Many of us take connectivity for granted – we have our mobile phone at hand at all times, we stress when there is no 3G coverage, when the internet is slow, or when bad weather affects the TV show we are watching. Meanwhile, there are people in parts of Sri Lanka for whom connectivity is a luxury not a basic need, an occasional choice rather than an integral part of their daily lives. This is sometimes because of a lack of interest or relevance to them and their work, a lack of availability or affordability, and sometimes as simple as a lack of electricity to charge their phones or watch an evening TV programme. Covering the village of Meemure at the foot of the Knuckles range, Puthukuduyiruppu in the war-affected North, and Narahenpita in the heart of the commercial capital Colombo, this feature explores how three communities manage with limited access to telecommunications and how this influences how they live and their outlook on life.
For details and original research around each photo, please click here.
