Abstract:
The present study is based on an intensive field
survey carried out by me on the financial problems associated
with the peasant production activities in a newly
emerging settlement scheme in Sri Lanka. Inadequacy of
credit supply in the peasant sector is a world wide phenomenon
The demand for capital made by the rural producers was
most often fulfilled by the organized and unorganized
sectors. In this study an attempt was made to measure the
volume of credit supply to the peasant society by formal
and informal .financial institutions. The area covered by
the survey is the Hulandawa Left Bank settlement scheme
which was started in the 195°s in the Moneragala district.
The survey was made possible by a grant awarded by the
NUFFIC programme of the Department of Sociology,
University of Colombo.
The task of preparing the dissertation was
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made easy due to the vigilant supervision and able guidance
of Dr A.J. Weeramunda, the Head of the Department of Sociology,
University of Colombo. I am especially indebted
to Dr Kewton Gunasinghe, the Senior Lecturer of the Department
of Sociology, who supervised my field survey as
well as the dissertation. His stimulating supervision
and constructive criticisms made the final version a
reality. I am also grateful to Mrs Victoria Baker who
shared her experience in the peasantry of Moneragala
district. I must be thankful to Dr M.U.De Silva, the Head
of the Department of History and Sociology, University
of Ruhuna and Professor D. Atapattu, the Head of the Department
of Economics, University of Ruhuna, for their intellectual
encouragement extended to me at the crucial
times.
I am deeply appreciative of the assistance
given to me by Sister Theodora, Holy Family Convent,
Bambalapitiya, and Miss Jasmine Wijethunge, the Head of
the English unit of the University of Ruhuna, in the
difficult task of straightening out my English. The
services extended to me in preparing the map of the
study area by Mr P. llewage. Lecturer of the Department
of Geography, University of Ruhuna and typing of the
first draft of the manuscript by Miss E.G. Girlie are
highly appreciated.