Community Resilience and Adaptability on Built Environment: A Study with reference to post-tsunami resettlement at Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study investigates the community resilience with reference to a tsunami resettlement at Ambalangoda in Sri Lanka. The theoretical framework used in the research is based on the “Adaptive Cycle of Resilience” developed by Holling and Gunderson. This cycle consists of four different phases; exploitation, conservation, release and reorganization. Any social system which is adapting to the changing external conditions would go through these stages of the cycle. The study identifies four main factors which influences the community resilience. They are ‘Social capital’, ‘Resources’, ‘Community infrastructure’ and ‘Competence’. A mixed method research was carried out in order to collect data on factors affecting community resilience. According to the findings, all the above mentioned influencing factors have increased since the time of resettlement. Except social capital, the rest have been increased beyond the level at the previous settlement. The community has reached a stage of equilibrium with minimum flexibility and a high level of reluctance for change.