Tab Article

Genre: Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Sri Lankan Studies, Academic Non-Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Book Review:
Agriculture and Rural Development in Sri Lanka is a scholarly felicitation volume honoring Dr. S.M.P. Senanayake, a respected former Dean and Head of Economics at the University of Colombo. Edited by Wijitapure Wimalaratna, this collection brings together research and analysis on the historical, economic, social, and environmental dimensions of agriculture and rural life in Sri Lanka.

The book explores how agriculture has shaped—and been shaped by—Sri Lanka’s colonial past, post-independence policies, market liberalization, and contemporary challenges such as globalization, climate vulnerability, and rural-urban disparities. Contributors likely address topics like land use, irrigation, farmer livelihoods, rural poverty, gender roles, sustainable practices, and policy recommendations for equitable development.

As an academic volume, it is aimed at researchers, students, policymakers, and development practitioners interested in agrarian change and rural transformation in South Asia. The tone is analytical and evidence-based, reflecting Dr. Senanayake’s own intellectual legacy and his commitment to grounded, relevant scholarship.

This book is a timely contribution, especially as Sri Lanka’s agricultural and rural sectors face new pressures in the 21st century. It serves both as a tribute to a distinguished economist and as a valuable reference for understanding the past, present, and possible futures of farming and rural communities in Sri Lanka. Recommended for university libraries and serious readers of development economics.