published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

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The present work is based on fieldwork carried out in Southern Sri Lanka among the Beravayo, a low status caste traditionally responsible for the performance of various ritual drumming duties. Although this occupational association goes back centuries and is still an important element in their contemporary caste identity, the Beraväyö are nowadays involved in a wide range of other ritual activitiea which include temple art work. astrology and in particular the performance of elaborate healing rituals for the relief of sickness and misfortune. The thesis centers on the lives and work of those Beraväyö who are most closely involved with the performance of such healing rituals. The first part of the thesis (Chapters 1-4) deals with the social organisation of the Beravä caste, paying particular attention to the way in which the various traditions of knowledge and skill which make their ritual performances possible are reproduced. The traditions passed on within the caste are viewed as a kind of property and the role they play in strategies of marriage and apprenticeship is examined. Chapter 4 deals with the translation of personal traditions into the caste specific services for which the caste is known. This entails examining the structure and organisation of the troupes which come together to perform certain rituals and the various factors, such as cost, scale of performance and elaborateness of preparations which the ritual patron must consider. The second part of the thesis (Chapters 5-7) deals with a specific ritual, an astrological ritual called the Bali Tovil which is intended to combat the malign influences of the planets. A description of the beliefs and ideas which underlie the ritual is given. followed by an account of a particular performance of a Bali Tovil. The analysis given in Chapter 7 attempts to account for the persuasive power which the performance of this type of ritual has in producing a positive effect on its participants. The final Chapter (8) looks at the impact of changes upon the tradition oriented system of ritual organisation and performance described in the previous chapters. The changes in question are coming from tourism and the new markets for cultural artefacts which this brings. With changes in the style of production to meet this demand, the meaning which various traditions have for those who possess them is re-evaluated. Chapter 8 demonstrates how traditions are creatively transformed to meet these changing circumstances and the consequences this has for the wider Beravä community.

Includes bibliographical references / 1 v. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geography, 1995

Texte remanié de: Doctoral thesis--History--University of Nottingham, 2004. / Bibliogr. p. 133-141.

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Current approaches to evaluating the success of construction projects are inadequate in assessing and improving the management of ongoing and future projects. This is concluded from a study of the relevant literature and of construction project management in Sri Lanka and the U.K. The main criticisms of current practice are the ad-hoc nature of the evaluation itself, the failure to properly relate the evaluation: to the original project objectives; to contextual conditions; and to realistic targets derived from historical databases of similar projects. The absence of any such comprehensive database is a particular shortcoming in Sri Lanka. This research work develops and tests a framework for a comprehensive construction project evaluation system that would overcome such shortcomings.The system would help an evaluator generate a specific project evaluation framework depending on the category (type) and stage of the project and the particular purpose of the evaluation. Such a framework would contain criteria of project performance (eg: related to cost, time, quality, safety, satisfaction etc. and associated sub-criteria), hierarchies of 'indicators' by which to measure such criteria and typical target values (and ranges) of such indicators in that category. Such target values are weighted by the specific project profile, based on project priorities and contextual conditions. The sub-systems of the proposed evaluation system are the criteria, the indicators (with typical target values) and an expert system front-end. Supporting 'tools' modules contain techniques for information elicitation, weighting, analysis and presentation. The three sub-systems of criteria, indicators and the expert system were tested. For example, groups of cost indicators and their average values within specific project categories were derived from data obtained from 138 building, 35 roadworks and 38 bridge projects in Sri Lanka. Their validity was tested by their consistency within project categories, by comparison with projects outside the original database and at a Workshop with experts in Sri Lanka. A pilot expert system was developed to demonstrate the viability of integrating appropriate modules. It is concluded that the proposed system is viable and would provide comprehensive and realistic evaluations of the management of construction projects.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington. / Bibliography: l. 323-331.

Academisch proefschrift--Rijks-Universiteit te Leiden. / No more published. Includes bibliographical references.