Recent Submissions
Item type: Item , ශ්රි ලංකාවේ විශ්වවිද්යාල පුස්තකාලයන්හි වෙබ් පාදක උපයෝජක සේවා පිළිබද ගවේෂණාත්මක අධ්යයනයක් : අන්තර්ගත විශ්ලේෂණ ප්රවේශයක්(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2024) Ransara, P. W. A. S. D.Nowadays, "Information" is known as the center of the modern economy. Nowadays, information technology is directly used to provide this information to people who need it. In this regard, the use of information websites is shown to be a more practical process. In library services, these websites can easily provide information and reader services. In this context, the challenges in aligning the dynamic and evolving nature of the web content of the reader services provided by the university libraries of Sri Lanka with the web content and the nature of the use of web-based user services are important. This study was conducted based on the research problem of "What is the use of web-based user services in Sri Lankan university libraries?". In this, "A content analysis of web-based user services in Sri Lankan university libraries is conducted to explore their current status, effectiveness and use and to propose suggestions for it." This objective introduces the main goal of the study. Furthermore, the research objectives of this research are to identify the differences in the content (services and resources) available on the websites of Sri Lankan university libraries, to develop a checklist for analyzing web content based on the websites of Sri Lankan university libraries, and to create a site map with common criteria that can be used in creating university library websites in Sri Lanka. Content analysis was used for website analysis in this study using a mixed research methodology. This analysis was carried out in three stages. In the first stage, a list of (17) state universities available on the University Grants Commission website was obtained as a study collection. In the second stage, a checklist was prepared to analyze web-based library services. In the third stage, the web content was analyzed using content analysis methods according to the processed list. The data obtained in this way was analyzed using spreadsheet software. The conclusions of the study are that web-based user services exist in university libraries and their dynamic nature, and the use of their content are also of the same nature. The use of new technologies in the creation of web content has been minimized. Suggestions such as creating a web map before creating websites, adopting a common web map, and analyzing the content available in websites over time can be given about the conclusions reached through the study.Item type: Item , ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE AND FIRM PERFORMANCE OF LISTED ENTITIES IN SRI LANKA: A MIXED METHOD APPROACH(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2023) Nanayakkara, M. S.In the modern business landscape, transparency is a fundamental corporate value and a key driver of sustainability, necessitating ESG integration to reflect non-financial performance. Despite prior research, a consensus on the impact of ESG disclosure on firm performance in developing countries is lacking. This study fills the gap by examining ESG disclosure levels and their impact on firm performance using a mixed-method approach. The study selected 101 companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange from 2012/2013 to 2019/2020. The impact of ESG disclosure on firm performance is measured by Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Tobin’s Q, employing panel data analysis techniques. To address endogeneity issues, the study uses System Generalized Method-of-Moments (System GMM) estimators. The study results show that ESG disclosure has no effect on the performance of listed companies in Sri Lanka. Factors identified in the thematic analysis encompass lack of awareness, inadequate integration into decision-making, disclosure quality, cost constraints, and institutional weaknesses. The level of ESG disclosure is influenced by awareness, lack of proper guidelines, absence of stakeholder demands, top management commitment, capture information, accounting education, and social, political, and economic context. This illustrates how isomorphic pressures, legitimacy considerations, and regulatory influences shape ESG disclosure practices. This study enriches the literature by expanding both theoretical and empirical insights into ESG reporting. The study provides valuable guidance for companies aiming to enhance performance through ESG implementation and disclosure, highlighting the importance of aligning Sri Lankan policies with global ESG standards.Item type: Item , Positive psychological approach as reflected in Puņņovādasutta(0000) Bhaddiya, W.It can be pointed out that maintaining positive attitudes is a crucial force for a person's physical development as well as their mental development. The field of positive psychology can be identified as an important branch of psychology that discusses this. This field illustrates how an individual should maintain themselves as a positive thinker. Buddhist teachings also clearly reflect the appreciation for the importance of having positive attitudes combined with a realistic understanding. This foundation is well analyzed in the sermons Puņņa Sutta and Puņņovāda Sutta. The positive attitudes reflected through the ideas presented by Ven. Punna Thero are clearly evident in both of the aforementioned suttas. This qualitative study, conducted using primary and secondary sources, draws attention to positive psychology and its value in building a positive mindset through proper management, even in the most severe and stressful situations.Item type: Item , Reflection of Tourism Destination Image through Online Reviews: A Netnographic Approach to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka(CCF - ICOMOS Sri Lanka National Conference 2025, 2025) Weerasinghe, I.; Pamalka, A. A. H.Tourism Destination Image (TDI) is conceptualised through three components: cognitive, affective, and conative. Tourists' impressions play a vital role in shaping destination image within the tourism sector. In today's digital era, user-generated content (UGC) provides deeper insights into visitor perceptions, as travellers widely share experiences through online platforms and social media. TripAdvisor, one of the most popular and globally recognised travel websites, offers authentic reviews reflecting visitor experiences. This study aims to examine how the image of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple in Sri Lanka, is reflected through online reviews. The study was guided by two objectives: (i) to determine tourists' perspectives of visit experiences at Dambulla Cave Temple under the three TDI components, and (ii) to identify negatively addressed elements in each component. A qualitative Netnography approach was used, with individual online reviews as the unit of analysis. Out of 6,902 reviews recorded under the filtering terms, 'Dambulla Cave Temple' and 'Golden Temple of Dambulla' by August 2025, 150 detailed English-language reviews (January 2024-August 2025) were selected through convenience sampling until thematic saturation. Data was coded and analysed using the open-source software "Taguette", based on the deductive approach in thematic analysis. The results of the study reveal that the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple has received both positive and negative online reviews on three TDI components. The visitors have been immensely impressed by the cognitive components of the site, including its cultural and historical attributes (heritage aspects, carvings, paintings, and statues) and natural attributes (scenic beauty and caves). TDI has been negatively affected by the cognitive elements of physical attributes (heritage and visitor management approaches, visitor facilities). The reflection of positive thoughts and emotions, reinforced by the religious atmosphere and the historical prestige of the site, reveals that visitors' affective level is at a considerably satisfactory level. Due to the complications in site management, the visitors' overall conative image of revisit intention was very poor, while recommendations were at a neutral level. The study provides novel insights for authorities in heritage site management to prioritise enhancing the quality of the visit experience, thereby ensuring the prestigious reputation of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.Item type: Item , Unpacking Investor Psychology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Behavioural Biases Shaping Investment Decisions(F1000Research, 2025) Herathmenike, H. M. M. A.; Dewasiri, N. J.; Munasinghe, A.Background This study systematically examines how behavioural biases affect investment decisions across formal and informal financial markets, with a focus on emerging economies. It aims to map the evolution of the field, highlight neglected cognitive biases, and uncover geographical and methodological gaps in current research. Methods A rigorous Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted using the PRISMA protocol, analysing 63 empirical studies from the Scopus database. Advanced bibliometric tools, VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, were employed to identify key trends, thematic clusters, and shifts in research focus in behavioural finance. Results The review reveals a heavy concentration of studies on biases such as overconfidence, herding, and loss aversion, primarily within formal market settings and South Asian contexts. Many other essential biases, including regret aversion, anchoring, and emotional influences, are still rarely studied. Very few studies test real-world solutions, such as education, digital tools, or reminders, that may help people make better financial decisions. Visual and longitudinal mapping demonstrate a rising academic interest after 2016, but expose a lack of representation from many regions and emerging behavioural dynamics. Research on informal investing and diverse cultural settings is also limited. Conclusion This review highlights that many investors, especially in emerging economies, are guided by emotions and mental shortcuts rather than careful reasoning. While interest in this topic has grown, most research still focuses on a few well-known biases and limited regions. Many significant biases, such as regret aversion and anchoring, remain underexplored. There is also very little evidence on what helps reduce these biases in real-world settings. This study advocates for more diverse, practical, and inclusive research that can help investors ma
