The Department of Social Sciences of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences, and Humanities of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University organized its annual case study tour of intake 38 to Ratnapura district from September 22 to September 23, 2022, for the purpose of acquiring knowledge on the gem industry and disaster risk reduction efforts related to floods and landslides.

On the first day, the students visited the National Gem and Jewellery Authority in Ratnapura. A number of informative sessions on the formation of gems, environmental aspects of gem mining, and cutting, shaping, and producing gems and jewellery were conducted during the first half of the day’s sessions. Mr. Thilak Weerasinghe, Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka, graced this occasion. During the second half of the day, the students were able to visit a gem market, a gem cutting factory, and a mining site.

The second day of the study tour started with visiting the District Secretariat of Ratnapura. The students were able to attend a few sessions related to disaster management efforts, flood hazards, and landslides in the Ratnapura area under the patronage of Mrs. Gayani Kahawatte, Additional District Secretary of Ratnapura District. During the second half of the day, the students conducted a number of focused group discussions with the victims of flood hazards in Batugedara village. Mrs. I.R.M.Pradeepika D.Illukkumbura, Divisional Secretary of Ratnapura, also shared her experience related to disaster management efforts during the 2017 flood hazards.

The academic staff of the Department of Social Sciences, including the Head of the Department, Mr. Nuwan Herath, and Emeritus Professor P. Hewage, along with several military officers and non-academic staff members, took part in the study tour.