3. Challenges in Livelihood of Residents in Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka Due to Water Scarcity

Water scarcity is the main constraint and it has become a serious threat in meeting domestic purposes as well as the livelihood as a whole of the resettled people in Kilinochchi district, Sri Lanka. These current scenarios, therefore, call for an investigation on challenges in livelihood due to water scarcity and its impacts on sustainable development goals. This research is carried out in Karachchi Divisional Secretariat Division that belongs to Kilinochchi district. The study manipulates a combined approach of both qualitative and quantitative methods. It relies mainly on primary data that were collected through household survey, structured interviews and observation, while secondary data from certain sources were also used. The questionnaire survey was conducted with randomly selected two hundred and fourteen households from the purposively selected five Grama Niladhari Divisions. Qualitative data and quantitative data of the study were analysed using content analysis, and descriptive statistics respectively. Frequency distribution tables, pie charts and graphs were used to display the findings of the data analysis. Findings of the study include various livelihood challenges: monthly income, cost of living, agriculture, home gardens, livestock, inland fishing, unemployment, and small business which are negatively impacted by water scarcity in the study area. Further, the study indicates that the sustainable development goals no: 1-No Poverty, 3-Good Health and Well-being, 5-Gender Equality, 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth and 9-Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure are highly constrained to achieve due to the negative impacts on livelihoods caused by water scarcity.  Moreover, SDG 6-clean water and sanitation and, SDG 2-Zero Hunger are extremely threatened in the study area due to water scarcity. Therefore, relevant stakeholders should take urgent actions to ensure the availability and accessibility of water to address the challenges faced by the households in Karachchi, Kilinochchi district, in terms of livelihoods and sustainable development.