A study on Local Knowledge practice in the district of Nuwara Eliya : Kothmale Divisional Secretariat

Abstract

From the inception of the human civilization, people have been using a system of knowledge originated from the day today society. The society accepts the concept of knowledge as an important thing and it is of several types. The knowledge mingled with a particular place which passes from a generation to another is defined as the local knowledge. The traditional knowledge system in Sri Lanka is also very important. The local knowledge in Sri Lanka spreading widely throughout the country has organized places wise. The local knowledge tradition in the district of Nuwara Eliya has created with the geography in the area, social and environmental nature. This study is based on local knowledge tradition identify the local knowledge and thereby. The purpose of this study is to protect the future generation by using the local knowledge collected through Kothmale Divisional Secretariat. There are 96 divisions in the Kothmale divisional secretariat and only 5 out of them have been selected for this study. Data has been collected from 50 persons via interviews and association observation. Agriculture practiced from the ancient past, indigenous medical systems and traditional industries can be still seen in the area. But the little usage of the local knowledge can be seen in this area today. It was able to be proved in this study that the young generation is deviating from the use of local knowledge while the adult generation is still applying the local knowledge. There is a wide spread knowledge in this area which is typical of this area itself. So It is suggested in this study that this local or the indigenous knowledge has to be collected and introduced to the present and the coming generations via generations and written form in order to conserve that.