CMRD Working PapersThe CMRD Working Papers encourages the exchange of ideas that are in development. The series is designed to showcase findings of research studies that are in progress or recently completed. It makes new academic explorations publicly available prior to their publication in academic journals and books. Authorship is usually collective, but the principal writers are named. The papers are generally available in English language with some in Sinhala or Tamil languages. The series focuses on migration scholarship in all subject areas. The approach is interdisciplinary and members of CMRD, collaborators and visitors are encouraged to submit papers. The Editor-in-Chief and the Advisory Board manages the papers fit within the institutions remit. All the papers follow a process of blind review by one or two subject experts, revisions, copy editing, formatting and design before publication. The papers are published electronically and are available online or through email distribution. A listing of CMRD Working Papers is below. Aspiring for Inclusion: Accessing water by the tea estate community in Badulla, Sri Lanka – opportunities and constraintsBy: Sakeena Alikhan, Mohideen Mohamed Alikhan, Danesh Jayatilaka and Abdhullah Azam
Post-war resettlement, aid and recovery: An economic analysis in Sri LankaBy: Danesh Jayatilaka
Influence of diasporas on post-war social mobility: The case of Sri LankaBy: Rajith W. D. Lakshman and Kopalapillai Amirthalingam
Finding ‘Reasons to Stay’ amidst Issues of Well-being: A Case Study of Two Underserved Communities in ColomboBy: Iresha M. Lakshman, Mohideen M. Alikhan and Abdhullah Azam
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This study investigates the opportunities and constraints faced by the tea estate community in Badulla, Sri Lanka in accessing water resources. The central argument of this paper is that despite the availability of water in the area for everyone, there are sections of the community that struggle to obtain adequate water due to resource mismanagement. Through an analysis of socio-economic data on water access and consumption, this paper aims to emphasize the role of mismanagement, rather than physical scarcity, in hindering water availability. The findings highlight the need for improved water governance, infrastructure development, and community participation, to address sustainable and equal water access for the tea estate community in Badulla.
The paper contains findings from a doctoral research on the economic recovery of internally displaced persons resettled in the east of Sri Lanka. The study looked at a war-affected village, whose occupants had received extensive housing and livelihood donor aid due to their displacement in 2006 and resettlement in 2007. Findings suggested there was a negligible relationship between housing aid and income recovery, in-spite of the type of grant, while livelihoods aid directly correlated to recovery and economic sustainability, with factors like gender and health being important considerations. This implied the resources distribution among housing and livelihoods needed reviewing to increase aid effectiveness.
The paper explores the complex interlinks between diasporan influence and social mobility in post-war Sri Lanka. Social mobility is an important element of post-war recovery and can be related to various elements of diaspora engagement. The study looked at the direction and strength of recovery and how much of it could be related to changes in diaspora engagement. Findings revealed the end of the war created conditions to substantially improve the socioeconomic status of households, which was tantamount to upward social mobility, while part of the social progress was accounted for by several changes in diaspora engagement after the war ended.
The paper analysed data obtained through 30 in-depth interviews with residents in two underserved communities in Sri Lanka using the well-being model presented by Pouw and McGregor (2014). The three dimensions of well-being, namely 1) material, 2) relational, and 3) subjective, were analysed by looking at 1) housing quality, quality of physical environment, employment, and educational opportunities and cost of living; 2) nature and use of social relations; and 3) external perceptions of the community and its impact on the emotions of residents.
