Abstract
Development practice should be centred on human relations governed by a spirit of cooperation, kindness and compassion, rather than on purely economic concerns. The Sarvodaya Shramada'na movement, a grassroots Buddhist-based development movement in Sri Lanka, emphasises that development practices should be more closely aligned with religious resources and principles in order to achieve a balanced and sustainable development process. The work of Sarvodaya Shramada'na shows how religion is an integral element in socio-cultural situations and can play a vital role in overcoming impasses associated with growth-orientated development practices.