Proceedings of Jaffna University International Research Conference (JUICE 2014) Track: Social Science Proceedings of Jaffna University International Research Conference (JUICE 2014) Track: Social Science Y = 184 +175X1 + 0.0183 X3 + 1516X4 + 228X5 + education level of the head of family, number of school 143X6- 320X7 children, Types of vehicle were the significant factors to Economic Background of Dambadeniya, Yapahuva, Kurunegala, changing energy consumption expenditure of households Dependent variable in rural sector. Y = Monthly energy consumption expenditure Gampola and Kotte that led to Social Changes. 9. RECOMMENDATIONS Independent variables are • Government should launch awareness and training X = Number of family members(β ) 1 1 programs to improve the performance of energy and N. A. Wimalasena, X = Monthly income(β ) materials use and energy savings. 2 2 Department of History, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya • Have to introduce energy-conserving products to X3 = Ownership of vehicles(β3) consumers. [email protected] X4 = Education level of the head of family(β4) • Government should initiate research and development X = Number of school children (β ) 5 5 activities with industry participation to explore new ABSTRACT very wealthy societies due to the commercial activities. X = Types of vehicle (β ) technological solutions to reduce power usages. 6 6 In relation to Sri Lanka, it describes the growth of local The economic factor can be regarded as the decision 8. CONCLUSIONS • Government should identify the possibilities to trading activities and how far it affected the development of social development in a human society and with that develop sustainable energy sources such as wind of the Sri Lankan society.There seem to have been certain development of the economic situation; various structures Energy plays an important role and energy was an and solar. special economic forces and features that marked the of a society similarly are described. Several scholars have essential item for the consumers. Considering cooking changes that occurred in the medieval period. Therefore, • It should be limited the imports of highly energy analyzed through their various researches that commercial fuel, wood usage was high in rural sector. major objective of this presentation is to discuss the consumed electric items. activities and development of commerce are major facts economic factors that led to social changes during the Considering electric item usage, Heaters and which a society will organize systematically in the world. • Have to innovate to identify the alternative energy period under review. The research will be mainly based on refrigerator were common electric item in the kitchen in The economic factor which was a reason for the origin and sources to reduce the cost. primary sources and wherever necessary material will also rural sector. Home electric items usage was high in urban development of socio- political organization of ancient Sri be obtained from limited secondary sources published on sector as TV, Radio, Iron, computer and Fan. 10. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS Lanka can be studied under two major divisions. Those are the political system of the island. an economy based on agricultural activities and economy Diesel, Petrol, Electricity, LPG and Kerosene were • Firewood consumption expenditure was not taken based on trading activities. R. A. L. H. Gunawardhana Key words- Economy, Merchants, Human society, the most commonly used energy sources among the rural into the account. has suggested that periods of prolific activity in building Commercial market, Internal and external trade. consumers Electricity usage was recorded in rural sector • The study was conducted using 50 households from of irrigation works in Sri Lanka coincided with the most as 92% while there were some households in rural sector rural sector. flourishing periods of trade. The explanation for this is 1. INTRODUCTION as non electrified.Kerosene usage was high in the rural that commercial gain provided the resources for hydraulic sector sample.Dry cell batteries were used across the three • Study was limited to the Arachchikattuwa Divisional The economic factor can be regarded as the decision engineering. He points out that there was only one new sample groups and it was high in rural sector. Solar power, Secretariat . of social development in a human society and with that major irrigation project undertaken between the seventh which is used by 8% of the sample households in the rural development of the economic situation; various structures REFERENCES and the ninth centuries, in sharp contrast to the intense sector samples but does not feature at all amongst the other of a society similarly are described. Several scholars have irrigation activity in the period immediately proceeding. samples.When there was an electric failure, candles was [1] Shipper, L..Energy Efficiency & Human Activity. analyzed through their various researches that commercial H. J. Benda has clearly shown from his primary studies the most common fuel source used for lighting . Cambridge University press.1992 activities and development of commerce are major facts that economy based on agriculture and commerce has which a society will organize systematically in the world. [2] Central Bank Annual Report,Central Bank of Sri Energy expenditure of the rural sector was Rs. 2481 affected the changes of society and political organization. (Benda, 1966: 99.). The economic factor which was a Lanka.2006 and Per Capita Energy Consumption Expenditure was Therefore, from this part, the growth of commercial reason for the origin and development of socio- political Rs.596.36 in rural sector. [3] Household Expenditure and Consumption activities will be discussed based on those views and how organization of ancient Sri Lanka can be studied under Survey, Department of Census and Statistics, Sri the commercial activities affected the society. Commerce two major divisions. Those are an economy based on Lack of an electricity connection also contributes to Lanka.2009-2010 is a factor which is based on buying of items, transaction, agricultural activities and economy based on trading lower energy spending among the rural poor. Lighting selling and consumption. A commercial market is a place activities. R. A. L. H. Gunawardhana has suggested that with solar power, kerosene and candles were less cost with [4] Sukhathme, S.P. Solar energy principals of thermal where meeting of merchants and consumers takes place. periods of prolific activity in building of irrigation works the absence of electricity. That meant the unconnected collection & storage.Tatame, Graw Hill Publish When we study commercial history of ancient time, we in Sri Lanka coincided with the most flourishing periods households for electricity spend less overall on energy company Ltd.1984 need to note that there were two major parts which were of trade. (Gunawardhana, 1983: No. 4.) The explanation than connected households for electricity. Moreover, [5] Dorf, R.C..”Energy, Resource &Policy” .University called local trade and long distance trade. As has been for this is that commercial gain provided the resources deforestation, urbanization and electrification can be of California press, 1978 pointed out by Classen, this idea had confirmed the origin for hydraulic engineering. He points out that there was considered for changing the fuel choices. of several society and states, and changes of societies as [6] Hinrich, R.A &Kleinbach, M..”Energy, its use and only one new major irrigation project undertaken between well. The social history of a country cannot be studied Mainobjective was to find out the effects of socio the environment “.Thomson Brooks/Cole.2006 the seventh and the ninth centuries, in sharp contrast to without knowledge of internal trade and international economic factors to change the energy consumption. the intense irrigation activity in the period immediately trade of that country because commercial activities affect According to the survey results, number of family proceeding. (Ibid, No. 4). H. J. Benda has clearly very seriously to change a society. Those societies become members, monthly income, Ownership of vehicles, shown from his primary studies that economy based University of Jaffna - 551 - Proceedings of Jaffna University International Research Conference (JUICE 2014) Track: Social Science on agriculture and commerce has affected the changes thirteenth century concentrated on international sea-borne of society and political organization. (Kiribamune, commerce and expanded along the sea coast in order to 1991-1992: 180). Therefore, from this part, the growth gain a greater share in this trade. (Ibid.,74) According of commercial activities will be discussed based on to this view, trading activities got a high position during those views and how the commercial activities affected this period. This led to the social change in the relevant the society. Commerce is a factor which is based on period. Therefore, we should refer to the commercial buying of items, transaction, selling and consumption. A background in this period. commercial market is a place where meeting of merchants and consumers takes place. When we study commercial As has been pointed out by Hettiaratchi, history of ancient time, we need to note that there were Paṭṭanagāma or Paṭungam which are showing the two major parts which were called local trade and long development of commerce can be heard in this period. distance trade. As has been pointed