An Analysis of the Post-Effects of Development Projects in Sri Lanka: With Reference to Mattala Airport and Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksha Port

Abstract

Developing countries need to focus on extensive infrastructure provision in order to achieve and sustain a stable economic growth and aspire towards the standards of the developed economies. In their intention to achieve this objective, developing countries face two major constraints: unavailability of indigenous technology, knowledge and financial resources. Therefore, most of the developing countries bridge this gap between resources, technology and the required level of development by providing investment opportunities for foreign or external parties. The Mattala International Airport and the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port are two of the development projects funded by foreign countries to fulfill the development requirements of Sri Lankan Economy. Moreover, evaluating of development projects by the post-effects was provided as an accepted measurement in previous studies. Therefore, to identify the demographic attributes of the population and assess the post-effects of Mattala International Airport Project and Hambantota Port Project on Economic Factors, Social Factors and Environmental Factors the study employed secondary data which was based on a previous field survey. The sample consisted of 200 residents within 25kms from the Mattala Airport and the Hambantota Port. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software and according to the analysis negative effects (insufficient employment opportunities, inappropriate job coordination methods, insufficient compensation for land expropriation, noise pollution, increase of wild elephant attacks) and positive effects (self-employment opportunities, increase in tourist arrivals) of these development projects were identified. Therefore, appropriate policy framework should be implemented to mitigate negative effects and benefited through positive effects of these projects in the future.