IPRC - 2019
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/20881
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Item Entrepreneurship Development as a Strategy for Expansion of Employment Opportunities in the Rural Sector (With Special Reference to Kurunegala District)(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Bandara, H.G.K.N.Despite the fact that the past successive governments of Sri Lanka have been attempted to address the issue of rural unemployment through different strategies, unemployment and underemployment rates as well as the dependent population are still high in the rural sector of Sri Lanka. The salient feature of this problem is that the rate of unemployment and underemployment among the educated youth is higher than that of other groups. It is widely believed that Entrepreneurship development is a strategy that could support to overcome the persistent problem of unemployment in rural economies. Therefore, the present study focuses on the matter of how far successful Entrepreneurship Development programs that are being operated in Sri Lanka in coping with the problem of rural unemployment. The objectives of this study were, to identify the nature of unemployment in the rural Sri Lanka and to make a methodical assessment of the contribution of Entrepreneurship development programs with regard to the reduction of rural unemployment and underemployment. The relevant primary data for the study were collected through a field survey. Two structured questionnaires were employed to collect primary data from the selected sample. Secondary data were collected through a number of sources; mainly from the official publications of government departments and institutions. The sample was selected from the Kurunegala District and the sample included both unemployed and underemployed persons as well as young educated entrepreneurs who are in the Kurunegala District. Collected data were analyzed with the help of basic statistical methods such as percentages, tables, graphs and measures of central tendency. The study reveals that though there are many Entrepreneurship development programs have been implemented by the government of Sri Lanka, such programs have not been successful in dealing with the problem of rural unemployment due to lack of having proper awareness of the concept and insight into the matter. Therefore, Entrepreneurship Development programs should be designed in order to meet the needs of young, unemployed persons in the rural sector.Item A Study on Factors Affect on Acquiring English as a Second Language(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Lokuliyana, A.; Ruwanpathirana, I.English language skill is considered as one of most required skills in both educational and professional sectors in the modern society. After completing the school education students get chance to enter the state universities and this is where a graduate is being made according to universal aspects. Mass Communication and Public Relations are two global subjects which have been taught from very long time and English language skill is essential in both subjects in order to explore the academic and professional sector equally. However, every student is not given that privilege of learning the language properly. Especially when it comes to the non-urban areas of Sri Lanka, English language literacy is very law and in some areas it is zero. When a language is taught, the four skills of reading, speaking, writing and listening should be improved. During the process of learning, learner is affected by many factors in the second language acquisition process. The purpose of this research is to identify the ethnographic facts which affect on acquiring English as a second language. Under the qualitative research approach a questionnaire was distributed among 100 undergraduates who were selected randomly from the Department of Mass Communication. Additional information was gathered from secondary data sources such as research articles. It was proven by this study that undergraduates who belong to an upper social class background showed higher levels of English acquisition. At the same time it was revealed that undergraduates, who don’t belong to that social class but still showed higher levels of English acquisition, highly depend on school and private institution for learning English. The most important fact which was emerged through this research is, learning the alphabet and grammar do not support to acquire the language to the expected extent as long as there is a lack of practice in all levels of language acquisition. Contrary to these findings, it was also found out from this study that the undergraduates were highly motivated to learn English. However, higher motivation in itself did not result in higher levels of English acquisition for all undergraduatesItem How Young Men Establish Their Same-Sexual Relationships through Digital Contexts, Mutual Understanding and Emerging Networks of Digital Intimacy(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Jinadasa, M.; Priyankara, R.This paper reviews three divisions as mutual understanding, digital media contexts, and emerging networks of digital intimacies. First, mutual understanding involves with explaining how young men establish similar understanding between each other through interactive communication via Facebook in order to establish their same sexual relationships. Second, Digital media contexts involves with reviewing digital media’s potentials and spaces, on which rural young men create mutual understanding. Third, emerging networks of digital intimacies involves with clarifying how rural young men network themselves for their same sexual relations through Facebook as a safe and convenient space for their intimacies. On this qualitative literature review, key concepts such as mutual understanding, digital contexts and emerging networks of digital intimacy are explored to argue how rural young men create a network of digital intimacy on their same sexual relationships. Mutual understanding as a key public relation concept, is used to understand how young men establish their same sexual relationships through a process of inter-personal communication via Facebook. Digital media’s potentiality through ‘network society’ and ‘participatory culture’ are explored in order to understand how Facebook helps to create mutual understanding. Accordingly, this paper defines mutual understanding based on how young men individually interconnect through Facebook in order to identity “who they are” for their same sexual relationships. This is not similar to how relationships are managed between organisation and its stakeholders in terms of the corporate benefit. In short, this thesis argues how mutual understanding is constructed through young men’s individual understanding on a process of interaction via Facebook. As a result, it is argued how these virtual communities create a network of digital intimacyItem The Impact Towards the Rural Social Structure Due to Proliferation of Kidney Disease(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Munasinghe, S.; Karunathilake, K.The aim of the study was to understand the impact of kidney disease to the structure of the rural society of Sri Lanka. Research problem used was ‘what is the impact of kidney disease to the structure of rural community?’ The study was conducted in two Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs), namely Medawachchiya and Padaviya in 2018. These DSDs are located in the Anuradhapura District Sri Lanka and these are the mostly affected DSDs where unknown kidney disease can be identified. Especially, the study is focused on the impact towards the stability of the family, household economy, children’s education, and the nature of social relationship. All households selected on the basis of kidney disease affected patients who are below age 60. Though there are different statistics in health officials it was a difficult task to identify 100 households from one Grama Niladhari Division (GND). Therefore, 100 households selected from 9 GNDs in Medawachchiya DSD while another 100 households selected from 5 GNDs in Padaviya DSD. Altogether, it was a purposive sample with 200 households. Both quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques were used in this study for data generation and data collection. Historical methods, comparative methods, functional methods and statistical methods were used as key research methods while questionnaires, observation, Key-informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used as data collection tools. The study identified several key findings. They are; affected households income level has reduced extensively because most of the patients are the breadwinners of the household. Their average monthly income is Rs. 30000.00 after the disease. School attending children has victimized their education as a result of poor source of family income and time allocation of parents’ kidney disease treatments. At the time of study 5 families have stopped children’s education. There is no active program for the rural community in general and particularly effected patients to uplift their livelihood except the grant of Rs. 5000 given by the government. About 79% of the sample is under thorough medical advices, but not attending clinics and dialysis due to economic reason. There is a tendency of getting the kidney disease within close family members and the tendency is 61.5%. Thus, there is an issue of social exclusion in these study areas. The stigmatic condition prevailing in the area is a serious social problem that affected to the families and the rural social structure. There are 73 effected households who have mortgaged their properties to find required amount of money to continue recommended treatment. Especially, they have consulted medical specialists in distance places such as Colombo, Kandy, Trincomalee, etc. This situation has further aggravated the issues in family relationship and rural social structure. In addition, there are many latent issues and factors that influenced on the stability of family relationships and rural social structure. Finally, the study shows that the disease has made critical issues in affected families and the rural social structure.Item Professional Development of Education Administrative Officers in Sri Lanka: A Sociological Analysis(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Jayaweera, S.; Karunathilake, K.The purpose of this paper is to investigate into salient features of professionalism which will be developed by Sri Lanka Education Administrative Officers in the government school education system and analyses causes and effects that can be identified among current education officers attached to Western Province in Sri Lanka towards a commonly accepted professionalism. Mixed methodology is used in this research study. Survey, Case study, Auto Ethnography, and Life stories are used as research methods. In addition, Traditional Model, Craft Model, Reflective Inquiry Approach, Mentoring, Reading and Journaling will be used as tools of assessing principal/ education officer professional development. Nature and constitution of the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) which comprises mainly recruitment procedure, pre-service induction training, capacity building training courses relating to the SLEAS officers and professional development of education officers in different countries will be considered as key variables in the investigation. A survey will be expected to be carried out in this research from quantitative perspective by using questionnaires, document surveys, and interviews will be employed to gather data. Furthermore, observation will be used throughout the data collection period being a member of SLEAS own experience earn for 15 years would be a valid ground for data gathering, analyzing and interpretation. The sample population consists of 110 education officers in Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara districts. The findings of the study will be urged policy makers and stakeholders of education system to revisit the concept of professional development programmes and leadership development in education administration officers who play a key role of education in primary and secondary education sector in Sri Lanka.Moreover, the overall results of the study will bring the intended benefits and to enhance the quality of education in Sri Lanka.Item A Geo-Spatial Analysis to Identify the Land Loses and Land Use Changes Due to Clay and Sand Mining – A Case Study of Ma-Oya Left Bank in Katana Divisional Secretariat Division(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Jayarahthe, M.; Dayaratne, W.J.M.; Dissanayake, A.M.C.Mining is one of the main methods to extract mineral resources. This research carried out to identify the loss of land and land-use changes due to clay and sand mining in the lower Ma-Oya river bank of Katana Divisional Secretariat Division. Geographically, environmentally and socio-economically the Ma-Oya river basin is one of the unique river basin in Sri Lanka. The length of Ma-Oya River is 134km and the size of the river basin is 1528Sq.km. During the last few decades, due to sand and clay mining both left and right river banks of the lower Ma Oya river basin have been highly degraded. Field observation, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Global Positioning System (GPS) data and google satellite images were used as primary data. Land use maps of 1956, 1984, 2018 and resource report of Katana DS Division were used as secondary data. This has done using mix method. QGIS 2.8 and Arc GIS 10.1 and MS Office applications have been used to analyze the spatial land-use changes and calculated the extent of land loses. The Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) analysis and geo-processing techniques have been applied to determine multivariable interpolations. The study revealed that Ma-Oya left river bank highly changes and loss of land due to critical natural resource use issues. Especially clay has been excavated up to 835 hundred meter distance from the left river bank. As a result, a considerable amount of land and land uses have been loosed. 119 hectares of the total land area were loosed and according to the present value of lands in the area, it was the amount of Rs. 2,728,774,720 (27287 Rs/M). Respectively, 63.25ha of coconut lands, 42.24ha of home gardens, 9.79ha of paddy lands, 2.68ha of scrubs and 1.24ha of croplands have been converted into water bodies or bare lands in lover left bank of Ma-Oya.Item Straddled Boundaries of Health Care in a Sri Lankan Village: A Medico-Anthropological Analysis(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Perera, J.A.P.S.; Angammana, B.H.Medical Pluralism (MP) is a vital phenomenon, deeply focused and widely studied in Medical Anthropology and Medical Sociology. Sri Lanka is a medically pluralistic country which offers a wide array of health care/treatment options which are available and utilized successively, alternatively, and/or simultaneously. However, the scholarship on MP in the Sri Lankan context mainly carries the biomedical perspective. In this background, we explored how socio-cultural factors and structures shape MP in a Sri Lankan rural village while there is a rapid proliferation of bio-medicine and health care technologies ranging from basic rural dispensaries to e-health facilities at the macro level. Our objectives were to; identify the dynamics of MP in the chosen village, identify how pluralist medical environment influence the health seeking behavior of the villagers and identify the reasons to cross/straddle and continue medically pluralistic situation in the village. This was an ethnographic study conducted in Dorakumbura Village in Matale district in 2018. The method of data collection included observations, interviews (10), and focus group discussions (05) conducted with a wide array of respondents (ranging from peasants, traditional healers, exorcists, astrologers, doctor, nurses, treatment seekers, to village administrative and related stake holders). We adopted the narrative analysis as the method of data analysis. The research revealed that there are three main sectors of medical pluralism; popular sector, folk sector and professional sector and villagers adopt a combination of treatment practices drawing from local, regional and cosmopolitan medical systems. Kinship and family ties still play a major role in transmitting the traditional knowledge on diseases and related treatments among the villagers studied. The peasants revealed very divers health beliefs and they follow diverse health care/treatment practices from various health traditions which are based on a wide range of social, cultural, ecological and structural factors that shape people’s choices and decisions on health. Although there seems to be a co-existence of several treatment traditions among the villagers, bio-medicine still exerts dominance. Further, cultural propensities and religious faith play a significant role in shaping pluralistic medical practices among villagers studiedItem Significance of Forest Tanks (Kuluwew) Renovations in the Cascade Tank Systems (Ellanga) in Dry Climatic Zone of Sri Lanka: The Cases from the Cascades in Puttlam District(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Sakalasooriya, N.This study investigates the significant role of Kuluwew (forest tanks) to sustain the forest ecosystems and the Ellanga (Cascades) social-ecological systems of the Dry Climatic Zone ( DCZ) of Sri Lanka and points out the neediness of renovating these abandoned tanks. The wew (Tanks) civilization of Sri Lanka is unique and endemic because the tank systems have their own philosophy, science, technology, and arts. Basically, these tanks have been built by the kings of Sri Lanka under the Buddha’s thoughts. King Parakramabahu the Great (1153 AD –1186 AD) has concluded the philosophy of irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka as “truly in such a country, not even a drop of water that comes from the rain must flow into the ocean without being made useful to all living beings”. Under the concept, the cascade tanks lie on small valleys with low gradient in the DCZ to provide water for all needs of human beings and other living beings in the social and ecological systems. Consequently, there are many types of tanks in the same cascade and they play different roles. The kuluwew are located near to the forest or inside the forest for especial purposes like providing water for wild animals, reduce the silting, filtering the debris, store the rainwater and enrich the groundwater level, supply water to the irrigation tanks by seepage, maintain the food chain providing water, fruits, grass, leaves etc. Unfortunately, after the king's periods, the modern rulers did not pay adequate attention to protect those tanks and now they are malfunctioned. Consequently, lots of wild animals, have been migrated into the villages and it has become a major issue of tank villages in DCZ of Sri Lanka. Wild elephants, monkeys, porcupines, giant squirrels, wild bore, and hundreds of insects and caterpillars are invading the village ecosystems and threaten the whole wellbeing of settlers unprecedently. This study has done 07 case studies in 07 major cascade systems in Puttlama District. There are 159 tanks altogether in these 7 cascade systems and out of the 34 tanks are forest tanks. The main data collecting technique is PRA and resource and hazard maps, seasonal calendar, matrix analysis, transect walks, focus group discussions were the tools. The study has revealed that all the forest tanks have not been renovated for many decades and they are malfunctioned. Consequently, there is a lack of water and edible plants and fruits for the animals in annual dry periods from March to October. Therefore wild animals have been motivated to enter the villages and nearby farmlands. Sometimes some insects, rats and snakes are also coming into the residential and farming areas. The conclusion is that these forest tanks should be renovated systematically and the wild animal threat may reduce by 80 percent after a full renovation of all the forest tanks and restore the forest ecosystemsItem Application of Queuing Models to Reduce the Waiting Time: Case Study Based on Dental Clinic of Colombo South Teaching Hospital(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Perera, P.G.T.N.One of the major essentials in improving efficiency in the provision of health care services is patient flow. The growing population and health-need due to adverse environmental conditions have led to escalating waiting times and crowding in government hospitals. Queuing theory has effectively been applied to various fields including health care. According to the previous literature, the application of queuing theory enhanced the efficiency of the waiting time of both dentists and patients. As a developing country, Sri Lankan government hospitals also face the challenge of queuing problems. The problem of this study is identifying an appropriate queuing model to enhance the efficiency of waiting time in the Dental clinic in Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH). This study has used the secondary data obtained through the annual bulletin of Colombo South Teaching Hospital Statistic unit, Hospital data Queries and also primary data were obtained by the direct observations and structured questionnaire within January 2019. In the analysis purpose, this study mainly used queuing approach with M/M/1, M/M/S, M/M/S/N systems and the service disciplines like first come first out, priority and shortest job first. Under these queuing models, study has calculated the various parameters to measure the queue performance in a dental clinic in the CSTH. In this case study use M/M/4 queue model to characterize the patient flow in the Dental clinic of CSTH and M/M/S/N system characterized at the light surgery section of the dental. Under these queuing models, this study has measured various parameters such as Utilization factor, Average queue length, Average number of system, Average waiting time in the queue, Average waiting time in the system, Idle time of the servers and Probability of exactly n customers in the system, etc. The Multiple Single-Server queuing model is employed at the dental clinic. This implies that patients on arrival to the clinic join a queue to see any out of about 3 to 5 doctors who are consulting at the same time. All dentists have a single line of patients waiting to be attended to and the patients are directed to the queues by the nurses and record staff of the clinic. The patients are directed to queues in the order they arrived. This study has considered that the number of dentists is less than with the number of beds. Practice shows that the majority of the cases the dentists can deal with more than 1 patient in 25 minutes. Some of the suggestions from patients included more dentists be employed to reduce waiting time on the queue, doctors need to come on time to avoid stagnation of patients at the clinic, first-come-first-serve discipline should be observed on the queue to ensure fair play, and records staff should not take bribe from patients for the purpose of jumping the queue. Queues should arrange on the aspect of service provided by each dentistItem Using Logistic Regression to Estimate the Influence of Environmental Factors on Motor Cycle Road Crash Severity(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Liyanage, L.The field of transportation has undergone a massive growth with the immense development that occurred with the industrialization. But as a side effect, a huge increase in road accidents can be depicted. It has become one of the leading causes of death and injury in Sri Lanka. Nowadays, the rate of incidence of traffic accidents is increasing severely. Much against the popular belief, it is the light vehicles that are most often causing traffic accidents. Each year over 35752 road accidents occur in Sri Lanka, causing on average eight fatalities every day. In every year the highest numbers of deaths occurred with motorcyclists. There are various factors which are related to motorcycle road accidents. So this study was carried out to find the factors influencing the severity of the motorcycle accidents in Sri Lanka. This study was based on the records of the Traffic Police Head Office, Colombo. 171493 motorcycle accident cases were considered during the period 2008-2017. Logistic Regression was used to estimate the severity of factors related to road. The logistic regression model is the most common model for data analysis when the dependent variable is in binary nature. It is normally used to study the association between a binary dependent variable and a group of the continuous or categorical independent variable. The response can take the values 1 or 0. The variable “Nature of the Accident” (Fatal/Non-fatal) is considered as a dichotomous variable, and the factors road surface, weather condition and the light condition are treated as influencing factors on the accident severity. After a series of statistical analyses were conducted, all of the independent variables were identified as influential variables to the accident severity. But as none of the four variables was included in the equation, there were no coefficients for them. Rather, dummy variables which code for each and every independent variable are in the equation, and those have coefficients. Of the road surface variable, two categories namely wet road surface and the slippery road surface were found to be significantly associated with the outcome of the dependent variable. Dry road surface and the road flooded with water were not statistically significant. Of the weather condition variable, two categories were found to be significantly associated with the outcome of the dependent variable namely rainy weather and the fog/mist weather. Clear and cloudy weather was not statistically significant. Of the light condition variable, three categories were found to be significantly associated with the outcome of the dependent variable namely daylight, no light at the night and the improper light at the night. Dusk/ Dawn and good street light at night were not statistically significant. Results from this study reveal that the fitted logistic regression model can be used for the safety improvements against the motorcycle road accidents in Sri Lanka