Community conflict, tension and life in new environment: Conflict and its impact on Vadda community in Mahaweli resettlement schemes in Sri Lanka

Authors

  • Pulsie Epa Department of Sociology, Hohai University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
  • Wang Yi Jie Department of Sociology, Hohai University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
  • Hu Liang Department of Sociology, Hohai University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37905/drsj.v3i1.71

Keywords:

conflict, displacement, indigenous community, resettlement, resource

Abstract

There is a strong relationship between conflict and resettlement, as displaced communities often undergo resettlement following violent conflicts. It is important to consider conflicts during and after the resettlement process and their impact on the community. This study aimed to investigate community disputes in resettlement areas and their impact on daily activities. The qualitative research used an inductive and exploratory approach, applying reflexive thematic analysis. Eighteen respondents were selected through purposive sampling for semi-structured interviews from a resettlement scheme in Hennanigala South, Mahaweli "C" Zone, Sri Lanka. Various types of conflicts were identified, including human-wildlife, community-government officials, identity, community, and resource conflicts. These conflicts are driven by factors such as population growth, agricultural modernization, illegal encroachment, and environmental imbalance. They have led to social, economic, cultural, and psychological impacts on the community. Addressing these conflicts requires establishing a conflict mitigation and resolution system at policy and practical levels. Effective resolution involves careful planning, community engagement, and policy enforcement to protect the rights and welfare of the resettled population. Resolving conflicts necessitates effective communication, empathy, and willingness to compromise.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Asian Development Bank. (2014). Ending water scarcity in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone. Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program, 1–2. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/316016/sri-ending-water-scarcity.pdf

Bannon, I., & Collier, P. (Eds.). (2003). Natural resources and conflict: What we can do. In natural resources and violent conflict: Options and actions (pp. 1–16). World Bank. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep02485.6

Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1966). The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge. Anchor Books

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Brunnschweiler, C. N., & Bulte, E. H. (2009). Natural resources and violent conflict: resource abundance, dependence, and the onset of civil wars. Oxford Economic Papers 61(4), 651–74. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpp024

Buheji, M. (2020). Socio-economic projects spillovers and their influence on communities development. Review of European Studies 12(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.5539/res.v12n1p47

Coser, L. A. (1956). The functions of social conflict. Routledge and Kegan Paul

Emmanuel, A., Edward, A., & Atta-Darkwa T. (2020). Socioeconomic impact of development projects on the livelihood of farmers: A case study of the Bui Dam hydroelectric project. Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International 24(1), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.9734/jgeesi/2020/v24i130192

Fiala, N. (2015). Economic consequences of forced displacement. Journal of Development Studies 51(10), 1275–1293. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2015.1046446

Gori, S. (2023). Development-induced displacement in India and the tribal rights: A quest for social justice. Journal of Asian and African Studies. https://doi.org/10.1177/00219096231168064

Gunasekara, S. (2023). Modernization and persistence of ethnic identities: A study of factors contributing to recreating identities. Prathimana Journal, 14(2), 14–23. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374976545

Gunasekara, S., & Thimbiripola, R. (2023, September 21-22). Discursive socio-cultural identity: A study of cultural discourse trajectories in shaping the socio-cultural identity of Veddas in Sri Lanka. In 4th International conference on intangible cultural heritage: Fostering Folklore Research, "Preserving and Safeguarding Cultural Heritage through Traditional Insight" (Sri Lanka), Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (pp. 81-97). Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Community Studies

Hitchcock, R.K. (2012). Refugees, resettlement, and land and resource conflicts: The politics of identity among !Xun and Khwe San in Northeastern Namibia. African Study Monographs 33(2), 73–132.

Humphreys, M. (2005). Natural resources, conflict, and conflict resolution: Uncovering the mechanisms. Journal of Conflict Resolution 49(4), 508–537. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002705277545

Hussain, S., Maqbool, R., Hussain, A., & Ashfaq, S. (2022). Assessing the Socio-economic impacts of rural infrastructure. Buildings 12(7), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12070947

Jackson, S., Wang, G.-J., Liu, X.-L., & Sleigh, A. (2005, September 29). Out-migration for work and tuberculosis disease in rural Henan, China. In Proceedings of Globalisation and Labour Mobility in India and China (pp. 321–331). Monash University. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/85602

Keller, J., Fehér, K., Vidra, Z., & Virág, T. (2015). Developmental programmes in local communities. Intersections East European Journal of Society and Politics 1(4), 78–97. https://doi.org/10.17356/ieejsp.v1i4.89

Köpke, S., Withanachchi, S. S., Pathiranage, R., Withanachchi, C. R., Gamage, D. U., Nissanka, T. S., Warapitiya, C. C., Nissanka, B. M., Ranasinghe, N. N., Senarathna, C. D., Schleyer, C., & Thiel, A. (2021). Human–Elephant conflict in Sri Lanka: A critical review of causal explanations. Sustainability, 13(15), 8625. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158625

Kumar, A., & Talukdar, D. A. S. (2015). Development and displacement : The role of land acquisition law. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 5(10), 495–496. https://www.worldwidejournals.com/indian-journal-of-applied-research-(IJAR)/article/development-and-displacement-the-role-of-land-acquisition-law/NzcyMA==/

Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.

McKenna, K. (2015). Corporate social responsibility and natural resource conflict (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315768755

Melketo, T. A., Seiber, S., & Bonatti, M. (2023). Gendered analysis of development induced displacement in the Global South: A systematic review. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research 7(3), em0222. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/13296

Mteki, N., Murayama, T., & Nishikizawa, S. (2017). Social impacts induced by a development project in Tanzania: A case of Airport expansion. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 35(4), 272–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2017.1322806

Muggah, R. (2003). A tale of two solitudes: Comparing conflict and development-induced internal displacement and involuntary resettlement. International Migration 41(5), 5–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0020-7985.2003.00259.x

Painter, T.M. (2004). Natural resource conflict management case studies: An analysis of power, participation and protected areas. American Anthropologist 106(4), 747–785. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.2004.106.4.754

Paranage, K. (2017). The social consequences of legal principles: Investigating the origins of squatting in Sri Lanka’s land settlement schemes. European Scientific Journal, ESJ 13(26), 294-305. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n26p294

Philip, A.N.M. (2010). Natural resources conflict resources and social. Institute for Security Studies Papers, 216 (September). www.makepeacehappen.net

Ploeg, L. v. d., & Vanclay, F. (2017). A human rights based approach to project induced displacement and resettlement. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 35(1), 34–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2016.1271538

Prakash, T. G. S. L., Wijeratne, A. W., & Fernando, P. (2020). Human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka: Patterns and extent. Gajah, 51(12): 16–25.

Rajapakse, S., Shivanthan, M. C., & Selvarajah, M. (2016). Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 22(3), 259–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/10773525.2016.1203097

Sarkodie, S. A., & Strezov, V. (2018). Empirical study of the environmental Kuznets curve and environmental sustainability curve hypothesis for Australia, China, Ghana and USA. Journal of Cleaner Production 201, 98–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.039

Schmidt, D. (2007). Mitigating the shadow of conflict: the role of social and human capital for the reduction of conflicts. Preprints of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, No. 2007/5, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, Bonn

Setiowati, A. H. F., Andari, D. W. T., Aisiyah, N., Suharno, R., Junarto, R., & Mujiburohman, D. A. (2023). Social impacts and resettlement: Land acquisition for Yogyakarta International Airport. Russian Law Journal, 11(3), 1214–1220. https://doi.org/10.52783/rlj.v11i3.1534

Stone, J.R. (2004). Math course taking for CTE concentrators: Evidence from three studies of the impact of a decade of education reform. Journal of Career and Technical Education 21(1), 23–42. https://doi.org/10.21061/jcte.v21i1.647

Terminski, B. (2013). Development-induced displacement and resettlement: Social problem and human rights issue (University of Geneva Research Paper No. 9). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2026410

Tong, A., Sainsbury, P., & Craig, J. (2007). Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): A 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 19(6), 349–357. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzm042

Vraneski, A. (2003). Reframing involuntary population displacement and resettlement—The case of the Palestinian refugees: Causes, consequences, and prospects for an impoverishment process reversal. Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(1), 39–71. https://doi.org/10.46743/1082-7307/2003.1031

Wayland, J., & Kuniholm, M. (2016). Legacies of conflict and natural resource resistance in Guatemala. Extractive Industries and Society, 3(2), 395–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2016.03.001

Wick, K., & Bulte, E. H. (2006). Contesting resources: Rent seeking, conflict, and the natural resource curse. Public Choice, 128, 457–476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-005-9010-z

Withanachchi, S. S., Köpke, S., Withanachchi, C. R., Pathiranage, R., & Ploeger, A. (2014). Water resource management in dry zonal paddy cultivation in Mahaweli River Basin, Sri Lanka: An analysis of spatial and temporal climate change impacts and traditional knowledge. Climate, 2(4), 329–354. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli2040329

Wong, P., and Herath, S. (2014). Equity in bulk water allocation: The case of the Mahaweli Ganga development project in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 30(4), 635–648. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2014.882196

Zhang, S., Mackee, J., Sing, M., & Tang, L. M. (2022). Mapping the knowledge domain of affected local community participation research in megaproject-induced displacement. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(22), 14745. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214745

Downloads

Published

2025-01-25

How to Cite

Epa, P., Wang Yi Jie, & Hu Liang. (2025). Community conflict, tension and life in new environment: Conflict and its impact on Vadda community in Mahaweli resettlement schemes in Sri Lanka. Dynamics of Rural Society Journal, 3(1), 21–37. https://doi.org/10.37905/drsj.v3i1.71

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Dynamics of Rural Society Journal

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Pulsie Epa, Wang Yi Jie, Hu Liang

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.