The Progress of Resettlers in Upper Chatment Areas of Mahaweli Development Project in Sri Lanka

Abstract

A significant growth in the settlement of Sri Lanka over the last three decades can be identified in relation to the Mahaweli areas. This can also be viewed as a mega scale settlement development project introduced after 1980s. The other milestone event of the settlement in this country was marked after tsunami tragedy in 2004. In addition to the communities who has to be resettled after such events, people who were resettled due to developments projects are a special segment of our society who made a sacrifice during the process. Often, these resettlement activities were carried out without their consent. This unwillingness is a turning point in their lives. However, those who have been resettled in other location due to Mahaweli development project have spent around 30 years in their new vicinities and Doragala and Peacock Hill are two such adjoining areas which had to face many hardships in the beginning. A socio-economic analysis on the living standards of the settlers in these two places was carried out. The objective of this research was to evaluate the social economic conditions of the communities who were resettled after 30 years. Data was collected through primary and secondary sources and during the process observation and discussions were used to obtain information about these people who went through great many difficulties. Physical situation of the people is the only issue of concern in the resettlement process in Sri Lanka. Hardly any follow up study was carried out on the difficulties faced by the settlers after a certain period of time. Even though there was such an initiative after Mahaweli, it had become a complete standstill by now. However, this research was instrumental in identifying the background for the success of resettlement through an assessment of socio- economic status of these people. These people can be categorized as a group who can overcome many challenges if they are provided with required facilities. Communities in these two locations have been able to move forward with leaps and bound after 30 years despite what they have lost.