Greed, grievance, and the displacement of identity: Courses of community conflict in the Mahaweli resettlement scheme in Sri Lanka

Pulsie Epa — 2025-08-25

This study investigates the interplay of greed, grievance, and identity displacement as drivers of community conflict within the Mahaweli Resettlement Scheme in Sri Lanka. The main objective of this research was to identify the central drivers of conflict that arose within the resettled Vedda community. The main research question explores how resource competition and socio-political marginalization shape inter-group tensions among the resettled and Indigenous population. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study draws on archival research, semi-structured interviews with 35 community members and local officials, and non-participant observation in Hennanigala, Mahaweli C zones. Further, surveys are used for data collection. Thematic analysis revealed that social, economic, political, and environmental factors were the primary contributors to conflict. The findings indicate that within these main drivers, factors such as cultural issues, social adaptability, land use patterns, traditional ways of life, poverty, modern development practices, macro-level policy design, weak implementation, the intervention of powerful political groups, administrative patterns, resource scarcity, land and forest encroachment, overconsumption of common pool resources, and resource abundance were identified as key leverage points. Further, while competition over land and water (greed) initially triggered disputes, deeper grievances related to perceived inequalities in state resource allocation and cultural marginalization intensified hostilities. Resettled Sinhalese farmers, often favored by state policies, were viewed with suspicion by the Vedda community, leading to identity-based polarization. Furthermore, the forced reconfiguration of traditional settlement patterns disrupted longstanding social networks, exacerbating mistrust and reducing avenues for conflict resolution. This study contributes to scholarship on internal displacement and postcolonial development by highlighting how top-down resettlement projects, even when framed as economic development, can produce long-term socio-fragmentation. It underscores the importance of inclusive planning and culturally sensitive governance in multi-cultural rural transformation programs.

Environmental health experiences in prolonged displacement: A systematic scoping review of challenges and interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Kashif Iqbal — 2025-08-30

Providing adequate environmental health services is crucial in contexts of forced displacement, where over 70 million people—mostly in urban or informal settlements—often face prolonged displacement with limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH). The presence of these unmet needs of environmental health leads to a greater likelihood of falling sick, social unrest, and long-term inequality. Although the magnitude of the crisis is tremendous, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of the environmental health situation and responses in the context of long-term displacement. The proposed article will thus synthesize the currently available knowledge base on environmental health in prolonged displacement contexts, identify key conditions and issues, and provide suggestions for future action. This study employed a systematic scoping review methodology that adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. A search was conducted of 212 peer-reviewed studies, institutional reports (also known as gray literature, which refers to materials published outside of academic journals, such as NGO reports and working papers). The findings indicate that research on water, sanitation, and overcrowding has found substantial evidence, whereas other environmental health domains, including waste disposal, feminine hygiene, and air quality, have extremely low representation. Issues that have been faced are institutional fragmentation, lack of funds, and political constraints, which impede the sustainable provision of services. Excessive exposure to waterborne and respiratory diseases, as well as poor environmental conditions and failure to adhere to international humanitarian standards, are also highlighted as significant issues in the review. The paper emphasizes the importance of inclusive environmental health policies, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and ongoing planning and management. It recommends integrating displaced populations into national systems, prioritizing critical health areas, and strengthening evidence to guide policy and practice—key steps to ensuring dignity, equity, and resilience in protracted displacement.

Dynamics of Rural Society Journal

Greed, grievance, and the displacement of identity: Courses of community conflict in the Mahaweli resettlement scheme in Sri Lanka

Environmental health experiences in prolonged displacement: A systematic scoping review of challenges and interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)