| Author | Thiranagamage, Dayapala |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-81-25 |
| Subject(s) | Rural development--Sri Lanka--Uda Walawe
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study is a combination of exploratory, evaluative and
hypothesis testing research on the role of two small towns,
Embilipitiya and Angunakoiaya, Uda Walawe Scheme in the South of Sri Lanka. It explores t he preference patterns of farming communities in the procurement o f their basic services - in retailing , purchase
of farm inputs, marketing , health and education - with reference to spatial, social and economic linages. The exploration led to the evaluation of the current assumptions of planners in the country in the location of rural service centres because these towns were planned in the 1960's . The study reveled that farmers
prefer to g o to larger centres regularly rather than to "Village
Service Centres in search cumulative advantages under the periodic market situations, contrary to the assumptions of
planners. Further the "Law of Retail Gravitation" was applied to determine whether these towns have achieved their expected zone of influence. Even though they have not achieved their expected zone of influence these towns meet the basic needs of the farmers in the hinterlands. It concludes that the
"Law of Retail Gravitation" has little planning use under periodic market situations.
The study recommends broad guidelines for the location of rural service centres on the basis of observed spatial regularities in the preference patterns studies. It makes a number of recommendations for the promotion of an acropolitan type
of development which will enhance the role of small towns in development. |
| Year | 1981 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Dias, Hiran D.
|
| Examination Committee(s) | Kammeier, Hans Detlef ; Vokes, Richard W. A.
|
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Canadian international Development Agency (ClDA) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1981 |