ICH 2023

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An Investigation of Buddhist Concepts That Can Be Used in Reducing the Mental Disorder of Sexual Jealousy
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Dissanayake, S.U.
One factor that determines human behaviour is sex. Jealous feelings about sex are called sexual jealousy. This is a psycho-disorder in terms of psychology. Sexual jealousy can be called a major topic of controversy in modern social life. The problem of this research is whether Buddhist concepts can be used to reduce sexual jealousy. The research aims to investigate sexuality According to Buddhist Teachings on sexuality. The research is based on qualitative research methodology, and data collection is done through primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. The study of the related problem was conducted by exploring and analysing the data. As a result of the discussion and results, it was found that there is an unconscious influence on sexual jealousy and that it has developed into a form of mental illness in many unmarried or married individuals and elderly people. A conflict has arisen between the destruction of others, the basis of one's own destruction, frustration, and motivation with negative values. This sexual jealousy occurs in the inability to maintain one's sexual activities properly. In Buddhism, it is possible to identify psychological techniques that can be applied to control this mental problem to some extent. The points of Dassanā, Sanvarā, Patisevanā, Adhivāsanā, Parivajjanā and the meditation of the Sabbāsava Sutta can be used for this, and the mind can be calmed down by following the Noble Eightfold Path through the restraint of the senses, patience, removal of the three evils, the spread of the concept of compassion, the growth of the four branches and the Noble Eightfold Path. Reversible. According to the research conclusion, sexual jealousy is the feeling, pressure, etc., that one's object is owned by others, and it is tiring to the mind as well as the body. According to Buddhist concepts, sexual problems will not occur if one enjoys only the object of one's own lust.
Psychological Factors that Affect the Interpersonal Conflict Between Mother and Son in Western Dramas (With Reference to Selected Dramas)
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Kodagoda, Asanka
The conflict of a drama is based on its character. It happens as a result of a disagreement or an opposition. The conflict between two characters is identified as interpersonal conflict. This interpersonal conflict is popularly depicted in mother-son relationships in Western Dramas. It is evident that most of the plays written in Western literature are portrayed from a deep psychological angle. Many psychological concepts and theories have been composed in the recent past. Yet, it is evident that early dramatists were successful in effectively bringing out the emotions and feelings of humankind. For instance, Greek, Elizabethan, European, Russian, and modern American play scripts can be considered. Sigmund Freud explains the theory of psychoanalysis through four main concepts. Namely, Levels of Mind, Structures of Personality, Defense Mechanism and Psychosexual Development Stage. The objective of this research is to examine the psychological factors that affect the interpersonal conflict between mother and son in relation to the psychoanalytic theoretical concepts brought forth by Sigmund Freud. The Sinhala translation by Siri Ediriweera of Sophocles’ Oedipus, the Sinhala translation by K.C. Liyanage of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Punaragamanaya by Sunil Wijesiriwardana, the Sinhala translation of Henrick Ibson’s Ghost, the Sinhala translation by Sriyarathna Withana of Anton Chekhov’s’ the Seagull, and Punchi Paligu Rena by Henry Jayasena the Sinhala translation of The Glass Menagerie have been referred as the primary sources. The research question of this study is to illustrate what are the psychological factors that affect interpersonal conflict between Mother and Son.
Perceptions Towards Online Education of Undergraduates who have not Received an Onsite Learning Experience; A Survey Based on The Experience of First Year Undergraduates of Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Nandasena, K. G. D. W.
The outbreak of COVID-19 which resulted in the temporary closure of educational institutes has abruptly transformed the education landscape in Sri Lanka. The traditional classroom of one-to-one teaching interaction saw a radical shift with the implementation of distance learning through online education. With the continuation of online instruction, it is critical to examine the undergraduates’ perception regarding online education adopted at the university level. The study focuses on the perception of those who have not received an onsite learning experience. Semi structured interviews and online questionnaires were used to collect data and the study population consisted of first year undergraduates of Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka who are alien to onsite learning as well. It is evident that most of the participants prefer onsite learning, yet they have progressively accepted online education as the only alternative available during this period. Furthermore, the cost effectiveness, incorporation of multimedia, flexibility of lecture hours and other incentives have supported this attitude. The responses shed light to the fact that the respondents are satisfied with the way in which the university as well as they have adopted to this newly introduced system. Moreover, the findings of the survey demonstrates that the students have accepted this as “a crisis management system” followed by the university. The mixed attitude towards continuation of online education would facilitate the authorities in the progress of online learning in an upgraded version.
Iconographical Study on Solias Mendis’s New Kelaniya Vihara Shrine’s Sculptures
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Dharmasri, C.P.
The new Kelani Vihara shrine construction is a temple project that reflects the socio-political and cultural change in Sri Lanka in the early twentieth century. This was implemented during the colonial era from 1927 to 1946. It seems that nationalistic ideas that existed during this time influenced the structure of the shrine and the visualisation of its paintings and sculptures. In the design of the new Kelani Vihara, there is a complete suppression of the previous temple styles, such as Kandyan and colonial Architecture. Here, there are differences in the form and theme of the exterior sculptures of traditional temple designs. This shrine has many paintings related to Sri Lankan history along with convent paintings of the Lord Buddha’s life story, and there were many Hindu god figures, provincial god figures, various animal symbols, flora fauna decorations and endemic god figures unique to Kelani Vihara. The form of all these sculptures depicts a change from previous styles. Also, the form of the sculptures has been inspired by the Hindu idols built in ancient Indian architecture and the sculptures created outside the Thivanka statue. Moreover, this style replaces the popular contemporary style of M. Sarlis’s sculpture and creates a new style. Therefore, the research question of this project investigates the difference in theme selection, form and style of his project, and whether there is any influence from the contemporary social and political situation on these differences. The purpose of this is to study the thematic and stylistic innovations of this Vihara project, to identify the social and political influence that affected it, and to examine the patronage and creative roles of the Vihara project. The iconographical research methodology has been used to analyse these sculptures. As a primary source, the sculptures on the exterior of the new Kelani Vihara were studied. Books, journals, and research articles have been studied under secondary sources.
Error Analysis of Case Markers in Writing: A Special Reference to Undergraduates Learning Hindi as a Foreign Language at the University of Kelaniya
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Athapaththu, A. M. S. J. B.
The Hindi language is considered as a widely spread language in India and some other parts of the world. In Sri Lanka, Hindi is taught as a foreign language at universities, schools, and some other institutions. The University of Kelaniya holds the only department for Hindi studies. Hindi is taught at Kelaniya for both B.A and honours degrees. Hindi has a rich system of grammatical case marking, which employs a variety of case markers. There are 8 case markers in the Hindi language. Understanding the proper use of these case markers need frequent practice and theoretical knowledge. Improper use of the case markers may make the whole sentence or phrase grammatically incorrect or change its meaning. Most undergraduates learning Hindi face many difficulties using case markers. This research will focus on the errors in case markers of undergraduates learning Hindi at the university of Kelaniya. The research sample is based on 47 undergraduates from general first, second, and third years and special first, second, and third-year cohorts who are learning Hindi as a foreign language at the University of Kelaniya. Undergraduates are given a questionnaire related to the case markers, then errors are analyzed. The outcomes of this study are to be displayed in the descriptive method using charts. The problem of the research is how accurate the undergraduates are using case markers in Hindi language. The main objective of this study is to identify the errors and causes for these errors and examine the overall progress of each batch. This study will help both undergraduates and teachers to identify the areas with more errors.
Development of Reading Comprehension through Simple Texts of German as a Foreign Language in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka: CEFR Level A1
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Liyanage, A.M.J.N.; Dissanayaka, D.M.H.
Learning German as a foreign language has become popular among many school students in Sri Lanka. German is now included in the school syllabus and is studied by students as a subject for GCE Advanced Level Examination in Sri Lanka. In the acquisition of a foreign language, reading comprehension plays a key role since it positively affects students' language skills and rapidly influences them to acquire a new language. However, students have an unpleasant attitude toward reading comprehension in the classroom. Thus, this study is an empirical study of the development of reading comprehension at CEFR Level A1 in Sri Lanka's North Western Province. The main purpose of this research is to increase the readers’ comprehension skills and encourage them to become active readers by engaging with the text. For this purpose, the study aims to investigate the reasons why students lose their enthusiasm for reading and propose a suitable solution for it. 10 teachers and 90 learners from 10 selected schools in the North West Province of Sri Lanka participated in this study, and questionnaires, observations, worksheets, and interviews with teachers and students were used to obtain data. The results of the study show that although learners prefer to read, they are not enthusiastic about it. The study indicated that the teaching methods and text format have a strong influence on the loss of students’ interest. As a suitable solution, the research introduces the use of simple texts as an appropriate method for developing reading comprehension in learners who are at CEFR Level A1 and suggests the most appropriate teaching methods that teachers can use in the classroom to develop reading comprehension.
An Exploratory Study of the Influence of “MūLamadymakakāRika” to Establish the Philosophical Basis of Early Buddhism
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Samitha Thero, Opatha
Mādyamaka philosophy originated around the 2nd Century A.D. and became a more philosophical Buddhist School with Mūlamadymakakārika by Nāgārjunapāda. The author proved in Kārikā that, every phenomenon is impermanent in the world and empty by fractionating the soul theory and using the theory of causality, which is the same as in early Buddhism, to make an objective proof. According to the ideology of Nāgārjunapāda, everything that occurred under the theory of causality is non-self. Therefore, there is emptiness. However, no unanimity among recent scholars regarding the concept of emptiness was proved in Mūlamadymakakārika. A.K. Warder has questioned that “Was Nāgārjunapāda a Mahayanist?” by pointing out that there were no sufficient facts in Kārikā to identify Nāgārjunapāda as a Mahayanist. In contrast to the above, Chris Linder pointed out that he was a Mahayanist as there are thirteen books composed by Nāgārjunapāda and teachings of Bōdhichitta-Vivarana and Bōdhisambhāraka were included. Furthermore, the author addressed Theravadas by composing Kārikā. In addition to scholars’ ideologies, the teachings on emptiness included in sutras such as Mogharaja and Suññata during Buddha’s lifetime showed that the concept of emptiness included in Mūlamadymakakārika is not a new counter-theory to early Buddhism. Buddha has demonstrated that the world should be seen with emptiness in order to eradicate selfview. Similarly, Nāgārjunapāda mentioned the middle path, causality and emptiness for eradication of self-view in Kārikā. Accordingly, it is implied that the author has included the teachings of early Buddhism to eradicate self-view, and the other significant fact is Kaccānagotta Sutta of Sanyutta-Nikaya was also included. It is problematic that although Kārikā is a masterpiece that proves Mahayana attitudes, it is included with Theravada Sutras also. Shaswatha (Eternalism)) and Uchcheda (Nihilism) views were rejected in Kaccānagotta Sutta, and the objective of Kārikā is also eradication of views. Therefore, that may be the reason for including sutras of early Buddhism. Accordingly, there is an academic issue in this regard. Whether Kārikā include seeds of early Buddhism is used as a research problem here, and it is expected to research the extent of early Buddhism included in Kārikā using primary and secondary sources under qualitative research methodology.
A Study of the Utility of Orthography for Meaningful Expression in Language
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Vipula Thero, Ginikatuwewe; Chandasiri Thero, Olaganwaththe
The relationship between orthography and meaningful expression is crucial with regard to any given language, though opponents of orthographic rules or patterns often argue that orthography is not an essential element in generating meanings. A common characteristic of these debates is the lack of a proper quantitative explanation regarding the relation between orthography and the semantic aspects of language. Hence, the present study is an attempt to examine the nature of this relationship in a critical manner. Accordingly, the primary research question here is whether orthography plays a crucial role in generating meaning in language. In exploring this research question, library research under qualitative research method and insider perspective as a native speaker is employed while concepts such as Vaikruthadhvani, Prakrutadhvani and Spota of Bhartruhari; Abhithanvaya or the Indian theory of 'relation of the denoted meaning; Anvithabhidhana or the theory of the denotation of the related meaning; the concept of Akhanda Shabdavali, the theory of Artha Sanjanana Vyarapathra of the Dvani school and Homophones are also examined. All these theories or conceptions are examined retrospectively from the perspective of a native speaker. Prakrutidhavi is necessary for Spota, while a Vaikrutadvani is transformed into a Prakrutadhvani after absorbing the meaning. In speaking, the special pronunciation elements in Vaikrutadhvani, such as Pasarapalitha or nonpasarapalitha do not hinder meaning generation. Any speaker expresses a consistent sequence of sounds in any utterance while the listener too grasps the meaning of what he or she hears in the form of such a sound sequence. After this initial step, utterances are understood as collections of 'words'. In revealing the essence of the expression of meanings, certain factors bear special attention, including grammar, Upamana, Nighantu, Aptavachana, Vyavahara and Prasiddhapadantara Samabhihara. Further, the expression of the intended meaning of these various words with different meanings depends on the context. Hence, the literal meaning has to be identified from the context and then reveal the meanings of words. The diversity in meaning leads to ambiguity, and the orthographic conventions limit such ambiguities to a greater extent in writing. Even though orthographic conventions help resolve the ambiguities in writing caused by the complex variety of meanings, the revelation of meaning in language does not depend solely on orthography alone. The verbal context, as well as the context of a situation, are equally important to understanding the proper meaning(s) of a given word. Hence, meanings could not be understood without considering discourse.
Food Preservation Methods in the Traditional Sinhalese Society (with Relevance to Traditional Villages in North Western Province)
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Wasala, W.M. Madu
Food security is the reliability of the physical availability of nutritious, safe and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. Any change that makes a food unfit for human consumption can simply be defined as food spoilage. Food preservation involves the reduction or cessation of the effects of food on its quality, edibility, nutrition, or effects that accelerate spoilage. The purpose of this study is to investigate and study the methods of preserving food in the traditional Sinhalese society. This is primarily a qualitative method-based research which is based on empirical data and secondary sources. For primary data, information was obtained from the elderly living in the villages above 60 years of age through interviews, and as secondary sources, books and research articles were used in accordance with the purpose of the research. Since certain foods are limited to a certain period of time, food safety can prevent food wastage, allow devouring in the off seasons, allow effective usage, and minimise wastage of resources. Prominent among such traditional strategies are the systematic storage methods. Atuwa, Bissa, clay pots, Valankuttu, and bags have been used for preserving grains. Moreover, wood ash and plant leaves have been used. In preserving other types of food, the methods of burying in the soil, drying in the sun, smoking, air drying, using sugar and salty acids, deep frying in oil and using honey have been used. It is important to use natural strategies of food preservation and post-harvest conservation strategies at the household level and the national level as a solution for economic and social problems in the country. Moreover, these conservation strategies, followed by utilising natural resources, will also help to create a healthy society.
An Investigative Study on the Communicative Aspects of Oppari Singing Used Among Sri Lankan Tamils
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Weerasooriya, R.M.P.S.
Oppari singing can be identified as a form of singing used by the Tamil people at funerals. Not only the Hindu people who migrated from South India to Sri Lankan estates but also the Tamil people of Jaffna sing this Oppari at their funerals. In these funeral ceremonies, it is special that only the women sing this song, standing next to the dead body. Oppari singing is defined as a rhythmic lamentation. That is, singing the merits of the deceased person and forming a rhythmic chant. Does Oppari singing in use among Sri Lankan estate Tamils contain social communication features? This research was conducted on the basis of the problem and collected data on the assumption that the social communication features of Oppari singing used among plantation Tamil people are included. This included the communicative aspect of Oppari singing, the peculiarities of Oppari singing, the current use of Oppari singing, etc. Qualitative data collection methods and discussion analysis were used as research methods for data collection. The primary source of data was collected through field study and interviews with people in Haputale and Poondaluoya, while the secondary source of data was collected through books, newspapers and documents. The analysis of this data shows that the Sri Lankan estate Tamil people give an understanding about the dead person to the people participating in the funeral by singing Oppari, and that Oppari song represents itself as a symbol and communicates and interprets the person, and this Oppari song which performed for the dead body, not to express the grief over the loss of the deceased person but to remember what the deceased person did while he was alive. It was also revealed that this Oppari singing is a special kind of funeral singing that is only limited to the Tamil people and unique to them.
Comparison of Two Literary Adoptions of the Story: Perfume - The Story of a Murderer
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Wijethilake, S. P.
The novel “Perfume - The Story of a Murderer” is included in the literaturesyllabus of Learners of German as a Foreign Language in the fourth year Honors Degree program at the University of Kelaniya. The novel is a Historical Fiction written by the German writer Patrick Süskind in 1985 and has its setting in Paris in the 18th century just prior to the French Revolution. It revolves around a person with an exceptional sense of smell, which takes a dark turn and leads him to kill 26 virgins to create the world’s finest perfume. The movie based on the novel directed by Tom Tykwer in 2006 is shown to the students when teaching the literary work, to enhance their interpretation skills. During the course of teaching differences between the two adaptations of the story: the novel and the movie were identified. The objectives of this study are to compare the two adaptations in order to identify the differences between them and to recognize the impact of different adaptations on the interpretation skills of literature learners of German as a foreign language. The primary data for the qualitative study were collected through the novel written by Partrick Süskind in 1985 and the film based on the novel, directed by Tom Tykwer in 2006. The secondary data were gathered through print media, e-books and scholarly articles. According to the results, differences between the two adaptations were identified based on narration, characters, scenes and the effect they create. It is concluded that both the novel and the movie are successful in narrating the story within their own limitations, and the novel gives the reader comparatively more space to think, feel, imagine, and create their own interpretations.
A Segmental Analysis of Sri Lankan English: The Relationship of Phonological Patterns and Mother Tongue of Sri Lankan English Speakers
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Wijayawantha, Hasanthi
Sri Lankan English (SLE), which belongs to the outer circle of Kachru’s threecircle model, is a variety of New Englishes spoken by Sri Lankans who choose to communicate in English for any purpose. Therefore, in Sri Lanka, English is used parallel to the other two main languages of the country, Sinhala and Tamil. The main objective of the research is to find the phonological patterns observed in SLE speakers and to examine whether there are differences or similarities among the speakers depending on their mother tongue (L1). Data for this research are collected through non-probability sampling. Praat is used for auditory and acoustic analysis, and Microsoft Excel is used for quantitative analysis. The pronunciation of voiceless and voiced Th, rhoticity, consonant clusters, and vocalization of L are analyzed under auditory analysis and F1 and F2 formants of selected vowels such as FLEECE and KIT, DRESS and TRAP and THOUGHT and LOT are analyzed under acoustic study. Further, the vowel plots of the participants are compared with the vowel plot of the Standard Sri Lankan English speakers as well. It is observed that the characteristics of the phonology of SSLE are always not presented in the participants. Studying the vowel space of the participant and comparing the participants’ vowel space with the vowel space of SSLE showed that there are few instances of significant difference between the pronunciation of the participant and the pronunciation of SSLE, which could have occurred as a reason for the strong influence of the participants L1 on their L2.
Examining the Perceptions and Learning Experiences of TESL Undergraduates in Online and On-site Assessments of English Syntax and Semantic Course
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Galagoda, Sachini
The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted reforms in education, particularly in tertiary institutions. The shift from conventional to online classrooms presented challenges for both lecturers and undergraduates. However, despite these difficulties, Sri Lankan local universities successfully conducted all teaching, learning, assessments, and evaluations online during the pandemic. This study aimed to uncover the perceptions and learning experiences of the second-year TESL undergraduates of the University of Kelaniya regarding online and on-site assessments of the course, English syntax, and semantics. A mix method approach was adopted for data collection. The study draws on the theoretical framework of constructivism, which emphasizes the active role of learners in constructing their knowledge and understanding through interactions with the learning environment. A survey (Online questionnaire) is used to collect quantitative data (Likert scale questions) and qualitative (open-ended questions) data from twentynine TESL second-year undergraduates, which provided data for the analysis to determine common students’ perceptions and learning experiences regarding online and on-site assessments. According to the findings of the study, the challenges of online assessments are notable rather than on-site assessments, such as increasing learners ’anxiety, low interaction between the lecturer and the student (100% strongly agreed), hard to work as a team, difficulty in time management, inactive participation of colleagues, refusal to turn on the camera and academic integrity. According to the students’ perception, on-site assessments enhance the quality of learning and provide more opportunities such as immediate feedback, building a good rapport between the lecturer and the student, increasing learners’ confidence and effective communication, and more opportunities for discussion. The results allow concluding that the students are satisfied with on-site assessments rather than online assessments.
Translation Loss in “Alimankada Sita”: the Sinhalese Translation of the Novel “The Road from Elephant Pass”
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Jayasinghe, D. G. T. A.
Literary translation is an interesting but complex field of Translation Studies. If the translator fails to convey the idea given by the source text along with its extralinguistic elements, it will cause a translation loss. The objective of this study is to find the translation loss in the novel “Alimankada Sita”: the Sinhalese translation of “The Road from Elephant Pass”. Accordingly, the research problems are: “What are the linguistic levels at which translation loss occurs in “Alimankada Sita?” and “What are the reasons for such loss in translation?” Further, the researcher attempts to analyze the impact of such losses in rendering the meaning of the original text. This qualitative research was conducted as a comparative content analysis. Accordingly, it was found that translation losses occur at different linguistic levels. Further, it was found that such losses occur in instances where unnecessary omissions and additions take place, and in translating and transliterating Tamil terms, idiomatic phrases, taboos, slang, and dialogues. Moreover, it was identified that there are translation losses that occur as a result of following the structure of the source language, while not looking for the target language structure and equivalents on syntactic and semantic levels. It was also noticed that the lack of prior studies about Tamil language and culture which appear in dialogues is another cause for losses in the target text. Moreover, the impact of such losses could give incorrect information to the target reader. They damage intended message of the original writer of the story as well as the feelings generated through some vital incidents.
A Study of the Portrayed of Female Role and Gender Social Sexuality in the Sri Lanka Cinema
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Samaranayaka, H. I. S.
The main purpose of this is to study the portrayal of female roles and gender Social sexuality in Sri Lanka cinema. The main problem of this research was to study how gender and social sexuality influence the portrayal of female roles in Sri Lankan cinema. Cinema is a composition of all arts. Only recently did the emerging cinema, born of powerful technology, join the world of art. A daughter, a young woman, a lover, a wife, a mother, and a female officer are among the female roles projected on the digital screen. I conducted the study under two films on how women are secondary, confined and oppressed based on cultural issues where women and men are socialised rather than biological characteristics. Based on Mr Ashoka Handagama’s film “Fly with One Wing” and Mr Aruna Gunawardhana’s “Nikini Wassa”. A dual methodology, including quantitative and qualitative methods, was used for this research. There, methods of literature review and interviews were used to collect data. Content analysis was carried out to analyse the collected data, and conclusions were reached under the observation method. Among those conclusions, it was clear that women are subordinated and oppressed through gendered social sex. It was also suggested that outdated cultural concepts should be removed and an intelligent society should be created, and many ways to seek well-being through gender equality instead of women being oppressed by the sexual needs of men were also suggested.
An Evaluation of the Social Role of the Sri Lankan Women Portrayed in the Sinhala Marian Hymns: Based on the Marian Hymns of Rev. Fr. Marcelline Jayakody
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Fernando, Christine Rovina
Marian devotion holds a significant place in Christianity, with Mary symbolizing the ideal representation of women. Over time, a rich tradition of Marian devotion developed, resulting in the creation of prayers, hymns, sculptures, paintings, and churches dedicated to her. Among these artistic expressions, hymns, in particular, have a unique ability to resonate with people's hearts through the power of music as an art medium. The origins of Sinhala Marian hymns can be traced back to the compositions of Catholic hymns by Rev. Fr. Jacome Gonzalvez. Rev. Fr. Gonzalvez compared Mary to Sri Lankan women, highlighting her noble, humble, and maternal qualities within the context of the Jewish society in which she was born. However, a comprehensive academic evaluation of the social role of Sri Lankan women as portrayed in Sinhala Marian hymns is yet to be undertaken. This study aims to fill the existing research gap in the academic exploration of this subject, as previous research has primarily focused on the aesthetic aspects of femininity portrayed in Sinhala Marian hymns. This research employs a qualitative research methodology, drawing upon Sinhala hymns, historical reports, academic journals, internet sources, and interviews. By analysing these diverse sources, the study seeks to identify and understand the social role attributed to Sri Lankan women in Sinhala Marian hymns. By delimiting the research scope to the hymns found in the book "Thun Kekula" written by Fr. Marcelline Jayakody, the study ensures a focused analysis within a specific context. The findings of this research will shed light on the social role ascribed to Sri Lankan women in the context of Sinhala Marian hymns. It will contribute to a deeper understanding of how cultural and religious beliefs influence the portrayal of women in religious contexts, providing valuable insights for scholars, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of religious studies, gender studies, and cultural studies.
The Portrayal of Women in the Renaissance Theatre in the Late Fifteenth Century (1580-1600)
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) De Zoysa, Handunneththi Shanika Dilhani
This research paper explores the various ways in which the female is represented in the Renaissance theatre in the late fifteenth century (1580-1600), contesting the dominant view of female victimhood and patriarchal norms. Despite the dominant view being the lack of freedom and identity of the Renaissance women, the era can also be called a time period in which women such as Portia and Lady Lucre, women who fought for their needs and wants for whatever the means, also existed in the Renaissance theatre. The theatre being an actual demonstration of life in England in contemporary times, these dramatists delineate the contemporary issues that these females went through in marriage and relationships as well as their means of contesting them. In order to explore the portrayal of the female beyond the victimhood and patriarchal norms, an in-depth textual analysis would be conducted on the selected texts, The Merchant of Venice (1600) by William Shakespeare and The Three Ladies of London (1584) by Robert Wilson. Therefore, the objective of this study is to find out the dichotomous representation of the female in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Robert Wilson’s The Three Ladies of London as well as to portray how these portrayals showcase women with beauty as well as wit to validate financial gain, and political dominance. Tactically, these dramatists signify the idea that females are not always the victim of patriarchy and that there are females who wittily manipulated the patriarchal norms to gain their means.
An Analytical Study of Practical and Linguistic Problems Arising in the Study of Literature for University Students Studying Hindi as a Foreign Language: Based on Hindi Prose Literature
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Dayawansha, W. A. Nimesha Sandeepani
The contribution of literature to the learning and teaching of a foreign language is enormous. The study of the literature on those languages for language learning is the subject of discussion in many books and research studies. Although Hindi is a practically unused language in Sri Lanka, it is taught as a foreign language in many educational institutions. Among these, Hindi studies have a prominent place in Sri Lankan universities, where Hindi prose literature is naturally used. According to the facts obtained from the presurvey of the students, it was found that they face some kind of challenging situation in the study of Hindi prose literature. The main objective of this study is to identify the challenging pedagogical problems arising in the study of Hindi prose literature. Apart from this, other objectives of this study are to help make literature an attractive and problem-free method of study for students by discussing solutions to those problems. This study is going to be conducted as qualitative research. In this study, the survey research method, as well as the evidence-based research method, will be used. Primary data will be obtained through a questionnaire. Data is collected from the third- and fourth-year undergraduates studying Hindi at Kelaniya, Sabaragamuwa and Sri Jayawardhanapura Universities, selected as the research sample. The secondary data will be collected through interviews with university lecturers based on the primary data. These problems and challenges are to be classified and analysed mainly into two parts: practical and linguistic problems. The presumption of this study is that practical problems are more challenging than linguistic problems.
An Investigation of the Aesthetic Principles Underlying the "Maha Kola Sanniya" in Sri Lankan Mask-Making Tradition
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) De Silva, Malliya Wadu Arosh Chaminda
A mask is a craft creation by which the natural face of a person is covered by an artificially created face of a different type. According to circumstances like belief systems, society, rituals, and meanings, people wear masks on their natural faces to disguise their true identities. This makes changing personalities simpler for a brief amount of time. But the mask used to be much more than just a face covering device. Anthropologists have accepted the fact that ancient people in various countries used masks to frighten enemies in battle, making an attractive impression on cultural rituals and as entertainment. Its use in ritual dances was undoubtedly an important aspect of the religious and social life of our ancestors. In some parts of the world the mask still retains a deep and often complex aesthetic meaning. In Sri Lanka’s cultural background, the “Maha Kola Sanniya” represents a very unique aesthetic essence of the Sri Lankan folklore. But there are very limited research findings on the Maha Kola Sanniya and its aesthetics values. The research problem of the study is how “Maha Kola Sanniya” is able to express aesthetic values through its performances. The research paper describes that there is a particular aesthetic essence of the Sri Lankan ‘Maha Kola Sanni Mask’, especially in Ambalangoda on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. To clarify the aesthetic account of "Maha Kola Sanniya" in Sri Lankan mask making history, the study of how Maha Kola Sanniya is able to express the aesthetic values through its performances serves as a qualitative research project.
Analysis of Lexico - Grammatical Features of Online News Reports on Covid-19 In Sri Lanka Between 2020-2021: A Corpus Linguistic Study
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Nawarathna, N. A. M. Hasitha Sewwandi
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the healthcare sector and has also led to the emergence of new linguistic terms and modifications. The term 'Covid-19' became a widely researched word in linguistics as well as in many other disciplines. This corpus linguistic study aims to explore the Lexicogrammatical features associated with the word 'Covid-19' through a corpus of 35628 words compiled using Antconc. It was based on online news reports in English newspapers in Sri Lanka between 2020 and 2021. The selection of these two years is significant because the first Covid patient in Sri Lanka was discovered in 2020, and in 2021, the Covid vaccination was introduced to the country. This study has two objectives: first, to identify variations in lexical collocates found in news reports between 2020 and 2021, and second, to identify the lexico-grammatical characteristics associated with the term 'Covid-19' by examining its syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations using collocates, N-grams and concordance lines. The findings revealed that 'Covid-19' occurred 299 times as a noun in a corpus of 35628 tokens. The highest frequent lexical collocations with the term 'Covid-19' in 2020 emerged to be 'cases, pandemic, positive' and in 2021 'vaccine, patients, treatment', respectively. Statistics clearly indicate how news reports in 2020 mainly dealt with vaccination news, whereas in 2021, they primarily reported the number of positive cases, deaths, and regulations relevant to 'Covid-19'. It was also evident how different word classes have been chained within the corpus around the word 'Covid-19'. Therefore, this analysis aids in comprehending how lexico-grammatical characteristics and structures are related to the meaning-making process. Furthermore, this research contributes to the field of linguistics, shedding light on the evolution and usage of linguistic terms in the context of a global pandemic.