Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Eliya town in Sri Lanka's Central Highlands by adding several attractions
and landscaping from 1872 to 1877. To reach the highlands, several roads
and road networks were built in the British colonial time: Colombo—
Kandy road from Peradeniya via Ramboda; Colombo—Avissawella road
passing Ginigathhena Haton, Thalawakale and via Nanuoya Badulla—
Bandarawella road via Walimada to Hakgala, from Colombo—Kandy road
passing, Hguranketha, Rikillagaskada, Padiyapalella, Ragala via Kadapola.
Within the road network settlements were developed as urban centers
in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (
GoldenSriLanka.com
2011). As a
result the highland became the most famous place for the tourism both for
international and the locals. Tourism is one of the most important drivers of
growth and development in the Sri Lankan economy and is a key focus in the
governmental development strategy (Ranasinghe and Deshyapriya 2010).
Importance of agriculture
Agriculture in Sri Lanka can be categorized into two groups on the basis
of its economic value: subsistence agriculture (for domestic consumption)
and commercial agriculture. In recent history, subsistence agriculture
started during the Kandy Kingdom. Since then, with the increasing
population, cultivation of paddy and garden crops was increased. During
the Portuguese period in the 16th century, migration from low land and
settlement expansion processes, and the Chena cultivation these human
infl uences had less impact on the highland. However, land-use patterns
were environmentally friendly and the old terraced paddy fi elds and the
Kandyan forest garden systems have prevailed up to the present. Forests
were cleared for Chena farming (shifting cultivation), and the land was
allowed to regenerate by allowing natural vegetation to grow in such
locations without disturbance for a long period of time and the impact
level was minimal (Wickramagamage 1990). During the Dutch period,
cinnamon was popular in the lower lying areas of the highlands. Large
scale commercial agriculture for coffee plantation was started by the British.
Coffee from Sri Lanka enjoyed premium prices on the world market. By
1869, the numbers of coffee crop owners were approximately 1,700, but the
production dropped rapidly due to a disease set in and every effort to revive
coffee production failed. Coffee had to be replaced by tea plantations and
the British had early access to vast extents of land while tea fetched high
prices in the world market. The climatic conditions were very favorable,
massive labor forces were needed and cheap labor was imported from
southern India and tea production reached a maximum level. Tea production
was started in 1873 and it already amounted to 81.3 tons in 1880. In 1890,
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