Browsing by Author "Samaranayaka, M.P.M.V.R."

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    The Impacts of Developing a Hydropower Plant in Kithulgala Adventure Tour Site (With Special Reference to Adventure Activity Operators)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2017) Samaranayaka, M.P.M.V.R.
    Adventure Tourism is a niche tourism area, which involves exploration or travel to remote areas, where the traveler should expect the risk and uncertainty. Adventure tourism can be mainly divided in to hard and soft adventure tourism White Water Rafting is a big segment of the international soft adventure tourism industry. Kelani River in Kithulgala area is considered as Sri Lanka's best river for White Water Rafting as it has many good rapids and the water is potable. There are about 30 Adventure Activity Operators along the Kelani River in Kithulgala area and they run by typical lifestyle entrepreneurs. Who have dedicated considerable time, talent and capital resources to developing the rafting industry on the Kelani River in Kithulgala. Kithulgala village also has evolved with the White Water Rafting industry and there are about 1500 families who are indirectly gets benefits through job opportunities and the spin-off industries. It is estimated that the tourism industry in Kithulgala generate US $17.5 million per annum directly for the local economy. Moreover, White Water Rafting in Kithulgala is a significant part of the local economy, which attracts both domestic and international tourists. However, development of the Broadlands hydropower plant threatens to destroy the rapids and negatively effect on all White Water Rafting leading to numerous economic, social, and environmental problems. As the most affected party due to the development of the hydropower project, Adventure Activity Operators were interviewed using semi-structured interview method in order to assess the current situation of the Kithulgala Adventure Tour Site, the economic social and environmental impacts and to assess their perspective regarding implementation of the power plant. Researcher used thematic analysis method to analyze qualitative data using Microsoft Excel 2010. According to the findings of this study, environment and the economy are the mostly affected areas due to the constructions of the power plant. It has led to pollute the water, sound pollution as well there is a potential to occur landslips in the future in the Kithulgala Adventure Tour Site. Furthermore, it leads to destroy natural rapids and to reduce water level and it directly affect to reduce the number of tourists to the Kithulgala area and loss of adventure activity operators main source of income generation.
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    Socio-Economic and the Environmental Impacts of Developing a Hydropower Plant in Kithulgala Adventure Tour Site (with special reference to adventure activity operators)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Samaranayaka, M.P.M.V.R.; Damunupola, A.K.A.; Kumara, P.H.T.
    Kithulgala is considered as a premier adventure tourism destination in Sri Lanka due to the White Water Rafting Industry. There are 30 adventure activity operators along the Kelani river who run by typical lifestyle entrepreneurs dedicating considerable time, talent and capital resources to develop the rafting industry. Moreover, 1500 families indirectly gets benefits through job opportunities and the spin-off industries. It is estimated that the tourism industry in Kithulgala generate US $17.5 million per annum directly for the local economy. However, development of the hydropower plant in Kelani River threatens to destroy the rapids and it negatively effects on rafting. There is hardly any attention given to conduct empirical studies on adventure activity operators in Kithulgala based on the power plant. The qualitative research was conducted through structured interviews, using 15 adventure activity operators in Kithulgala area. Data was collected through convenient sampling by recording the personal interviews, to assess the current situation, economic, social and environmental impacts and to assess their perspective regarding the implementation of the power plant. Thematic analysis method adopted to analyze the transcribed qualitative data. The findings of this study indicates that, the building of the power plant has led to reduce the water level, destroy the rapids of the river, lose the main source of income generation of rafting operators and the villagers, displace the population, damage the houses, environmental pollution and to degenerate the Kithulgala tourist destination. The study suggests, the government should pay more attention on releasing water during the day time, or construct mini hydropower plant below the existing darn that generates 10-12 MW, open up a new track which has 3-4 natural rapids to protect the Kithulgala adventure tourism destination.