| Author | Rupananda, Widanage |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-97-20 |
| Subject(s) | Economics--Sri Lanka--Monaragala--Sociological aspects
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-97-20 |
| Abstract | Since 1977, government of Sri Lanka has continued to adopt Structural
Adjustment Policies. Trade liberalization, devaluation of local currency, removal of price
control, withdrawal of subsidies, privatization of state enterprises and services and cut in
public expenditure are some of the main changes introduced by the government. These
types of national level policy changes have some positive as well as negative effects on
sectoral and household levels.
This study investigated the micro-level and macro-level changes in rural economy
in Sri Lanka under the Structural Adjustment Policies. The socio-economic changes
occurred due to the Structural Adjustment Policies consist of mixed results. Specially, at
the micro-level policy reforms had different type of effects on different groups of
farmers. The changes in cropping pattern, which is a result of foreign investment and
encouragement of private sector in economic activities, had favorable effects on largescale farmers in both irrigated and non-irrigated areas. Except, privatization of National
Milk Board, other aspects of policy reforms had negative or neutral effects on small-scale
farmers in non-irrigated area. Even Small-scale farmers in irrigated area got benefited
from policy reforms due to cultivation of sugarcane because of their closer proximity to
the Pellawatta sugar factory.
Policy reforms led to enormous changes in non-agricultural and social sectors in
Sri Lanka. These changes have positive effects on large-scale farmers who have access to
resources and have negative effects on small-scale farmers who have no access to
resources. Trade liberalization and private sector involvement in economic activities
created both favorable and unfavorable effects on rural women. The changes occurred in
social sectors as a result of private sector involvement led to favorable changes in health
seeking behavior of large-scale farmers and pattern of education of their children.
Ultimately the changes have led to widen the gap between large-scale farmers and smallscale farmers. The, government should pay attention to these people who can not
effectively compete in open market when government continues to implement Structural
Adjustment policies further. |
| Year | 1997 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-97-20 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Wickramanayake, B. W. E.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Dale, Reidar;Sheng, Yap Kioe; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan;
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1997 |