Browsing by Author "Jayarathna, N."

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Interspecific Relationships of Piper Species in Sri Lanka as Revealed by DNA Barcode ITS
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Jayarathna, N.; Senanayake, S.P.; Rajapakse, S.; Jayasekera, R.; Paranagama, P.A.
The genus Piper which is the largest genus in the family Piperaceae is economically important as it comprises with valuable crop species as well as several wild species. Although ten species of genus Piper are recorded in Sri Lanka, their interspecific relationships were not well studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine interspecific relationships of Piper species in Sri Lanka using internal transcribed spacers from nuclear ribosomal DNA )ITS(. Ten varieties of Piper nigrum L., two varieties of each P. betle L.and P. longum L., P. chuvya )Miq.( C. DC., P. siriboa L., P. sylvestre Lam., P. walkeri Miq. and P. zeylanicum Miq. were used for the study. The genomic DNA was extracted from tender leaf samples using CTAB method, PCR amplified using ITS primer pair and subjected to DNA sequencing. The DNA sequence alignment analysis was carried out and a dendrogram was constructed using the multiple sequence alignment programme MUSCLE. According to the dendrogram clear formation of two major clusters can be seen and ten P. nigrum varieties were clustered together however, variety Kuching has shown a separation from the main cluster. P. longum, P. walkeri, P. sylvestre, P. siriboa, P. betle, P. chuvya and P. zeylanicum formed the other cluster in which P. siriboa has shared close similarities with P. betle, while P. sylvestre and P. walkeri displayed close relationships and clustered together with P. longum varieties. Interspecific relationships between wild species and cultivated species )P. nigrum, P. betle and P. longum( indicated the potential of using the wild species in breeding programs for crop improvement. However, further studies to reveal genetic and phenetic relatedness of those species are needed to deepen the knowledge on interspecific relationships of Piper species.
A Socio Legal Study on the regressions of public bus transport service and the passengers’ rights
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Herath, U.S.; Jayarathna, N.
Sri Lanka is a prominent country among other third world countries in social welfare. This study attempts to identify the inconveniences faced by persons using public transport services and the rights of these passengers. In present society, commuters do not have a considerable sense of security while travelling by bus and often it can be observed how they are abused physically, verbally as well as mentally. This study deals with the reasons for this kind of harassment and the actions which can be taken to prevent such distressing situations. The research problem was to distinguish whether or not bus commuters had a sense of security when travelling. The main objectives of this study were to identify the level of security of the passengers who are utilizing the public bus transport service in Sri Lanka, to gain knowledge about the passengers’ rights, to identify the legal actions that can be taken against the harassments happening in a bus and to identify how to amend current laws regarding passengers’ rights. Methods of data collection included a survey, participation observation, interviews and questionnaires. Accordingly, the findings of the study reveal that 99% passengers have been subject to harassment despite their gender and none of these victims have resorted to legal help. However, a majority of the passengers that have faced such problems have been women. Identification of such social issues in the contemporary context can be seen as a vital component which affects the building up of a legally and culturally enriched society.
A sociological study on puberty rites effects on self control in Sri Lankan society
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Herath, U.; Jayarathna, N.
Attain puberty is a physical and social process. It is a decisive moment of women‘s life. The girl before attain puberty is called ―Kanyawa‖ (virgin) and after it she is called ―Kanyawada‖. In that manner she has to live under socially and culturally created restrictions. The puberty rites in Sri Lankan society are given proper sexual knowledge and the self control through ―Kotahalu Yagaya‘‘ (a cultural dance which is conducted to abandon evils from newly attained girl and Kotahalu is another Sinhalese word for attain puberty). For instance the ―Gaba Uthpaththiya‖ is coming on Kotahalu yagaya has clearly revealed it. ―Thun dina athulatha rudiyara dutu thena - Kam rasa windimin satha hata leda ena In dahasaya dina daru pala dena - Min mathuwata daruwan noma upa dina‖ But present society pays less attention on this kind of traditional customs. This study attempts to identify the contribution of puberty rites on Self control and its necessity for modern society. Can puberty rites of Sri Lanka effect on Self control? Was the research problem of this study. The main objectives of this study are three fold, identify cultural value of puberty rites and its degeneration, identify the contemporary importance of rites of passage and identify the reasons for the exclusion of puberty rites from people. The proper research methodology causes to protect its accuracy and rationality. Main research methodology of this study was case study method. Interviews, participation observation were used as data collecting techniques. Books, articles, magazines were used to collect secondary data and interviews and participation observation were helped to collect primary data. The proper sexual knowledge and self control to the adolescence and society are given by puberty rites, expansion of free education, urbanization, globalization, and westernization process are directly influenced on puberty rites to degenerate from Sri Lankan Culture, Cultural practices like Yaga, Shanthi karma are gradually disappearing from society with the feeble economic strength of peasants, Low cast people like rada/Hena (who are doing Dhobi work) are not engaging with their traditional occupations can be considered the findings of this study. Conclusion: The puberty rites played major role to give a sexual knowledge and self control in a technologically poor society. But current society pays less attention to this kind of traditional customs. The puberty rites have been giving informal sexual knowledge to the young generation. Especially some restrictions are imposed by these cultural events to make self control. Finally degeneration of these cultural practices partially causes to create many social problems like unnecessary pregnancies and abortions.