IPRC - 2022
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/25834
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Item 2022 ගෝල්ෆේස් අරගලයේ ප්‍රවෘත්ති වාර්තාකරණය - රූපවාහිනී මාධ්‍යය ඇසුරෙන් විශ්ලේෂණාත්මක අධ්‍යයනයක්(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) මාධව, ජේ. ඒ. ටී.මෙම පර්යේෂණයේ අරමුණ වනුයේ 2022 වර්ෂයේ ගෝල්ෆේස් අරගලයේ ප්‍රවෘත්ති රජයේ සහ පෞද්ගලික මාධ්‍ය අංශ විසින් වාර්තා කළ ආකාරය අධ්‍යයනය කිරීමයි. මෙහි දී කාල රාමුව ලෙස 2022 මැයි මස 09 වන දින හා 2022 ජුනි 09 වන දින ප්‍රවෘත්ති විකාශයන් අතරතුර අරගලයේ ප්‍රවෘත්ති වාර්තාකරණය කළ ආකාරය පිළිබඳව රූපවාහිනී මාධ්‍ය දෙකක් ඇසුරෙන් විශ්ලේෂණාත්මක අධ්‍යයනයක් සිදු කර ඇත. මෙහි දී පර්යේෂණයේ නියැදිය වශයෙන් රජයේ ප්‍රධානතම රූපවාහිනී මාධ්‍ය ආයතනය වන ජාතික රූපවාහිනියත්, අරගල පුවත් මාධ්‍ය විකාශනයේ ජනප්‍රියතම මාධ්‍ය ලෙස ප්‍රකට වූ සිරස රූපයවාහිනී මධ්‍යයත් පෞද්ගලික මාධ්‍යයන් අතුරින් තෝරා ගන්නා ලදී. දත්ත රැස් කිරීමේ දී මාධ්‍ය අංශ දෙකෙහිම ප්‍රවෘත්ති වාර්තාකරණයේ පටිගත වීඩියෝ පට සහ එම ආයතන නිළ වෙබ් පිටු වල පලකළ වීඩියෝ පට භාවිතා කරන ලදී. දත්ත විශ්ලේෂණයේ දී ප්‍රවෘත්ති වාර්තාකරණයේ දී මාධ්‍ය අංශ දෙකෙහිම ප්‍රවෘත්ති සිරස්තල භාවිතය, ගුවන් කාලය වෙන් කිරීම, සහභාගී වූ වර්තාකරුවන් ප්‍රමාණය, ප්‍රවෘත්ති වාර්තාකරණයේ යෙදුනු ස්ථාන, පුවත් සංස්කරණය, පක්‍ෂග්‍රාහී බව, සජීවී පුවත් විකාශන වලදී භාෂා භාවිතය යන කරුණු යටතේ මාධ්‍ය අංශ දෙක පිළිබඳව අන්තර්ගත විශ්ලේෂණයක් සිදු කරන ලදී. මෙම පර්යේෂණයේ නිගමන සහ නිර්දේශ ලෙස පර්යේෂණයෙන් සනාත වී ඇත්තේ රාජ්‍ය මාධ්‍ය ලෙස ජාතික රූපවාහිනිය ප්‍රවෘත්ති විකාශනය තුළින් අරගලයේ නියම තත්ත්වයන් නිසි ලෙස විකාශනය සිදු කර නොමැති බවත්, රජයට පක්‍ෂක්ග්‍රාහීව ප්‍රවෘත්ති විකාශනය කර ඇති බවත්ය. ජාතික රූපවාහිනියේ විකාශනයේ දී ඔවුන් තමන්ගේ දෛනික වැඩසටහන්වලට මූලිකත්වය දෙමින් අරගලය සංනිවේදනය උකහා දැක්වීම යටපත් කර වර්තාකරනය සිදු කර ඇති අතර එය රාජ්‍ය විරෝධී කැරුල්ලක් යන මතය නිර්මාණය කිරීමට ද උත්සාහා දරා ඇත. එමෙන්ම රාජ්‍ය මර්ධනය හෙලිදරව් වීම වලැක්වීමට තම විකාශනය තුළින් උත්සාහ දරා ඇත. පෞද්ගලික මාධ්‍යයක් ලෙස සිරස රූපවාහිනිය අරගලකරුවන්ගේ ක්‍රියාකාරකම් ඍජුව විකාශනය කිරීමට හා සජීවීව විකාශනය කිරීමට කටයුතු කර ඇති බවත්, සිරස මාධ්‍ය අරගලකරුවන්ට පක්‍ෂක්ග්‍රාහීව හා ජනතාව අරගලය තුළට ඇද ගැනීමට වචන හා භාෂාව භාවිතා කර ඇති බවත්, අරගලකරුවන්ට විරුද්ධව දැඩි මර්ධනකාරී වැඩ පිළිවෙලක් රජය විසින් ක්‍රියාත්මක කරන බව නිරූපණය කිරීමට තම මාධ්‍යවේදීන් අරගල භූමියේ සිට සජීවී තොරතුරු වාර්තාකරණය හා එම මාධ්‍යවේදීන්ට ද ප්‍රහාර එල්ල වීම සංස්කරණය නොකරමින් විකාශනය කිරීම හා ඔවුන් හා ප්‍රවෘත්ති නිවේදකයන්ගේ ආවේගශිලී වචන භාවිතය මගින් අරගලය නිරවද්‍ය කිරීම හා ප්‍රවෘත්ති විකාශනයේ වැඩි කාලයක් අරගලයේ පුවත් විකාශනයට භාවිතා කිරීම මගින් ප්‍රේක්ශකයින් වැඩියෙන් ආකර්ෂණය කර ගැනීමට කටයුතු කිරීමට තම මාධ්‍ය භාවිතා කර ඇති බව පර්යේෂණයෙන් සනාත වී ඇත.Item Addition of two Trichoderma species with organic fertilizer paste - A boon for crop yield of Abelmoschus esculentus L. cv. MI 5(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Kalpani, N. N.; Kannangara, B. T. S. D. P.; Ratnayake, R. M. C. S.Sustainable agriculture is a farming technique that minimizes environmental impacts while providing a tenable yield. The use of organic amendments as an alternative to inorganic treatments has more significant potential to establish a self-sustaining, less expensive, and environmentally friendly agricultural system. The amalgamation of organic fertilizer with bio-controlling microorganisms is more beneficial than individual application in cropping land to enhance crop productivity. The present study was aimed to examine the influence of an organic fertilizer paste enriched with Trichoderma spp. to enhance the growth performances and yield of Abelmoschus esculentus L. cv. MI 5. The organic fertilizer paste was prepared by aerobic digestion of air-dried and powdered immature twigs of the following plants; Annona glabra, Clidemia hirta, Chromolaena odorata, and Pongamia pinnata (2.0 kg each) in distilled water (42.0 L) for a month. Bio-controlling agents Trichoderma harzianum (KT852821.1) and Trichoderma virens (KP985643.1) were formulated in solid carrier material (compost, straw, clay, and cow urine; 2:1:1:1) separately. The pot trial consisted of six treatments of liquid organic fertilizer enriched with Trichoderma spp. (T10H, T10V, T20H, T20V, T25H, and T25V, where 10, 20, and 25 denote 10%, 20%, and 25% of C. odorata, A. glabra, C. hirta, and P. pinnata extract combined with H as T. harzianum and V as T. virens) with 15 replicates in a completely randomized block design. One-week-old A. esculentus L. cv. MI 5 seedlings were soil treated for 3 months (1st week - 5 mL, 2nd week - 10 mL, 3rd week - 15 mL, 4th week - 20 mL, and 100 mL). The positive and negative controls were commercial fertilizer (Maxicrop) and tap water, respectively. Shoot growth performances, root growth performances, average fresh weights, and average dry weights, and the amount of harvest of A. esculentus L. cv. MI 5 were measured after 3 months of the plantation. One-way ANOVA statistical method, along with Tukey’s multiple comparison tests were used to identify the significant differences (P≤0.05) in growth parameters among treatments using MINITAB (Version 17). T10H treatment (10 % diluted C. odorata, A. glabra, C. hirta, and P. pinnata extract only incorporated with T. harzianum) recorded significantly (P≤0.05), the highest average plant shoot height (163.6±5.40 cm), number of leaves (39±2), stem circumference (5±0.19 cm), average leaf area (309.56±1.2 cm2), root length (38±2.20 cm), the girth of the root (5.24±0.32 cm), number of lateral roots (59±2.08), fresh weight of the entire plant (146.13±16.79 g/plant), fresh weight of the root (35.53±5.82 g/plant), average dry weight of the whole plant (17.61±1.79 g/plant), dry weight of the shoot biomass (13.1±1.42 g/plant), dry weight of the root biomass (4.19±0.09 g/plant), the average number of pods per plant (30±0.24), and average fresh weight of pods (39.83±2.14 g). Therefore, T10H treatment can be successfully used as the best organic fertilizer paste enriched with T. harzianum to enhance the growth and yield of Abelmoschus esculentus L. cv. MI 5.Item Adsorptive removal of Cd (II) from aqueous solutions by sand/graphite oxide nano-composites: characterization, isotherm, and kinetic studies(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Perera, W. P. R. T.; Perera, P. L. R. A.; Kumarasingha, A. R.; Liyanage, J. A.Core-shell absorbent granules were developed by coating commercial sand gravels with graphite oxide (few-layer oxidized graphene sheets). Graphite oxide (GO) is synthesized chemically from vein graphite, a rare form of high-purity natural graphite (NVG). Modified Hammer's method was followed in order to synthesize graphene oxide from the NVG. Repeated coatings of graphite oxide on the sand followed by low temperature (120 0C) thermal pyrolysis resulted in core-shell granules with a hierarchical structure in which sand gravels are covered by graphite oxide layers. Five times GO coated water stable sand/graphite oxide nano-composites (M-S/GO) were developed for further adsorption studies. The adsorption performance and mechanism of Cd (II) removal were investigated and FT-IR, SEM, EDX, and XPS were used to characterize the (M-S/GO) as spectroscopic and microscopic characterization methods. Optimization studies were carried out to find the effective pH of the media, dosage, initial concentration of Cd (II), and contact time that reached the equilibrium. Apart from that, the models of kinetics (pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order), and isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) were introduced. Characterization findings indicated that un-uniform graphene oxide coatings had been constructed on the sand surface and the surface of the nano-composite comprised of oxygen-based functional groups. Under optimum conditions (0.08 g/L of dosage, 65 mg/L initial Cd concentration, 120 min of contact time), the M-S/GO removed 93.8% of Cd (II) from simulated water at pH 8.0 (30 ± 2 ℃) and the process reached equilibrium after 120 minutes. The adsorption capacity of Cd (II) was augmented when increasing the pH of the medium up to pH=8, and then it tended to reduce. Further, the experimental data have been fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model indicating that monolayer adsorption of Cd (II) occurs on the surface of M-S/GO. Apart from that, M-S/GO had a maximum adsorption capacity (mg/g) (Qmax) value for Cd (II) adsorption (16.12 mg/g) than sand and GO, the equilibrium parameter (RL) value in this study was 0.071, which indicates that Cd (II) adsorption onto the surface of the M-S/GO is favorable. The experiment kinetic data were best fitted to a pseudo-second-order kinetic model indicating that Cd (II) has adsorbed onto the surface of the M-S/GO by a chemical sorption mechanism. These findings imply that M-S/GO could be used as an effective adsorbent for removing Cd (II) from contaminated water sources. More research is required to determine the reusability of M-S/GO in the adsorptive removal process.Item Analytical study of syntactic errors of undergraduates in writing Hindi as a second language(Perera W. U. P. (2022), Analytical study of syntactic errors of undergraduates in writing Hindi as a second language, 22nd International Postgraduate Research Conference, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka. 83., 2022) Perera, W. U. P.Since language learning is a conscious learning process which usually obtained in a fixed setting, it is not easy as natural language acquisition. Due to difference of learner’s social and individual factors which are affecting the learning process of a second language, learner will be encountered difficulties, problems, and challenges in mastering four of language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing. As a key productive skill writing is significant for language production and it allows user to incorporate new grammar and vocabulary into speech by accompanying with other two skills. Therefore, it is essential to develop knowledge in language structure, idiomatic usages, vocabulary, orthography in exceptional to grammar in developing better skill of writing in communicating through a second language. Sentence as the largest linguistic unit which is used to convey a meaningful idea by assembling words incorporate with the grammar rules of the target language in written communication, significant syntactic errors can be identified within the learners of Hindi as a second language. Henceforth, this study aims at distinguishing those common errors in writing syntax of Hindi by undergraduates of University of Kelaniya whose first language is Sinhala with the purpose of mitigating syntactic errors of undergraduates to create efficient and enthusiastic environment in learning Hindi as a second language. This research is designed to conduct as qualitative inductive study by collecting data through the analysis of sample essays of undergraduates of BA (Hons) in Hindi of University of Kelaniya and literature review of scholarly articles, books, dissertations related to Hindi language, grammar and principles of language teaching and learning.Item An analytical study of thematic roles functioning in Hindi syntax(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Premathilaka, H. I.Thematic roles attempt to capture similarities and differences in verb meaning that are reflected in argument expression, with emergent generalizations that will contribute to the mapping from semantics to syntax. They belong to the semantics or syntax interface. If there is a verb present, it is usually most directly responsible for the thematic role, while the argument specifies the identity of the participants of the sentence. The objective of the present study is to map the thematic roles of Hindi language to identify the thematic relationship in Hindi syntax. The present study focuses on the conceptualization of semantic roles and their status in theories of grammar and the lexicon in Hindi, as well as on diverse and probably complementary ways of deriving or identifying them based on linguistic data. Particularly attention is given to the question of what kind of thematic roles function in Hindi language. Data were gathered using library surveys and verified by Hindi language native speakers. Data analysis was performed as an analytical study based on syntactic and semantic theories. The present analysis was carried out using thematic roles currently identified by linguists. The key research findings of this paper are based on identifying several features of thematic roles belonging to Hindi language. This paper emphasized that different semantic roles can be assigned to arguments of different lexical semantics.Item Application of rolling circle amplification (RCA) to detect direct amplification of dengue virus in patient serum samples.(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Manilgama, T.; Seneviratne, K. N.; Jayathilaka, N.Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) is an isothermal amplification process that can be utilized for rapid amplification of target nucleic acids. In contrast to PCR, which uses thermocycling to mediate denaturation, annealing, and subsequent extension, RCA can be performed at a single reaction temperature making RCA an attractive solution for disease diagnosis based on amplification of pathogen nucleic acids at resource limited settings. In addition, PCR-based detection of pathogenic RNA involves the additional steps required to make complementary DNA copies of the target for amplification. Dengue is a mosquito vector borne viral RNA infection that largely affects urban and semi-urban, sub-tropical and tropical areas. While majority of dengue fever patients recover with careful hospital monitoring some patients may develop severe complications that result in mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical for screening the patients that require hospital management and to prevent exceeding hospital capacity during a dengue outbreak. We developed a direct RCA of dengue virus RNA in serum samples from dengue virus positive patients using Phi 29 DNA Polymerase for the disease diagnosis at resource limited settings. Serum samples were collected from patients suffering from dengue virus infection based on a positive NS 1 antigen test within four days from fever onset with informed consent (n=3). Serum samples collected from healthy individuals were used as the controls (n=3). Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA) was used to increase the amplification efficiency. Positive control reactions were carried out using a circularized 66 bp linear 5´phosphorylated probe that contained a complementary sequence to all four dengue serotypes and a forward primer against the conserved target region on the probe at 30 oC overnight. The product formation was confirmed by gel electrophoresis following restriction enzyme digestion of the RCA/MDA products with EcoRI. The RCA/MDA products were quantified using a ssDNA dye. Direct isothermal amplification of dengue virus from serum samples collected from dengue infected subjects confirmed that RCA/MDA reaction specifically amplifies dengue virus in patients while no amplification was detected for the serum samples collected from healthy volunteers. Since RCA/MDA can be used for direct gene expression analysis of mRNA and micro RNA in resource limited settings, this novel method can be used for simultaneous disease diagnosis and early prognosis of severe dengue based on differential expression in resource limited settings.Item Assessment of the distribution of Aedes breeding sites at the households of district of Gampaha(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Perera, E. H. L.; Hapugoda, M. D.; Viswakula, S.; Gunawardene, Y. I. N. S.; Subasinghe, U.; Fernando, L.; Manamperi, A.Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral infection in Sri Lanka at present. Integrated Vector Management (IVM) targeting dengue vector mosquitoes has become the main disease control measure. The objective of this study was to assess the distribution of the Aedes breeding habitats in dengue high and low risk areas in the District of Gampaha where the second highest incidence of dengue reported during last 10 years. Negombo Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area was selected based high incidence of dengue cases reported in the District of Gampaha during last 10 years. A dengue high risk (Kurana East) and low risk (Udayarthoppuwa) Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions with similar geographical situation in the same MOH area were selected as study and control areas respectively. Standard larval surveillance was conducted randomly selected 150 houses in each site for 18 months (April, 2018-October, 2019). In the dengue high risk and low risk areas, the proportions of the larvae of Aedes species to the total larval collection were 34.19% (185/541) and 21.68% (147/678) respectively. High densities of Ae. albopictus larvae were reported in both high [171/185=92.4%)] and low [141/147=95.92%) risk areas. Ae. aegypti was present in low abundance in both areas [High risk-7.56% (14/185) and Low risk- 2.72% (4/147)]. In the high-risk site, breeding sites of the Ae. albopictus larvae were reported as plastic buckets/barrels (55.19 %-154/279), waste plastics (35.15%-98/279), metal tins (3.94%-11/279) and tube wells (2.86%-8/279). In low-risk area, the majority of breeding sites for Ae. albopictus larvae was found in coconut shells (76.14%- 201/264) and plastic waste (21.96%-51/264). In both areas, Ae. aegypti larvae was found in plastic buckets/barrels only. There is a significance difference between the Ae. albopictus breeding places in the dengue high and low risk areas (P=0.024). Although Ae. aegypti is considered as the major vector of dengue, Ae. albopictus was reported as the prominent dengue vector species in the high dengue risk area in the District of Gampaha. Even though, municipal council removes solid waste weekly, a large number of breeding sites are available at both areas. As there is a significant difference between Ae. albopictus breeding sites at the dengue high and low risk areas, it is essential to specifically focus on removal of breeding sites for successful vector control measure.Item Body weight status and implications on kidney health of the pediatric communities in the dry climatic zone in Sri Lanka: A cross-sectional study(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Gunasekara, T. D. K. S. C.; Silva, P. M. C. S. D.; Chandana, E. P. S.; Jayasinghe, S.; Herath, C.; Siribaddana, S.; Jayasundara, N.Unhealthy bodyweight is associated with multiple clinical complications that serve as potential risk factors for kidney diseases. However, pediatric renal outcomes associated with the bodyweight status are not properly understood in many communities. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess potential associations of bodyweight status with renal health of selected pediatric communities in the dry climatic zone of Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study was conducted with school students of both genders 13-16 years of age (N=326) in selected education divisions in dry zone regions where chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) is not evident. Mid-stream early morning urine samples of the students were assessed for creatinine and albumin using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Quantitative assessment of urinary kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) was based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Age and gender-specific World Health Organization guidelines (LMS-based body mass index (BMI) percentiles), adopted by the family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, were used to assign the students into four BMI strata: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were used as the criteria to interpret renal function. The median levels of biomarkers, NGAL, ACR and particularly KIM-1 which is a more sensitive indicator of renal injury, showed no significant difference across the four BMI strata in both girls and boys. Also, the median levels of the three biomarkers showed no significant difference between the girls and boys within the same age stratum. Furthermore, BMI did not significantly correlate with urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and ACR in the three age strata, while very weak correlation of age was observed with BMI. Our findings did not produce plausibly strong evidence to establish a potential link between bodyweight status and altered renal function in the studied dry-zone pediatric communities. However, longitudinal studies with increased sample size and broader age range are warranted to make more accurate interpretations on potential associations of longstanding unhealthy bodyweight with pediatric renal health in Sri Lanka.Item Challenges and benefits of implementation of ISO 9001: 2015: The case of Department of Finance, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Chathurika, H. L. D. J.; Abeysekera, R.; Perera, L. A. S.; Premarathne, W. G. I. D.; Chathurika, H. L. D. J.Today, higher educational institutions are developing at a rapid pace by adopting new processes and technology. Further, they are subject to intense competition. Given this backdrop, higher educational institutions, in particular universities, are concerned about quality assurance. University Grant Commission, through Quality Assurance Council, gives the direction to maintain quality in Sri Lankan Universities. There has been a growing interest in adopting internationally reputed ISO 9001: 2015 by state universities in Sri Lanka that complement other quality measures. The Department of Finance (Dfin), University of Kelaniya, implemented ISO 9001: 2015 successfully recently. The objective of this study is to examine the challenges and benefits of the implementation of ISO by Dfin. A qualitative research approach using a single case study method was adapted to carry out the study. The findings of this study show that DFin implemented the ISO to gain a competitive advantage and reputation, and to establish a proper filing system. The study also reveals that lack of resources, resistance to change, and the existence of other quality measures challenged the implementation of ISO. The findings of this study contribute to knowledge and practice domains.Item Challenges encountered by English as a Second Language learners when acquiring English grammar implicitly via Zoom application(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Jayathilaka, K. G. R. H.Grammar acquisition is an essential element of Second Language Acquisition. This study investigates the challenges encountered by English as a Second Language (ESL) learners when acquiring English grammar through games via Zoom application. What are the challenges encountered by ESL learners when acquiring English grammar through games via Zoom application? was the research question administered in the present study. The research was carried out among 158 full-time new entrants of the University of Colombo Institute for Agrotechnology and Rural Sciences (UCIARS). English grammar was taught implicitly using ESL grammar games in an online classroom in the current study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observations. The findings revealed that although the lack of sufficient language to communicate was a challenge to some participants at the beginning of the intervention sessions, those participants subsequently managed that issue with the exposure to the target language. Moreover, it took some time for participants to get familiar with the Zoom application since online teaching was new to the Sri Lankan university context when the research was carried out. Moreover, some technical issues have also been challenging to the participants. The findings further indicated that although online learning is slightly challenging, ESL grammar games make a significant change on the achievement and the perceptions of the participants. Therefore, the present study recommends that, despite the challenges, games can be implemented productively even in a Zoom classroom to teach ESL grammar as it facilitates Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Furthermore, the findings would aid in providing an awareness to pedagogy of teaching ESL grammar.Item The challenges faced by students in the interpretation classroom(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Jayasinghe, D. G. T. A.The present research is an observational study on the challenges faced by 23 final year undergraduates of the Translation Studies Hons. Degree Program in the Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, studying the course unit ‘Introduction to Interpretation’. The undergraduates were taught by a professional interpreter. However, by observing the performance in the end semester examination, it was evident that the students face challenges in the learning process. Accordingly, the research problem of the present study was; ‘What are the challenges faced by students studying Interpretation course unit?’ The performance in the classroom and at the examination was initially observed and a follow up interview was also conducted in the process of identifying the challenges mainly based on Gile’s theory of interpretation, followed by a qualitative analysis of the collected data to recognize where to make interventions in future. The main challenge identified in the research was that weaknesses in relation to bilingual competency such as errors in subject verb agreement, starting the interpretation from the wrong segment of the original utterance and issues in converting reported speech into interpretation mode, wrong use of terminology and forgetting known terminology due to excitement. Other challenges were excitement and fear when they were asked to start interpretation, forgetting the facts in the original speech, insufficient knowledge about current incidents, interpreting years and numerical statistics and translating sentence segments and the limited time for this type of a new course unit, which needs more active participation and constant practice. So, it was identified that interventions can be made with regard to duration allocated to the course unit and language aspects related to interpretation.Item A close examination of the ancient contacts between Greece and Egypt with special reference to Greek and Egyptian foreign relations from the 7th to 5th centuries BCE(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Perera, C. T. S. S.Greece and Egypt can be studied as two ancient civilizations that developed in Europe and Africa respectively. Even though they were in two different geographical regions facing the Mediterranean Sea, remaining historical texts and archaeological evidence attest to close connections that existed between Greece and Egypt which can be dated back to 3000 BCE. Greece and Egypt were in constant struggles with foreign threats from the 7th century onwards, but according to the above-quoted evidence, they have managed to maintain friendly cooperative relations with each other. Egypt faced the threats of the Assyrian army in the 7th century while the Greco-Persian war lasted for over half a century from 492-449 BCE. According to the accounts of the Greek Historians Herodotus and Diodorus, there were Ionian and Carian soldiers in the Egyptian army under the Egyptian King Psammatichus I. On the other hand, Egypt sent a large quantity of grain to Athens when there was a grain shortage for the Athenian population during the time of war. These crucial instances reflect how Greece and Egypt reached out to each other seeking resources and help. They can be recognized as mutually beneficial relations. The remaining evidence on Greco-Egyptian contact narrows Egyptian connections specifically to Athens. Accordingly, it is worth recognizing the nature of this commitment between Egypt and Athens. Further, the significance lies in the fact that both Greece and Egypt continued foreign relations with each other as evident in their Maritime agreement signed in 2020. Accordingly, this paper intends to examine and analyze the nature of the ancient relations that existed between Athens and Egypt from the 7th to 5th Centuries BCE. The results of this study will set an example for modern-day foreign relations. The historical method under qualitative methodology will be followed as the paper will rely on historical evidence and scholarly ideas on these ancient literary and archaeological recordings.Item A comparative study of the depiction of paraphilic disorders in Underpants thief and la pianist(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Wathsala, H. M. S.; Ranthilini, P. V. S. S.Paraphilic disorders are atypical sexual urges that lead to stress and harm for both the individual with disorders and others. World cinema has treated paraphilic disorders as a major trope in films like Salo and Secretary. Though Sri Lankan cinema has largely chosen not to depict paraphilic disorders, recent films like Underpants Thief have attempted to explore the experience of paraphilia. The objective of this research is to analyze how paraphilic individuals are portrayed in the two films Underpants Thief by Somaratne Dissanayeke (2021) and La Pianiste by Micheal Haneke (2001). The research adopts a qualitative methodology. Accordingly, a comparative critical analysis of the two films was conducted with regard to the cinematic construction of the paraphilic protagonists and the societal reaction to paraphilic disorders as depicted in the films. The study reveals that the protagonist- Sam in Underpants Thief suffers from fetishism and frotteurism while Erica in La Pianiste suffers from sadomasochism, according to the DSM-5 classification. It is also noted that the depiction of disorder in Underpants Thief is problematized through the incorporation of intellectual disability into the characterization of the protagonist. Sam is presented in the light of a person with disabilities and the margins between paraphilia and intellectual disability seem to be blurred by an overambitious attempt at increased representation and inclusion which ultimately leads to confusion. La Pianiste, however, avoids such pitfalls and focuses on deviant sexuality. The characterization of Erica portrays the female protagonist as a socially and economically active individual which is in direct contrast with the marginalized socio-economic existence of Sam, prompting the idea that the marginalization of Sam may be caused by his intellectual disability. In terms of the reaction to paraphilic disorders depicted in the films, it can be seen that Underpants Thief preaches an ‘ideal’ societal reaction to paraphilic individuals whereas La Pianiste depicts a reaction that is commonly displayed by society towards them. The didactic ‘ideal reaction’ promulgated by the former is presented through the character of Nayani, Sam’s sister-in-law while the societal reaction to paraphilia is embodied by Walter, Erica’s partner in the latter. The didactic purpose brought out is further contributed by the characterization of Sam through which the director presents a white-washed and seemingly innocent paraphilic individual. Such a didactic notion is not depicted in La Pianiste. In contrast, Erica is presented as a multi-faceted character and the background provided in relation to her paraphilia facilitates a nuanced, in-depth reading of her character. Thus, based on the qualitative analysis conducted focusing on the plot, characterization, music, symbols, and settings, this research concludes that the construction of the paraphilic protagonists and the reaction to paraphilic disorders in the two films are vastly different.Item A comparison of food contamination by heavy metals/metalloids in CKDu prevalent areas and a reference area; A study in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Perera, P. L. R. A.; Perera, W. P. R. T.; Liyanage, J. A.; Premaratne, W. A. P. J.During the past two decades, so many studies have been involved in exploring the relationship between the prevalence of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) and exposure to toxic metals. These studies revealed signs of chronic low levels of toxic metal exposure in Sri Lanka. To assess the risk of negative health effects and propose appropriate public health interventions, novel research studies will be very beneficial. This assessment was performed to study the toxic metal contamination status in domestic rice, leafy vegetables, legumes, and citrus fruits in the CKDu prevalence area in north central province in Sri Lanka and to compare those levels with a reference area in the Eastern province in Sri Lanka where CKDu is not prevalent. CKDu hot spots areas Maradankulama- Mahakanadarawa in the Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka was selected for sampling and Buddhangala Grama Niladhari area in Ampara district was selected as a reference site. Food samples, including (Oryza sativa; n=25, Centella asiatica; n=25, Citrus crenatiflora; n=18, Vigna radiata; n=10) were collected from the villager’s own paddy fields and home gardens of the CKDu suspected patients according to the random stratified sampling method in both areas and the collected food samples were digested by microwave digestion according to the standard procedures and the concentrations of metal ions in food samples, including Cadmium, Nickel, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Lead, Zinc, Arsenic, and Calcium, were measured using Inductive Coupled Plasma technique (ICP). As a results of the study, mean As and Pb concentrations of Oryza sativa (As-0.15 mg/kg, Pb-3.10 mg/kg) and Citrus crenatiflora (As-0.15 mg/kg, Pb-0.47 mg/kg), Pb (0.65 mg/kg) and Cd (0.05 mg/kg) content in Centella asiatica, and mean concentrations of As (0.14 mg/kg), Pb (9.25 mg/kg) and Cu (57.8 mg/kg) in Vigna radiata have exceeded the permissible limits given by the FAO and WHO, 2011: As-0.1 mg/kg, Pb-0.1 mg/kg, Cd-0.05 mg/kg, Cr-2.3 mg/kg, Cu-40 mg/kg. However, none of the food samples collected from the reference areas has exceeded the permissible limits of analyzed heavy metals/metalloids. THQ (Target Hazard Quotient) values of Cr have exceeded the threshold values for all food species. Furthermore, Pb is also regarded as a toxic element and THQ values of Pb in Oryza sativa and Vigna radiate are noticeably high. Meanwhile, THQ values of the food samples in the reference areas have not exceeded the threshold values. According to the outcome of the study, there is a noticeable difference reported in toxic metals contamination status between the CKDu-prone areas and the reference area. Therefore, the consumption of analyzed rice, leafy vegetables, and legumes was estimated to be risky, and their regular consumption may boost the likelihood of CKDu prevalence in those areas. Further studies are required to monitor and assess heavy metals and metalloids in soil, and fertilizers to find the pathways of contamination of food by toxic metals.Item Comparison of Sebia capillary electrophoresis with the Bio-Rad VARIANT II HPLC in the evaluation of HbA2 in diagnosing beta thalassemia(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Thilakarathne, S.; Wickramasinghe, M. G. C. N.; Perera, H. L.; Premawardhena, A. P.The guideline for diagnosis of beta thalassemia trait in Sri Lanka defines low red cell indices (MCV<80 fl, MCH<27 pg) in FBC and HbA2>3.5% by quantification. Different cutoffs for HbA2 value are used in other countries (i.e. in India >4%). Thus, the precision of the HbA2 value is crucial for labelling a person as beta thalassemia trait. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) are two different techniques for quantifying HbA2 levels. This study aims to compare the HbA2 results of these two systems in individuals with varying HbA2 values and to assess the consistency when repeated of the two systems. The Bio-Rad VARIANT II HPLC (Bio-Rad, Hercules, USA) and the Sebia Capillarys CE (software version 9.3) analyzers were used as directed by the manufacturer. Using normal and pathological quality control materials, we determined the quality parameter, "between day precision", of both analyzers as per CLSI guidelines (EP15-A2 document). EDTA anticoagulated blood samples of patients (203) were analyzed by both methods during a 3- months period. Subjects (100) with HbA2 values between 1.8-3.3% were considered non-beta thalassemic, i.e. normal, while individuals (50) with HbA2 values >4.1% were categorized as beta thalassemia trait. We defined HbA2 levels as borderline (53) if they were between 3.4 and 4.0%. Incompatible FBC patterns and iron deficiency anemia was excluded from each group. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software. HbA2 values by the CE method were slightly but significantly lower than those of the HPLC method, with a mean difference of 0.24 (Paired t-test; p <0.001). Also, HbA2 results by HPLC and CE methods showed a good relationship between each other (Pearson coefficient correlation; r was 0.98). We statistically analyzed this variation and relationship separately among normal, beta thalassemia trait and borderline groups. The variation in HbA2 value was high (mean difference; 0.27) among the normal group, while it was less (mean difference; 0.15) among beta thalassemia traits. The beta thalassemia trait group showed the highest positive relationship (r=0.92). The borderline group showed the least positive relationship (r=0.76). However, both analytical systems showed very close results (CV< 10%) when repeating the same sample between different days. This confirmed the excellent repeatability and acceptability of generated results by both analyzers. In conclusion, HbA2 values obtained from the two methods have a consistent and significant difference in normal, beta thalassemia trait and borderline samples. The variation in HbA2 values between CE and HPLC methods will make the accurate diagnosis of beta thalassemia traits more difficult based on a single reference cutoff value in the borderline group. Therefore, when issuing a diagnosis of beta thalassemia trait in borderline values, this machinerelated variation of the HbA2 level should be borne in mind.Item Connectivism for improved learning outcomes in higher education in the digital age – A scoping review(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Senadheera, V.; Muthukumarana, C.; Rupasinghe, T.; Ediriweera, D.In the current context, there is a substantial need to update instructional strategies used in higher education, to cater the learning needs of current learners, who are called as digital natives. Connectivism, which is a learning theory that intends to explain how learning occurs in the digital age, can be used to bridge the gap between instructional strategies and how learning occurs in digital natives. The objective of this scoping review was to examine how connectivism has been applied in higher education, describe the findings and to understand the impact of connectivism on the success of student learning in higher education. Nine databases were searched for eligible publications. SCOPUS, EBSCOhost, Emerald, JSTOR, Taylor and Francis, PubMed (MEDLINE), ERIC, ACM and IEEE Xplore were searched using the keyword ‘connectivism’. The search retrieved 1560 records of which 24 articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies which were published 2009 through 2022, were from 18 countries and represented 12 study fields including; language learning, education, medicine, and engineering. In reported studies, either connectivism has been applied alone or it has been combined with another learning theory to design teaching/learning activities. These studies predominantly have used the online mode (54%), followed by blended learning mode (25%) and face to face mode (21%). Among these studies, 67% have been intended to deliver skills such as; writing, teaching and work-based learning, and 33% have been intended to deliver both theory and skills such as; biostatistics, chemistry and pedagogical practices, while no study has been designed to deliver a theory alone. To evaluate the outcomes of the teaching/learning activities, 75% of the studies used qualitative approaches, 12.5% used quantitative approaches and 12.5% used mixed methods. According to the findings, 17% of studies have reported that, connectivist learning environment has exhibited a significant positive impact on the academic performance of students through the promotion of higher order learning activities such as; synthesizing information, creating new knowledge and applying. More importantly, it has resulted in an enhancement of several attributes of learners which are required in the current job market. Accordingly, 17% of studies reported enhanced creative thinking, 21% self-management of learning and 50% enhanced interactions with peers as outcomes of using connectivism to design teaching and learning. Bringing connectivism to higher education is a method to incorporate formal education into the learning needs of the digital age and it has the potential to offer improved learning outcomes for higher education students. These improved outcomes are more pronounced when connectivism is used to deliver skills (deliver functioning knowledge/ put knowledge into action) compared to when it is used to deliver theory (declarative knowledge/content knowledge). Overall, it can be concluded that the successful integration of principles of connectivism in skill related teaching has a positive impact on students’ learning and promotes lifelong learning.Item Defining quality assurance in academic library perspective: a systematic review(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Fernando, I. D. K. L; Warnasooriya, W. W. S. T.Quality assurance (QA) in higher education has an immense impact on the quality and standardization of higher education in the world. In fact, the QA has become a major driving force behind the transformation of conventional teaching and learning practices towards modern educational systems. Libraries are integral counter part of education that support the core values of an academic institution. The term quality has been defined by different contexts, in different perspectives. However, to well adopt and smooth operationalization of QA in academic libraries, it needs to be defined accordingly. The study is based on definitions presented in previous literature related to academic library quality assurance. A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate existing definitions for QA in academic library perspective. Literature was searched in textbooks, publications in Ministry of Higher Education, official websites, academic journal databases, and newspapers with the phrases; “quality assurance”, “quality assurance in higher education”, “quality assurance in libraries”, “academic library quality assurance”, “library quality”, and “academic library transformation”. Results were then verified using the CRAAP evaluation criteria and 30 directly related literature were selected for further investigation. It was evident that, the definition of QA in academic libraries should include the concept that the quality of a library is “the difference between what users expect from the academic library and what library actually gives”. This concept can be used to formulate a proper definition for academic library industry or for a sperate library itself. However, the definition of academic library must be evident in their vision, mission, core values, objectives, services, and lead to formulate policies, procedures, standards, and accreditation related to library practices and education. It also opens the gateway towards academic library transformation, to meet the ever-changing needs of the society. Outcome of the research will be beneficial for any (academic) library that seeks to meet the needs of its users and utilize its resources to achieve a best return on investment to the community.Item A descriptive study on infections acquired in an intensive care unit of a secondary healthcare center in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Madhusankha, A. T.; Iddamalgoda, H.; Jayawardana, G. P. C.; Karunasekara, H. C. I.; Wijesooriya, L. I.Nosocomial infections are a substantial burden, particularly in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Present study was aimed to find the incidence, risk factors, and associated mortality of ICUAIs. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who were admitted to the ICU of Base Hospital, Wathupitiwala, Sri Lanka for three months from April-2019. A total of 250 patients who were admitted to ICU or readmitted 72 hours after discharge from the ICU were included. Demographic data and risk factors for infections were gathered from bed-head tickets. Microbiological screening samples were cultured to identify infections on admission to ICU. Screening-negative patients underwent repeat sampling for culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing (ABST) on each 3rd day of ICU stay. Of 250 patients, mean age was 57.08±17.65 and (52.8%) were males. Major indications for ICU admission were monitoring (50.4%) and ventilatory support (47.2%). Of the 250 patients, 34 patients (13.6%) were diagnosed with ICUAIs. Of the patients with ICUAIs, 35.29% were in 61-70 years. At least one risk factor was shown by 132 patients (52.8%). Those risk factors were; hypertension (OR=2.09, P= 0.06), bronchial asthma (OR=1.26, P= 0.60), epilepsy (OR= 3.29, P=0.20), ischemic heart disease (OR=1.52, P=0.39), and rheumatoid arthritis (OR=1.06, P=1.0), but they were not significant. Besides, ventilation (OR=4.31, P=0.0007) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (OR=3.57, P=0.001) were identified as risked procedures for ICUAIs. As per type of ICUAIs, respiratory tract infections (RTIs) were detected in 91.18% (31/34), followed by bloodstream infections (5.88% (2/34)) and urinary tract infections (2.94% (1/34)). Types of pathogens causing ICUAIs were Acinetobacter spp.-70.6% (24/34,) followed by Escherichia coli-11.8% (4/34), Pseudomonas spp.-8.8% (3/34), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus-5.9% (2/34), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus-2.9% (1/34). ABST results of Acinetobacter spp. were 100% resistant to ceftazidime (20/20), ciprofloxacin (20/20), levofloxacin (20/20), imipenem (7/7), and 95% resistant to amikacin (19/20), gentamicin (19/20), piperacillin-tazobactam (19/20), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (19/20), and ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (19/20). However, 100% of Acinetobacter spp. were sensitive to polymyxin B (20/20). Mortality rate of patients with ICUAIs was 29.4% (10/34) whereas it was 24.07% (52/216) amongst the non-infected patients. In conclusion, the most frequent ICUAI was RTIs which were mainly caused by Acinetobacter spp. that was resistant to most of the routine antibiotics. The important risk factors for ICUAIs in the present study were intubation, nebulization, ventilation, and CPAP. Although the mortality rate of ICUAIs was slightly higher, there was no significant increase in the mortality rate due to ICUAIs.Item Development of expanded graphite from vein graphite via electrochemical exfoliation with sodium sulfate as an electrolyte(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Wimalasoma, S. M. T. D.; Naranpanawa, H. M. H. D. K.; Amaraweera, T. H. N. G.; Wijayasinghe, H. W. M. A. C.Vein graphite is a promising anode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Since lithium ions are scarce and expensive, research and development are focused on sodium and potassium rechargeable batteries. However, graphite structure should be modified through expanding the interlayer spacing to facilitate intercalation/de-intercalation of the bigger ions related to these future rechargeable batteries. Among the various methods, the electrochemical exfoliation process has been identified as a promising method to structural modification of the graphite to produce expanded and exfoliated graphite. Electrochemical exfoliation can be performed at room temperature within a shorter period with better efficiency. Hence, it is a more cost-effective and environment-friendly method that consumes less energy compared to mechanical and thermal exfoliation methods. However, detailed information on the investigations of electrochemical exfoliation of vein graphite are limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the possibility of producing expanded graphite from Sri Lankan vein graphite using electrochemical exfoliation. Electrochemical exfoliation of graphite rod (1 cm x 10 cm), cut from the vein graphite was carried out using 1 mol dm-3 Na2SO4 as an electrolyte and a Pt rod as a reference electrode under 10V DC voltage, for 30 minutes. The developed materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (Rigaku Ultima IV, Cu Kα radiation), Raman spectroscopy (Renishaw Invia, 514 nm laser), particle size analyzer (Horiba Nanopartica SZ-100), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (Thermoscientific Nicolet is 50, KBr pellet method). Crystallographic characterization using X-ray diffractometry revealed that the interlayer spacing of graphite had increased from 0.33859 nm to 0.33986 nm after the electrochemical exfoliation process. The ratio of the intensity of the D peak and G peak (ID/IG) of Raman spectroscopy was used to estimate the average defect density on the graphite surface after the electrochemical exfoliation. ID/IG of the edge plane of the graphite increased from 0.48 to 1.27 after the exfoliation. Similarly, the ID/IG of the basal plane of the graphite increased from 0.17 to 0.96. This reveals that the average defect density on the graphite edge and basal surface increased after the electrochemical exfoliation. Particle size analysis of expanded graphite was calculated by using the laser diffraction method. A median particle size of 1139.4 nm and polydispersity index value of 0.941 were reported for the exfoliated sample. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the oxidation of the graphite due to electrochemical exfoliation. Therefore, this study reveals the potential of producing expanded graphite by electrochemical exfoliation of vein graphite using Na2SO4 as an electrolyte. Further, material characterization and optimization of parameters such as electrolyte concentration and DC voltage, are currently undergoing to obtain expanded graphite for the investigations in intended rechargeable battery applications.Item Distribution of leishmaniasis cases and some demographic characters of patients recorded in the Medirigiriya medical officer of health (MOH) area, Polonnaruwa district of Sri Lanka(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Karunarathna, D. M. N. P.; Udayanga, N. W. B. A. L.; Ranathunge, R. M. T. B.; Kumarawansha, W. K. W. S.; Ganehiarachchi, G. A. S. M.Leishmaniasis has been recognized as one of the major challenges to the health sector of many countries. In the Sri Lankan context also, leishmaniasis infections are increasing within the past few years. Evaluation of the spatio-temporal trends in leishmaniasis incidence strongly facilitates the management of leishmaniasis. Therefore, the current study was conducted to identify recent spatial and temporal trends in leishmaniasis distribution, while assessing the characteristics of susceptible population to leishmaniasis infection in the Medirigiriya Medical Officers of Health (MOH) area in the District of Polonnaruwa, which reported the highest number of Leishmaniasis cases over the period from 2015 to 2022. Monthly records of reported leishmaniasis cases in Medirigiriya MOH area were obtained at monthly intervals from Epidemiology Unit, Sri Lanka from January, 2018 to June, 2022. Spatial maps of the recorded leishmaniasis case distribution in each Public Health Inspector (PHI) area were developed using ArcGIS (version 10.8). The paired-Chi square was used to investigate the impact of gender and age on the infection. The Medirigiriya MOH area had reported a total of 418 cases within the study period. Among the five PHI areas, Medirigiriya (34.7%) and Diulankadawala (33.8%) PHI areas reported the highest incidence of leishmaniasis cases, emerging as the high-risk areas. Meanwhile, Ambagaswewa PHI area denoted the lowest susceptibility (7.6%). As suggested by the results of the paired-Chi square test, emergence of leishmaniasis was characterized with significant spatial and temporal trends (P<0.05). The Percentage Infected Male: Female Ratio (PIMFR) suggested that the, males had a relatively high susceptibility for leishmaniasis infection than females, with an average PIMFER of 62.4:37.6. Significant shifts in the age of leishmaniasis patients were identified throughout the study period (P<0.05). Population belonging to the age group of 40 to 60 years (44%) and 21 to 40 years (25.2%) were identified as the most vulnerable age group for the incidence of leishmaniasis. On the contrary, age groups of > 60 years reported the lowest vulnerability (9.2%) for leishmaniasis infection. The identification of the potential high risk PHI areas with high susceptibility to leishmaniasis, along with the vulnerable age groups in the community would assist the relevant vector controlling agencies to concentrate their efforts, ensuring the effective controlling of leishmaniasis outbreak occurrence within the Medirigiriya MOH.