Abstract

Development is expected to be a process that can enhance not only human capabilities but also human freedom. The right to development makes the individual the central subject, the most valued beneficiary, and an active participant in the development process. This study examines the impact of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP) on the livelihoods and the right to development of rural communities in the Badulla District of Sri Lanka. The qualitative data and information were collected through thirty in-depth interviews, field observations, and other available primary and secondary sources. The thematic analysis method based on Human Rights-Based Development (HRBD) and sustainable development was used to analyse data and information. The analysed data and information revealed that a technological failure during tunnel construction caused massive water ingress, leading to the depletion of local water sources and the transformation of arable lands into barren areas. The local community was not adequately informed or consulted about the project. In conclusion, the threats to land and water posed by the unpredictable impacts of this development project significantly impede the livelihood activities of the village community, further jeopardising their right to development. The UOMDP highlights the broader implications of unsustainable development and underscores the dangers of technocratic approaches, further emphasising the importance of participatory and inclusive development. Moreover, the lessons learned from the UOMDP highlight the urgent need for the government of Sri Lanka to empower affected communities to regain their lost rights through sustainable resource applications and to restructure its overall unsustainable development towards sustainability.

Keywords: Environmental Impacts, Livelihoods, Right to Development, Sustainable Development, Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project