Browsing by Author "Sooriyagoda, KG"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

item: Article-Full-text
Conservation versus socio-economic sustainability: A case study of the Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka
(Elsevier, 2020) Kariyawasam, S; Wilson, C; Rathnayaka, LIM; Sooriyagoda, KG; Managi, S
National parks have been used over the years as a model for preserving and conserving plants and animals. Governments also use parks as a tool for rural poverty elimination. Although national parks have been located in the living and working environments of local residents, the surrounding communities are typically not allowed to gain substantial benefits. This can lead to unsustainable practices including over extraction of park resources and illegal use of parks’ natural assets. In light of these issues this paper firstly examines the role of national parks in ensuring socio-economic sustainability. Secondly, it examines the level of local participation and inclusiveness through a case study of the Udawalawe National Park. A value chain-based methodology is employed to estimate the local economic share of the park value chain. Results indicate that factors affecting inclusiveness such as human capital, financial capital, social capital, gender, location, level of complementarity between tourism and local livelihoods, and absence of endogenous growth policies have limited both local participation and their share in a park's value chain. This indicates the need for revenue sharing and integrated tourism cluster development programmes to offset costs and risks of locals, and to improve local attitudes towards conservation.
item: Conference-Full-text
The Influence of street’s elements on walkability: a case of Colombo 07
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit (FARU), 2021-12-03) Ravindra, RKMP; Sooriyagoda, KG
The walking behaviour of pedestrians continuously depends on street design and its quality. In Asian countries, streets have evolved from traditional streets without interpreting the actual need and impact of street elements for walking behaviour. However, they act only as transportation links while limited to the name by itself. This research aimed to identify the street elements that influence walkability and to investigate the most influential factor for walkability in terms of “Link and Place” to promote walkability in the Sri Lankan context. This study was conducted using a mixed-method approach. The on-site observations were carried out through a photograph survey and rough sketches to observe the street elements. Later, findings were validated through the questionnaire survey regarding the seven principles of a walkable street. Then, data were analysed by using descriptive analysis and correlation analysis aided by SPSS software. The findings of the observation and questionnaire revealed that there are nine most common street elements of streets which influence walkability in the Sri Lankan context. Finally, the study agreed that both “Link and Place” functions are equally important for the walkability of pedestrians.
item: Conference-Full-text
Street as a place: a study of sense of place in commercial streets of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2022-12-02) Kethusha, K; Sooriyagoda, KG
Commercial streets are places that considered as heart of our cities that are mostly intertwined with people’s everyday routines facilitating many activities, movements, and social interactions. The previous studies have researched the streets’ characteristics and qualities to enhance and evaluate the image of the streets and places. But, a less focus has been given to the commercial streets in the Sri Lankan context. The aim of this study is to identify the attributes that influence people’s sense in the commercial streets. The study was conducted in two commercial streets of Jaffna city and emphasis was given to qualitative analysis. Nine attributes namely access, number of people, street vendors, and variety of shops, trees and vegetation, walkways, lighting at night, pedestrians, and wall arts are found as influencing attributes for people’s sense in the selected two cases. It concluded that the activity as the most influential aspect which needs to be considered in facilitating the sense of place in the commercial streets. This paper will contribute to planners, architects, and designers to create and arrange the commercial streets as a meaningful place for people.