People’s Perception on Socio-Economic Infrastructure Development in Peace Building - A Case Study of Thankavelayuthapuram Village in Ampara District

Abstract

This study argues that apart from economic infrastructure development resulted from afferent programmes implemented by the government, international agencies and donor agencies aiming at resettlement, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, people are in need of social development. The main research question was to examine how socio-economic development changes have contributed to building positive or negative peace in Sri Lanka’s post-conflict society. The study was mainly based on the mixed method approach. In most cases the evidence on the impact of infrastructure development of Thankavelayuthapura village in Ampara District showed that despite sustained economic infrastructure development the lack of social infrastructure development in war affected areas can adversely affect the peace building process. This study concludes that building both social and economic infrastructures is equally important, and neglecting one of them will weaken the peace building process.