Browsing by Author "Thoradeniya, B"

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10

item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Approach for grass-root stakeholder consultations: case of maoya river
(2007) Thoradeniya, B; Ranasmghe, M; Wijesekera, NTS
Most development projects/activities in river basins are planned and implemented independently by the relevant agencies based on sectoral interests (e.g. water for irrigation, mining of clay on river banks) for economic or political benefits. Generally the agency which develops the project assumes total control of the project's resources and its assets, and expects others agencies and stakeholders to adjust to the changes in the availability of the resources (Helmi and Ifdal , 2003).
item: Conference-Abstract
Community stakeholder viewpoints on issues of urbanisation along the river Ma Oya, Sri Lanka
Thoradeniya, B; Ranasinghe, KAMK
Rivers situated in peri-urban landscapes are prime natural resource bases supplying the construction industry associated with urbanisation. The study analyses and presents the river Ma Oya community stakeholders views on the impacts of river resource uses. Systematic stakeholder consultations revealed that while the river is the source for water supply for many cities, sand and clay mining for construction industry and dumping waste are the major sectors causing negative impacts. Essential remedial measures proposed are fair and effective intervention of Government authorities, stakeholder (including politicians) education together with technical measures and economic instruments to internalize the externalities caused by social and environmental degradation.
item: Article-Abstract
De-Silting of minor irrigation reservoirs : a study on major stakeholder opinions
Thoradeniya, B; Kumari, WMYNS
Minor irrigation reservoirs, commonly known as village tanks in Sri Lanka, play a vital role in the economic and social spheres of the rural village population, especially in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. A major issue of these reservoirs is the capacity reduction over time and the resulting rapid drying-up during the dry seasons of the year. Siltation of the reservoir bed is one of the major causes for decreasing storage capacity over time. As a remedial action, the Department of Irrigation launched a programme to de-silt the village tanks. This programme has received both positive and negative criticism. Therefore, the current study focuses on a collection of data from a sample area in order to evaluate the opinions of the major stakeholders, namely, farmers and the officials of the Government departments involved in these schemes. The specific objective of this paper is to highlight the opinions and concerns of the two stakeholder groups. The methodology includes a literature review, a sample survey (n=60) on 20 minor irrigation reservoirs in the Kurunegala district, and quantitative analyses on the collected data. The paper discusses stakeholder opinions on factors that could contribute to effective de-silting operations including catchment protection. It also highlights the necessity of stakeholder involvement in de-silting operations.
item:
A Decision support tool for stakeholder involvement in sustainable water resource development
(2016-07-05) Thoradeniya, B; Ranasinghe, KAMK; Wijesekera, NTS
This paper describes the application of a decision support tool for stakeholder involvement in a proposed water resource development project in the Ma Oya river basin in Sri Lanka. The decision support tool is a five-step framework developed based on ‘Educated Trade-offs.’ The tool assesses the natural resource uses; identifies the present and future probable issues with regard to resource uses, elicit stakeholder views and then estimate the social and environmental impacts of a proposed development project. The results obtained through the application of the framework are direct inputs for stakeholder education for informed decision-making by the takeholders. This paper highlights the stakeholder education achieved in the proposed project area and the down stream areas. The study validated the ‘Educated Trade-offs’ framework which is the decision-support tool and demonstrated its effectiveness.
item: Article-Abstract
Economic analysis of water infrastructure : have we got it right?
(2016-07-05) Thoradeniya, B; Ranasinghe, M; Wijesekera, NTS
The paper describes shortcomings of the general economic analysis procedure adopted in water infrastructure development projects in Sri Lanka. As a case study an application of the ‘Educated Trade-off’ framework in the Ma Oya river basin is used to illustrate the shortcomings of general economic analysis procedure. This framework facilitates the systematic identification of resource uses and the possible range of environmental and social impacts by the water infrastructure project, through the involvement (consultation and participation) of key stakeholders. The study revealed two types of shortcomings that result in erroneous economic indicators: first, the lack of a competent process to establish the baseline situation leading to non-inclusion of some important social and environmental impacts, both positive and negative, by the project and, second, deviations from reasonable practices either due to negligence or on purposes that give decision makers optimistic data which could result in questionable decisions.
item: Article-Abstract
Economic analysis of water infrastructure: have we got it right?
Thoradeniya, B; Ranasinghe, KAMK; Wijesekera, NTS
The paper describes shortcomings of the general economic analysis procedure adopted in water infrastructure development projects in Sri Lanka. As a ease study an application of the'Educated Tradfl-off framework in the Ma Ova river basin is used to illustrate the shortcomings of general economic analysis procedure. lTiis framework facilitates ttie systematic identification of resource uses and tl^e possible Tange of environmental and social impacts l>y the water infrastructure project, through fhe involvement (consultation and participation) of key Stakeholders. The study revealed two types of shortcoming* (hat result in erroneous economic indicators: first, the lack of a competent process lo establrsh the baseline situation leading to tion'-inetusioii of some important social and environmental impacts, both positive and negative., by the project and, second, deviations from reasonable practices cither due to negligence or on purposes that give decision makers optimistic data which could resuft in questionable decisions.
item: Conference-Abstract
Grass-root stakeholder involvement for identifying causes for natural disasters in riverine environments: Ma Oya case study
Thoradeniya, B; Ranasinghe, M; Wijesekera, NTS
item: Article-Full-text
Perspectives on impacts of water quality on agriculture and community well-being—a key informant study from Sri Lanka
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2019) Thoradeniya, B; Pinto, U; Maheshwari, B
Integrated management of water quality is critical for sustaining food production and achieving overall wellbeing of a community. Further, understanding people’s perceptions and engagement can play an important role in achieving water and food security. The main aim of this study was to investigate the perspectives of community and other stakeholders as to how water quality impacts on agriculture, livelihood and community well-being within rural farming communities of two dry zone districts of Sri Lanka. The study adopted ‘key informant interviews’ as the methodology to investigate community and other stakeholder perspectives to collect primary data over a period of four months. The interview contents were then examined using a frequency matrix and graphed using an Excel graphing tool. The raw text was also analysed to understand the broader patterns in the text. A fuzzy logic cognitive map (FCM) was developed using the relationships between various concepts and linkages provided by the key informants. All key informants were concerned with the quality of drinking water they consume and the water used for their food preparation. Key informants representing the farming community indicated that the use of poor quality groundwater with higher levels of hardness has made growing crops difficult in the region. The key informants also identified extensive and ongoing use of agro-chemicals and fertilisers as a major source of pollution in water bodies in both spatiotemporal scale. Based on key informant interviews, possible initiatives that can help improve surface water and groundwater qualities for both drinking and agricultural use in the dry zone of Sri Lanka can be categorised into four broader themes, viz., provision of filtering/treatment systems, reduction in the use of agro-chemical and fertilisers, education of community stakeholders and support of alternative options for portable water supplies. The study indicates that in the key informants’ view of groundwater and surface waters’ continued deterioration in the absence of a proper governance structure, a majority of farmers will have restricted access to good quality water to meet daily and agricultural needs, and this will affect the health of the elderly and children in the area. Further, a majority of key informants were of the view that management of surface water and groundwater should be a shared responsibility between the government and the community in the region and appropriate policy initiatives that will improve water literacy at all levels are mandatory to address future water quality challenges.
item: Conference-Abstract
Public perceptions on urban outdoor constructions and their materials
Galabada, H; Thoradeniya, B; Halwatura, RU
Human perceptions on their environment are an important aspect that has to be considered in the development construction works to meet the common final goal of a sustainable and satisfactory project. Of the perceptions, those on construction materials are important as it directly links to present day important concerns such as global warming, heat island effects etc. Though extensive research has been carried out on construction materials, the studies are limited on public perceptions on outdoor construction materials. This paper presents the detailed analysis of data collected through a sample of public on their perceptions on the paving materials of outdoor constructions; viz. pedestrian walkways and recreational areas. The methodology included a literature survey to identify the current research status, an on-line questionnaire survey carried out on a sample of public to identify their perceptions and a statistical analysis performed on the collected data. The sample consisted of 149 respondents. Additionally, temperatures were measured on the top surface of selected pavements throughout the day. The outcome of the study indicates clay brick is preferred over concrete and asphalt as the paving material for pedestrian walkways and recreational areas.
item: Article-Full-text
Water quality and chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) in the dry zone region of Sri Lanka: impacts on well-being of village communities and the way forward
(Springer, 2020) Pinto, U; Thoradeniya, B; Maheshwari, B
There has been a growing concern in the dry zone of Sri Lanka that the contaminated surface and ground waters and ecohydrological changes are possibly linked to a number of health issues and overall well-being of village communities, including the widespread renal failure termed as chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu). Two types of data were collected for this study, namely qualitative data from key informant interviews and abstracts of 33 peer-reviewed research articles during the past decade. A total of 35 key informants were recruited, mainly from communities in the northern dry zone region where a higher number of CKDu patients have been reported. The interview transcripts were examined using a range of techniques including content, thematic and semantic network analyses. The findings of the research articles were explored through a word cloud analysis. The study indicates that CKDu seems to be influenced by multifactorial ecohydrological changes linked to anthropogenic stressors such as inefficient use of fertilisers and weedicides in agriculture. This situation is made further complicated by factors such as high fluoride level and hardness of local groundwater. Inappropriate agricultural and water policies and poor governance are other factors, particularly little or no restriction on the use of agrochemicals and pumping of groundwater and limited access to clean municipal water supplies. The key informants indicated grave concerns on the flow on effects of poor surface and groundwater quality in the region on health, livelihood and well-being of communities. There are also inevitable economic implications such as loss of human capital and families losing assets to pay for ongoing health issues. The study highlighted the need for more in-depth research to better understand how the surface and groundwater quality influence CKDu and other health conditions in the region. Furthermore, there is a need for implementing an active water quality management strategy with emphasis on developing locally relevant guidelines, educational programmes and integrated heath monitoring programmes in the region.