University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects 12-1-2012 Spatial Dimensions of Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Population in the Puttalam District of Sri Lanka from 1980 to 2012 Deepthi Lekani Waidyasekera Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Recommended Citation Waidyasekera, Deepthi Lekani, "Spatial Dimensions of Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Population in the Puttalam District of Sri Lanka from 1980 to 2012" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 668. https://commons.und.edu/theses/668 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPATIAL DIMENSIONS OF CONFLICT-INDUCED INTERNALLY DISPLACED POPULATION IN THE PUTTALAM DISTRICT OF SRI LANKA FROM 1980 TO 2012 by Deepthi Lekani Waidyasekera Bachelor of Arts, University of Sri Jayawardanapura,, Sri Lanka, 1986 Master of Science, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2001 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota In partial fulfilment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Arts Grand Forks, North Dakota December 2012 Copyright 2012 Deepthi Lekani Waidyasekera ii PERMISSION Title Spatial Dimensions of Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Population in the Puttalam District of Sri Lanka from 1980 to 2012 Department Geography Degree Master of Arts In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of the University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work or, in his absence, by the chairperson of the department or the dean of the Graduate School. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this thesis or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Deepthi Lekani Waidyasekera July 18, 2012 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ...............................................................................................................x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... xi ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 Overview and Relevance of the Topic .........................................................1 Problem Statement .......................................................................................3 Limitations of the Study...............................................................................7 Background of the Study .............................................................................9 Physical Context of Sri Lanka .....................................................................9 An Abbreviated Historical Geography of Sri Lanka .................................10 Historical Geography of Sri Lanka in Terms of a Timeline Approach .....13 Colonial Period of Sri Lanka 1505-1948 ...................................................18 Ceylon as the Transition into the Era of Modern Sri Lanka ......................21 Contemporary Political Context in Sri Lanka ............................................22 Contemplating the Post-2009 Era ..............................................................26 Summary and Transition ............................................................................27 v II. LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................28 Overview ....................................................................................................28 Review of the Documents on the History of the Internal Conflict ............28 Documents on Current IDP Initiatives .......................................................32 Importance of the Community Based Approach .......................................39 National Integration and Reconciliation ....................................................40 Conceptual Base.........................................................................................48 Summary and Transition to Chapter III .....................................................51 III. METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................53 Overview ....................................................................................................53 The Puttalam District as the Case Study Area ...........................................53 Methods......................................................................................................56 Concepts .....................................................................................................60 Summary and Transition ............................................................................62 IV. DATA COLLECTION AND DATA ANALYSIS .............................................64 Overview ....................................................................................................64 Justification of the Case Study Area ..........................................................65 Research Design, Techniques of Data Collection, and Analysis ...............67 Geographical Distribution of IDPs in Puttalam District ............................68 Patterns of Displacement Since 1990 ........................................................69 1990 Movements- from Place of Origin (Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Killinochchi) to Place of Destination (Puttalam) .......................................70 . 2002 Movement .........................................................................................73 vi 2011 Movement .........................................................................................77 IDPs in the Puttalam District as of 2012 ....................................................79 Demographic Analysis of the Internally Displaced Population in the Puttalam District ........................................................................................82 Sex Ratio and Gender Relationships..........................................................84 Ethnic Composition of Internally Displaced Population of the Puttalam District ..................................................................................85 Resettlement and National Integration.......................................................86 Resettlement Options .................................................................................88 Summary and Transition ............................................................................91 V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...............................................93 Overview ....................................................................................................93 Major Research Findings of the Study.......................................................93 Recommendations ......................................................................................97 Rationale for the Recommendations ..............................................97 Institutional Data Collection ..........................................................98 Human Security .............................................................................98 Livelihood ....................................................................................100 Education .....................................................................................101 NGOs and PVOs ..........................................................................101 Demographic Issues .....................................................................102 Community Development ............................................................103 Importance of the Topic and Suggestions for Future Research ...............104 Benediction ..............................................................................................105 vii APPENDICES .................................................................................................................106 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................118 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Location of Sri Lanka in South Asia ....................................................................4 2. Physical Configuration of Sri Lanka ..................................................................11 3. Case Study Area and Places of Origin ...............................................................56 4. In-migration to Puttalam District from Places of Origin-1990 ...........................71 5. Returnees to Places of Origin in 2002 - Sri Lanka .............................................76 6. Returnees to Places of Origin in 2011