Browsing by Author "Dias, R."

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The Common General Paper at the GCE Advanced Level examination as a predictor of performance in medical school
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2006) de Silva, N.R.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Chandratilake, M.N.; Dias, R.
BACKGROUND: Since 2000, all students seeking admission to Sri Lankan universities have to answer a Common General Paper, along with three subjects of their choice, at the GCE Advanced Level (AL) examination. The CGP aims to assess the intellectual ability of students, and their general awareness of the world they live in. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between CGP scores and performance in medical school METHODS: The study sample consisted of medical students in Colombo and Kelaniya entering university in 2002 and 2003. Students were ranked according to the average mark obtained in 2nd year examinations in medical school, and dichotomized according to their presence in the top 30%. The predictive value of CGP scores in determining this outcome was examined using logistic regression in a multivariate analysis that also included AL z-scores, General English grades, sex, year of entry, district of admission and university. RESULTS: AL results and university examination results were matched for 473 students (297 in Colombo, 176 in Kelaniya). CGP marks showed significant positive correlation with AL z-scores and General English grades. All three AL scores and university examination results differed significantly according to university, year of entry, and sex of student, Multivariate analysis showed that higher AL z-scores and female sex were significant predictors of successful outcome, but none of the other variables, including CGP, were significant. All variables together explained only 12% of the variation in outcome (pseudo-R2 = 0.1224). CONCLUSIONS: CGP scores do not predict student performance in medical school.
Predictability of Stock Returns Using Financial Ratios: Empirical Evidence from Colombo Stock Exchange
(Department of Finance Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya, 2020) Dias, R.; Piyananda, S. D. P.
The purpose of this study is to examine the predictability of stock return using financial ratios in Sri Lankan context including the macroeconomic variables using data collected from the listed Companies in Colombo Stock Exchange. The investigation is performed using panel data procedures for a sample of 37 manufacturing firms listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange during 2014-2018. Descriptive statistics, correlation matrix and panel regression analysis are used to analyse the collected secondary data. The results suggested that the study used the Earning per Share, Dividend Per Share, Earning Yield, Dividend Yield, Book Value to Market Value as Independent variables and Market Capitalization, Inflation, and Gross Domestic Production as the Control variables. Some of the Variables are statistically significant and better predictor of the stock return those are, EPS, DPS, DY and BV to MV. All of the control variables are statistically insignificant to predict the stock return using Financial Ratios. The final results emphasize that the overall model is significant and the researcher conclude that the Financial ratios can be used to predict the stock returns. But all the control variables are statistically insignificant and cannot predict the stock return. This study has laid some groundwork to explore the predictability of stock returns using financial ratios of Sri Lankan listed companies upon which a more detailed evaluation could be based.
Selection of students to medical school
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2006) de Silva, N.R.; Chandratilake, M.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Dias, R.
No Abstract Available