Sri Lanka’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate for the adult (15-49) population as at the end of 2005 was less than 0.1 % which is a very low rate for South Asia and even globally. UNAIDS estimates that there may be about 5,000 living with the disease in the country. The most vulnerable groups are identified as military and security forces, migrant workers and sex workers. Due to resource limitations and time constrains three specific groups have been selected for the study. They are military personnel involved in combat operations in the internal war, UN peace keeping forces from Sri Lanka that have been deployed in Haiti, and sex workers who live and work in the major towns - Anuradhapura and Ratmalana - that serve as transit points for rotation of combat forces.

The objectives of the study are to make a contribution to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in selected groups with specific focus on the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its prevention; access to such prevention methods; actual use of prevention methods; suggest measures to improve the above given aspects; review current status of control measures; provide proposals to relevant authorities; prepare appropriate educational material for HIV/AIDS prevention and conduct workshops for vulnerable groups.

The respondents are divided into age groups as under 24, 24-35 and above 35 years in both sexes. The research commenced with conducting pre-sample research i.e. qualitative research on each group to gain background knowledge to identify the most appropriate way to approach respondents. This was followed by conducting surveys, both questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data from secondary sources will be used to supplement the survey data. Both qualitative and quantitative data will be used for the analysis.

Based on the outcome of the study a full report, summary reports and policy briefs, a CD-ROM and a web page in ICES website will be prepared. Local workshops on the subject will also be conducted.

The research findings will fill the gap of non-availability of information on the knowledge and behavior of the focused study group with respect to HIV/AIDS. The study will help the South Asia Regional Office of WHO to formulate more effective policies to prevent HIV/AIDS by providing information on the level of knowledge of the target group in prevention of the disease and the extent of utilizing these methods. The study will also help to shift Sri Lanka’s HIV/AIDS prevention programme from a “focus on inputs” to “focus on outcomes” which is stressed by the World Bank.

The objective is to identify the major technical, financial, management and socio-political and governance factors responsible for the Kandy traffic and propose short-term and long-term remedies to them.

The research methodology is to review reports, collect secondary data on the subject, field surveys using structured questionnaires administered to a random sample of residents, field surveys of road networks, traffic flows, interviews with key informants and focus groups, community mapping and finally GIS mapping. The data will be analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical methods.

The expected outputs will be disseminated by conducting workshops to researchers, relevant officials, business community representatives and community leaders. A report will be prepared and a summary version will be circulated among the public. A public seminar will be organized in Kandy. A supplement will be published in Kandy News, and a web page in ICES website. A CD-ROM based on the report will be prepared with video recordings of the workshops and public seminars and a 30minute long documentary.

The local authorities included in this study are Hambantota, Hikkaduwa, Ambalangoda, Puttalam, Chilaw, Gampola, Ampara, Kattankudy, Trincomalee, Kinniya Urban Councils and Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kalmunai and Batticaloa Municipal Councils. The study is done at the request of The Asia Foundation.

The final outcome will be a complete set of 14 town profiles with data on general information, history of the locality, tourist attractions, social, economic and political scenes, environment, and information about the local government body. These topics can vary according to the locality.

The objective is to equip local governments better to make informed decisions on, development and economic planning of towns.

The methodology of the study is to gather information and data by conducting one-on-one interviews with the elected heads of local government institutions and other relevant persons, and an in depth study of all available research publications and relevant materials relating to the respective towns.

The project is divided into three phases: The first phase is to codify existing laws, regulations, procedures and practices that govern business and individuals in their interactions with local authorities such as Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas and this phase has been completed. The second phase is the study of the interaction of the above given factors with other relevant state agencies such as Provincial Councils, District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats, Urban Development Authority and Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. The outcome of phase one and two of the project is to prepare monographs giving detailed step by step descriptions of procedures in respect of obtaining license, permits etc., and flow of paper work through different offices. The third phase is a critical review of codified laws, regulations, procedures and practices and to propose improvements for them.

All the three phases have now been completed and a report has been submitted.