LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT MAP PREPARATION PROCEDURE FOR THE LANDSLIDE HAZARD ZONATION MAPPING PROJECT IN SRI LANKA

Seven districts out of 25 in Sri Lanka are prone to landslide. National Building ResearchOrganization (NBRO) is being carried out Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping Project (LHMP)for these districts from 1990. For the purpose of this six maps i.e. Land form map, Slopecategory map, Bedrock geology, Hydrology, Landslide & Colluvium and Land use &Management maps were usedIn the case of the land use and management legend development all national and internationalstandards and norms were evaluated and those applicable for the hazard zonation exercise wereadopted.The legends used by various organizations connected with land use planning, such as forest landuse mapping project, Land use Policy Planning Division of the Survey Department, Land useDivision of the Irrigation Department and the Integrated Rural Development Project werescrutinized and evaluated as to their applicability for use in the legend development process.It was observed, after the above exercise was completed, that the existing legends used by theseorganizations lacked the required details and direction to accommodate the depth and emphasisto be placed on the management related stability parameters of land use categories that areimportant in state of nature criteria to be mapped for landslide hazard assessment. Therefore, aspecial purpose stability oriented land use & management legend should be evolved for this kindof special exerciseIn order to develop the land use & management legend for LHMP, different managementcategories prevalent within the project area that could be identified to the scale of I: 10,000 anddemarcated though systematic air photo interpretations were identified.The different management based land use categories and land use map units of the evolvedlegend were demarcated on transparent overlays affixed to the Air Photos (APs) beinginterpreted. Areas with doubtful land uses were marked with question marks for verification inthe field. APs to the scale of 1:10,000 in semi gloss papers were used for interpretations.Four different stages an be involved in the map preparation which are transfer of land useboundaries to 1:10,000 ABMP maps, intermediate base overlay maps, updating using existingmaps and field checking & finalisation.

Impact of Labour Dynamics on Foreign Direct Investment Inflows in Asia

This paper examines the impact of labour dynamics, i.e. skill level of labour force, labour cost and female labour force participation, on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in Asia. Employing secondary data of 31 Asian countries from 2000 to 2015, we analyse the impact of labour dynamics on FDI inflows separately for ‘low income and lower-middle income’ (LLMI) countries and ‘high income and upper-middle income’ (HUMI) countries in Asia. Besides, regional differences in Asia are also analysed. The panel data analyses suggest that cost and skill-level of labour are the key labour dynamics that attract FDI inflows to Asia. In addition to labour dynamics, large-market size and infrastructure improvements are also significant determinants of FDI inflows. However, these determinants are significantly different across Asia. FDI inflows into HUMI countries were attracted by large market size, improved infrastructure and low female participation to the labour force. In contrast, the availability of a skilled labour force and high female participation to the labour force and improved infrastructure were key determinants to attract FDI inflows into LLMI countries. Findings clearly revealed that skilled labour is a key determinant of FDI inflows to LLMI countries.  Therefore, developing countries in Asia can attract resource seeking FDI inflows by investing in human capital and developing infrastructure for knowledge-intensive industries.  KeywordsAsia; Foreign Direct Investment; Labour Dynamics; Panel Data

EVOLUTION OF THE METHODOLOGY OF TECHNICAL AND ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY STUDIES IN ECONOMICS: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE1

Efficiency measurements have been a great concern of researchers with an aim to study the efficiency levels of almost all economic activities. Empirical estimation and identifying the determinants of efficiency are the major tasks in efficiency analysis. The main objective of this study is to investigate major changes taken place in the methodology of technical and allocative efficiency in economics. The historical approach is used as the methodology of this study. There was no accepted statistical methodology to measure economic, technical and allocative efficiencies until the study of Farrell (1957); “The Measurement of Productive efficiency”. In economics, economic efficiency has two components which are referred to as technical efficiency and allocative efficiency. Technical efficiency is associated with the ability to produce on the frontier isoquant, while allocative efficiency refers to the ability to produce at a given level of output using the cost-minimizing input ratios. Few alternative parametric methods are available in literature such as production, cost, profit, revenue and distance functions to analyze efficiency by estimating production technology. The nonparametric methodology involves mainly the use of linear programming techniques. According to available literature, it is clear that various approaches to efficiency analysis have been developed by two parallel traditions, the econometric method and the non-parametric data envelopment analysis. Each of these traditions incorporate its inherent merits and demerits. Findings of the study reveal that input distance function is the best methodology for measuring allocative efficiency if inputs quantities do not significantly vary across units of studies.Keywords: Technical Efficiency, Allocative Efficiency, Economic Efficienc

DECODING THE NEXUS BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA

The economic downturn due to the catastrophic Civil War that lasted for 30 years followed by unstable governance, and the pandemic outbreak has made it difficult for Sri Lanka to achieve the sustainable development goal [SDG No.01] of No Poverty (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015). Poverty undermines the stability of a nation and weakens its economy, politics, and social well-being. The Civil War that existed in Sri Lanka has affected the economic stability and the social well-being of the households in war-torn regions. The objective of this study is to investigate the poverty dynamics in a developing economy that has been impacted by Civil War and to ascertain the extent to which socioeconomic factors influence poverty alleviation in such an economy. This study employed a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 300 farming households located in the Thunukai Divisional Secretariat Division of Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province. The findings of Ordinary Least Square and the Probit Models demonstrate that the availability of sufficient land enriched with long-term crops, sufficient water availability, technological advancement in agriculture, balanced gender participation in agricultural activities, and a substantial increase in farming expenditure play a crucial role in alleviating poverty within the households. The theoretical recommendations were provided to optimize the use of the identified predictors in the model estimation such as the reinstatement of community development practices, reformation and redevelopment of the local industries that improve the economic overhead and the involvement of communal activities in the vulnerable areas of society to rebuild the social overhead. Keywords: Poverty, Agriculture, Poverty Measures, Land Management, Poverty Alleviatio

THE TIME SERIES ANALYSIS: THE BEHAVIOR OF THE EXCHANGE RATE IN SRI LANKA

The objective of this study is to determine a model to forecast the Exchange rate and study the recent behavior of the Exchange rate in Sri Lanka. In order to achieve the above objective the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model was used and suitability of the model was checked using T-tests and residuals analysis. This study was carried using secondary data, which had been collected from annul reports and other publications published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The study confirms that Real Effective Exchange Rate and Nominal Effective Exchange Rate are decreasing at reducing rate with some fluctuations over time. The study also indicates that Nominal Exchange Rate is increasing at little bit rate, but that rate is ignorable. At present, the structure of the financial market is very complicated. Therefore, the Exchange rate forecasting has become a very difficult task. However knowledge about Exchange rates will be an added advantage to handle the large-scale exports and imports industries more effectively and to develop the most prudent monetary and fiscal policies for the country. Keywords: ARIMA Model, Nominal Effective Exchange Rate, Nominal Exchange Rate, Real Effective Exchange Rate For full Paper: [email protected]

CONFLICT OF DEVELOPMENT, CULTURE AHEAD OF DEFINITION: FIELD STUDY IN MAHAWELI SYSTEM “C” IN SRI LANKA

In the 1960s, “Development” was an economic phenomenon, but in the latter period measures related with poverty, inequality and unemployment were also embedded into the concept. The introduction of Physical Quality Life Index in the 1970s and the Human Development Index in 1990 broadened the way of measuring development. Development must be conceived of as a multidimensional process involving major changes in the social structures, popular attitudes and social and national institutions as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of poverty. However, so far human goals of development in light of cultural aspects embodied in the life styles of people have not been considered in definitions of development. This study concentrates on the ambiguity in the development definitions. In the attainment of this objective, the paper peruses the Mahaweli development project, the largest integrated rural development multipurpose program that was implemented in Sri Lanka. According to the “Project Reassessment Report” prepared by the World Bank in 2004, assessments rate the outcomes as highly unsatisfactory, based on the modest relevance of the project’s development activities, modest progress in achieving those objectives and negligible efficiency.  The study was conducted based upon the survey-based methodology. Primary data were collected through the survey conducted in three selected areas attached to the Mahaweli “C” system, namely (1) Hobariyawa, (2) Millaththawa and (3) Wiranagama. Descriptive statistical methods were utilized to analyze the data.  The major statistical techniques used were percentage analysis, correlation analysis and other qualitative methods.  Out of the total households residing in these three areas, 71 households that earn their income from fishery, livestock, paddy and other crops were randomly selected as the sample of the study.  Firstly, the study revealed that people who live in this division are satisfied with what they have achieved and are contended, trustworthy and healthy though this project has not become a success according to the national objectives.  Secondly, these people have not got caught in the ‘competition’ and everybody is at the same level.  Hence they live a very relaxed life. Finally, this concludes that the progress attained by these masses have been underestimated by interpreting it in terms of quantitative and economic aspects of development. Hence, cultural aspects, personal religious beliefs and attitudes should also be taken into account in assessing ‘Development’. Keywords: Development, Culture, Mahaweli System For full paper: [email protected]