms of the Indian colonization of the island or the European colonial presence here. In this course, students will be familiarized with the complex social formations that can be identified through the study of autochthonous forces of change, and the nature of socio-economic transformations and political structures that can be identified. Further, the evolution and growth of religious institutions can be seen as a concomitant to these transformations, as seen from the numerous Buddhist monuments that were constructed across the region. The significance of ideological apparatuses in the growth of state society can be seen in the nature of chronicling of the polity by Buddhist monks from the 5th century onwards. A facet of Sri Lankan history that is often obscured because of the telescoping of the present into the past and vice versa is the presence of state society in the northern part of Sri Lanka from the early medieval period, which appeared to maintain a close linkage with peninsular India. -
Sri Lanka a Handbook for US Fulbright Grantees
Welcome to Sri Lanka A Handbook for US Fulbright Grantees US – SL Fulbright Commission (US-SLFC) 55 Abdul Cafoor Mawatha Colombo 3 Sri Lanka Tel: + 94-11-256-4176 Fax: + 94-11-256-4153 Email: [email protected] Website: www.fulbrightsrilanka.com Contents Map of Sri Lanka Welcome Sri Lanka: General Information Facts Sri Lanka: An Overview Educational System Pre-departure Official Grantee Status Obtaining your Visa Travel Things to Bring Health & Medical Insurance Customs Clearance Use of the Diplomatic pouch Preparing for change Recommended Reading/Resources In Country Arrival Welcome-pack Orientation Jet Lag Coping with the Tropical Climate Map of Colombo What’s Where in Colombo Restaurants Transport Housing Money Matters Banks Communication Shipping goods home Health Senior Scholars with Families Things to Do Life and Work in Sri Lanka The US Scholar in Sri Lanka Midterm and Final Reports Shopping Useful Telephone Numbers Your Feedback Appendix: Domestic Notes for Sri Lanka (Compiled by U.S. Fulbrighters 2008-09) The cover depicts a Sandakadaphana; the intricately curved stone base built into the foot of the entrances to buildings of ancient kingdoms. The stone derives it’s Sinhala name from its resemblance to the shape of a half-moon and each motif symbolises a concept in Buddhism. The oldest and most intricately craved Sandakadaphana belongs to the Anuradhapura Kingdom. 2 “My preparation for this long trip unearthed an assortment of information about Sri Lanka that was hard to synthesize – history, religions, laws, nature and ethnic conflict on the one hand and names, advice, maps and travel tips on the other. -
Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics During Reclamation
water Article Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics during Reclamation Nuwan Abeywardana * , Wiebke Bebermeier * and Brigitta Schütt Department of Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstr. 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (N.A.), [email protected] (W.B.) Received: 30 October 2018; Accepted: 21 November 2018; Published: 27 November 2018 Abstract: The dry-zone water-harvesting and management system in Sri Lanka is one of the oldest historically recorded systems in the world. A substantial number of ancient sources mention the management and governance structure of this system suggesting it was initiated in the 4th century BCE (Before Common Era) and abandoned in the middle of the 13th century CE (Common Era). In the 19th century CE, it was reused under the British colonial government. This research aims to identify the ancient water management and governance structure in the dry zone of Sri Lanka through a systematic analysis of ancient sources. Furthermore, colonial politics and interventions during reclamation have been critically analyzed. Information was captured from 222 text passages containing 560 different records. 201 of these text passages were captured from lithic inscriptions and 21 text passages originate from the chronicles. The spatial and temporal distribution of the records and the qualitative information they contain reflect the evolution of the water management and governance systems in Sri Lanka. Vast multitudes of small tanks were developed and managed by the local communities. Due to the sustainable management structure set up within society, the small tank systems have remained intact for more than two millennia. -
The Case of Sri Lanka A
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Intra-Ethnic Electoral Violence in War-Torn, Divided Societies: The Case of Sri Lanka A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science by Seema Kiran Shah 2012 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Intra-Ethnic Electoral Violence in War-Torn, Divided Societies: The Case of Sri Lanka by Seema Kiran Shah Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science University of California, Los Angeles, 2012 Professor Edmond Keller, Chair What form does electoral violence take in war-torn divided societies, and what explains the variation in this type of violence? Using statistical and historical analyses, this study examines patterns of election-related violence in the war-torn, ethnically divided context of Sri Lanka. This study shows that electoral violence in Sri Lanka is more often the result of inter- party and intra-ethnic competition than it is the result of inter-ethnic rivalries. Since most Sri Lankan districts are ethnically homogeneous and because the Sinhalese constitute the vast majority of the population, most electoral competition occurs between rival Sinhalese parties. Specifically, this dissertation demonstrates the significance of inter-party competition within one ethnic group by showing that there was generally more violence in areas where the vote differences between the top two contenders were smallest, even when both were from the same ethnic group. This holds when comparing violence with the vote difference from the previous ii election cycle as well. When vote differences were small in the previous election, there was more violence in the following election in that district. -
12 Manogaran.Pdf
Ethnic Conflict and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka National Capilal District Boundarl3S * Province Boundaries Q 10 20 30 010;1)304050 Sri Lanka • Ethnic Conflict and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka CHELVADURAIMANOGARAN MW~1 UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PRESS • HONOLULU - © 1987 University ofHawaii Press All Rights Reserved Manufactured in the United States ofAmerica Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication-Data Manogaran, Chelvadurai, 1935- Ethnic conflict and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Sri Lanka-Politics and government. 2. Sri Lanka -Ethnic relations. 3. Tamils-Sri Lanka-Politics and government. I. Title. DS489.8.M36 1987 954.9'303 87-16247 ISBN 0-8248-1116-X • The prosperity ofa nation does not descend from the sky. Nor does it emerge from its own accord from the earth. It depends upon the conduct ofthe people that constitute the nation. We must recognize that the country does not mean just the lifeless soil around us. The country consists ofa conglomeration ofpeople and it is what they make ofit. To rectify the world and put it on proper path, we have to first rec tify ourselves and our conduct.... At the present time, when we see all over the country confusion, fear and anxiety, each one in every home must con ., tribute his share ofcool, calm love to suppress the anger and fury. No governmental authority can sup press it as effectively and as quickly as you can by love and brotherliness. SATHYA SAl BABA - • Contents List ofTables IX List ofFigures Xl Preface X111 Introduction 1 CHAPTER I Sinhalese-Tamil -
Bringing the Buddha Closer: the Role of Venerating the Buddha in The
BRINGING THE BUDDHA CLOSER: THE ROLE OF VENERATING THE BUDDHA IN THE MODERNIZATION OF BUDDHISM IN SRI LANKA by Soorakkulame Pemaratana BA, University of Peradeniya, 2001 MA, National University of Singapore, 2005 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Pittsburgh 2017 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH THE DIETRICH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES This dissertation was presented by Soorakkulame Pemaratana It was defended on March 24, 2017 and approved by Linda Penkower, PhD, Associate Professor, Religious Studies Joseph Alter, PhD, Professor, Anthropology Donald Sutton, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies Dissertation Advisor: Clark Chilson, PhD, Associate Professor, Religious Studies ii Copyright © by Soorakkulame Pemaratana 2017 iii BRINGING THE BUDDHA CLOSER: THE ROLE OF VENERATING THE BUDDHA IN THE MODERNIZATION OF BUDDHISM IN SRI LANKA Soorakkulame Pemaratana, PhD. University of Pittsburgh, 2017 The modernization of Buddhism in Sri Lanka since the late nineteenth century has been interpreted as imitating a Western model, particularly one similar to Protestant Christianity. This interpretation presents an incomplete narrative of Buddhist modernization because it ignores indigenous adaptive changes that served to modernize Buddhism. In particular, it marginalizes rituals and devotional practices as residuals of traditional Buddhism and fails to recognize the role of ritual practices in the modernization process. This dissertation attempts to enrich our understanding of modern and contemporary Buddhism in Sri Lanka by showing how the indigenous devotional ritual of venerating the Buddha known as Buddha-vandanā has been utilized by Buddhist groups in innovative ways to modernize their religion. -
Gautama Buddha Was Born in Helabima 2
1 2 Gautama Buddha was born in Helabima (Volume II) The English translation of අපඋපන් මේ මෙළ�ම �뷔න් උපන් ජන්�뷊Ǔපය (මෙලන ම ොටස) (This Helabima, where we were born, is Janbudveepa, the birth place of the Lord Buddha) Introduction 3 This is the second volume of the book අප උපන් මේ මෙළ�ම�뷔න් උපන් ජන්�뷊Ǔපය what I published 16 months ago. It is a must to be fulfilled by all of us, as the people who are born in this Helabima and live in this Helabima, to read, analyze and understand the absolute truth highlighted in this book. Every human being is having the mental freedom of speaking the truth, writing about the truth and recording them for the future use. After reading most of the things mentioned in this book, you will experience a total new, different understanding in Dhamma which is not going hand in hand with the opinions what you knew all this times and what you had learnt following the conventional thinking, systems and methodologies. Buddha Dhamma stands for “Penetrating in to Paramartha Dhamma through the traditions”. What you read in books and learnt from someone is the tradition, the conventional thinking. They are nothing but guessings that you have experienced based on what you heard, saw and learnt. You should penetrate in to what you learnt on traditions and based on them you should see the absolute truth. Seeing the absolute truth is limited purely to you yourself. Seeing the absolute truth for you, cannot be done by someone else. -
Of Sri Lanka: a Taxonomic Research Summary and Updated Checklist
ZooKeys 967: 1–142 (2020) A peer-reviewed open-access journal doi: 10.3897/zookeys.967.54432 CHECKLIST https://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Sri Lanka: a taxonomic research summary and updated checklist Ratnayake Kaluarachchige Sriyani Dias1, Benoit Guénard2, Shahid Ali Akbar3, Evan P. Economo4, Warnakulasuriyage Sudesh Udayakantha1, Aijaz Ahmad Wachkoo5 1 Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka 2 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China3 Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 191132, India 4 Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan 5 Department of Zoology, Government Degree College, Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India Corresponding author: Aijaz Ahmad Wachkoo ([email protected]) Academic editor: Marek Borowiec | Received 18 May 2020 | Accepted 16 July 2020 | Published 14 September 2020 http://zoobank.org/61FBCC3D-10F3-496E-B26E-2483F5A508CD Citation: Dias RKS, Guénard B, Akbar SA, Economo EP, Udayakantha WS, Wachkoo AA (2020) The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Sri Lanka: a taxonomic research summary and updated checklist. ZooKeys 967: 1–142. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.967.54432 Abstract An updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Sri Lanka is presented. These include representatives of eleven of the 17 known extant subfamilies with 341 valid ant species in 79 genera. Lio- ponera longitarsus Mayr, 1879 is reported as a new species country record for Sri Lanka. Notes about type localities, depositories, and relevant references to each species record are given. -
Evaluation Study of Long-Term Development Co-Operation Between Sri Lanka and Sweden
Evaluation Study of Long-Term Development Evaluation Development. Study of Long-Term Co-operation between Sri Lanka and Sweden 2012:1 Sida Evaluation Co-operation between Sri Lanka and Sweden Mark McGillivray This report evaluates the contribution Sweden has made to development and poverty David Carpenter reduction in Sri Lanka from the inception of the development co-operation program in Stewart Norup 1958 to its end in 2010. The evaluation draws five main conclusions: (i) Swedish develop- ment co-operation in Sri Lanka addressed pressing development needs and that, on balance, Sweden’s priorities were aligned with those of the Sri Lankan government up to 2004. (ii) The Swedish development co-operation program with Sri Lanka has been Evaluation Study of Long-Term efficiently delivered. (iii) Swedish development co-operation provided the pre-conditions for poverty reduction. (iv) The evaluation identifies three key lessons learned, which if Development Co-operation between acted upon can improve future development effectiveness. (v) The evaluation concludes that Swedish aid contributed only marginally to the lowering of poverty. This report is one of three reports commissioned by Sida to evaluate countries in Asia Sri Lanka and Sweden (also Laos and Vietnam) where Swedish development co-operation is being, or has been, phased out. It is complemented by a synthesis report. Sida EVALUATION 2012:1 SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AGENCY Address: SE-105 25 Stockholm, Sweden. Visiting address: Valhallavägen 199. Phone: +46 (0)8-698 50 00. Fax: +46 (0)8-20 88 64. www.sida.se [email protected] Sida Evaluation 2012:1 Evaluation Study of Long-Term Development Co-operation between Sri Lanka and Sweden Mark McGillivray David Carpenter Stewart Norup Authors: Mark McGillivray, David Carpenter, Stewart Norup.