A Study on Social and Cultural Changes in Peasant Societies in Lankagama

Abstract

Natural Environment as well as the social component of the society is being changed rapidly and as a result we are able to witness many differences between current peasant societies and peasant societies that existed 25 years ago. Through this research it is intended to study about the above changes that are being affected towards human lifestyle. The main objective of the study is to examine the timely difference of social, culture in solitude rural societies. Lankagama village is situated in the Galle district. The total study area can be divided into four parts, such as Nilwaligama, Wathugalagama, Pitadeniya and Lankagama. Information was gathered by interviews and participant observations as well as examining Grama Niladhari reports from 1990 to 2015, and case studies of 10 villagers. These data represent social and cultural changes from 1990 to 2015 of Lankagama. There were 398 population in 1990, 653 populations in 2015. Lankagama Grama Niladhari Division had 93 permanent houses, 9 semi permanent houses and 5 temporally houses in 1990. It has 138 permanent houses, 12 semi permanent houses and 18 temporally houses in 2015. The dominant income source is tea cultivation. Quantity of tea lands were 131 arcs in 1990. It has increased up to 383 arcs in 2015. And also this village had 16 arcs paddy fields in 1990. But paddy fields cultivation is suspended for the time being. Before 25 years electricity facilities was not there. But today villagers are consuming electricity through natural waterfalls. Lankagama have 12 degree holders in 2015. Due to lack of telephone signals today also villagers haven't enough communication facilities. Villagres had 3 motor cycles in 1990. It has increased up to 161 compare to in 2015. Only one bus is running per week. Some villagers use a boat to transport through Gingaga which is called "Bath wala". In 25 years, traditional solitude villages also going to change. The chaining speed of these areas is very low due to environmental difficulties compare to other villages in Sri Lanka.