Abstract:
Sri Lanka is mostly affected by weather-related hazards as being a small island in the
Indian Ocean in the path of two monsoons. Recurrent floods are one of the most common
and frequently experienced hazards in Sri Lanka. It is affecting thousands of lives,
livelihoods, and damages to properties. Ratnapura is among the severely affected districts
from floods in recent decades. In this paper, an attempt was made to analyze the causes
and associated socio-economic effects of floods in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. The micro-level
analysis was conducted in the active floodplains of Ratnapura Town West and North
Grama Niladhari Divisions. The study employed a descriptive study approach and a
sample of the population included the respondents in the bank of Kalu River in Ratnapura
with a size of 150 respondents. Structured interviews were used to collect data and
responses indicated that a wide range of actions has been employed to reduce the effects
of floods. But these actions have not been perceived to make specific adjustments to
mitigate the losses caused by floods. The findings of the research revealed that the floods
occurred during the monsoon season is because of the activation of heavy rainfalls in the
study area. Moreover, the intensity of the floods increased as a result of releasing of water
from small and medium reservoirs, which rose the water levels of rivers and water
streams by causing a heavy influx of flash floods. This triggers tremendous losses to
housing, agricultural lands, standing crops, and other properties. The study found that The
Disaster Management Authorities have only implemented limited structural mitigation
measures. In addition to structural measures, it is recommended that land-use zoning and
flood abatement strategies would largely help in reducing the adverse consequences of
this recurrent phenomenon.
Keywords: Abatement strategies, Adverse consequences, Floods, Kalu river, Socioeconomic effects
