Livelihoods’ transformations of traditional rural settlements in Sri Lanka with special reference to Gabbala Grama Niladari Division

Abstract

The traditional settlement is an important rural settlement unit in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the characteristics of the traditional culture can be identified in these villages. These villages, which have been in existence since then, have changed socially, economically and politically. Accordingly, the Gabbala village in the Rambukkana Divisional Secretariat which has a history of more than 400 years, was chosen as the study area of the research. The study investigates the transformations in the lifestyle and the livelihoods of the villagers. The main objective of this research, in particular, is to study the impact of social, economic, political and environmental factors on the livelihood change of the people living in the village from the past to the present. The period from 1948 to the present is a special risk in carrying out this research. Primary data and secondary data have been used to make this research more successful. The sample survey was used for primary data collection. In selecting the most successful sample for this research, the judgment sampling method has been used to select the sample that best fits the researcher's purpose. There are about 400 families in the village and about 1,800 people live in them. Twenty families out of the total number of families have been selected as the sample. The secondary data required for this research has been used by various government agencies and documents obtained from government agencies. Also, individual verbal information, as well as books used by the researcher, have been considered. To make the research thesis more successful, modern techniques such as data processing and table, map, graphs have been used GIS and MS EXCEL. According to this research, people's livelihoods have changed in this village since seventy years ago. It has been identified that several different conditions have developed. Accordingly, the research thesis provides a clear solution to the problems created in the village.