ICH 2018

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    Relationship between mindfulness and happiness to develop life satisfaction of university students in Sri Lanka
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Weerawansa, S.
    Mindfulness is defined as the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose in the present moment, and not being judgmental about the unfolding of experiences moment by moment. In practicing mindfulness, one becomes aware of the current internal and external experiences and is able to observe them carefully and accept them sans judgments. Happiness is one of the most important aspects of life satisfaction. However, there is a significant gap in the understanding of this relationship between mindfulness and happiness to develop the life satisfaction of university students in Sri Lanka. The present study investigates the relationship between mindfulness and happiness to develop life satisfaction among university students in Sri Lanka. Notions about life satisfaction are linked to one‘s culture and are relative and subjective, varying from country to country. Happiness is also subjective and varies from person to person. Life satisfaction is how one perceives about his/her life, a person‘s sense of well-being, his/her satisfaction or dissatisfaction, with life or happiness/unhappiness. Both mindfulness and happiness are associated with positive life outcomes, including greater subjective wellbeing. The study was aimed at how life satisfaction was gained through mindfulness and how it affects happiness. 350 university students in four state universities were selected at random, based on purposive sampling techniques. In order to measure the relationships, some indices were calculated based on Likert scale. The outcome of this study can be extended with the higher educational curriculum in Sri Lanka to plan better policies. This study also indicates a major finding that higher levels of mindfulness and happiness were associated with greater life satisfaction, positive effect and lower negative effect. Finally, this study will be developed as a conceptual model of mindfulness and happiness to develop life satisfaction of university students in Sri Lanka and happiness index for them. These results provide information regarding a possible process through which mindfulness and happiness exert its beneficial effects.
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    Humanitarian values vs. imperial interests: A case study on Athenian imperial „Cleruchies‟ and the conditions of the subject population
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Weerakoon, W.M.U.I.
    Athens is identified as the earliest western empire. The Classical Athenian epigraphs indicate a widespread imposition of a special type of colonies known as ‗cleruchies‘ in the subject-allies of the Athenian empire towards the middle and late 5th century BCE. ‗Cleruchies‘ are special Greek colonies in which the settlers received a plot of land and retained their original citizenship. This research is intended to examine the manner in which Athens used cleruchies to cater the economic, political and military interests of its empire at the expenses of the allies by completely devaluing the humanitarian principles. The information for this qualitative research is gathered by the analytical study of the epigraphs and numismatics of the particular period and by the critical examination of the primary and secondary sources. The findings of this research suggest that cleruchies provided individual Athenians with socio-economic benefits such as subsidization of citizens and possession of landed property. Cleruchies which were commonly imposed on rebellious allies secured political expansion and stability of the Athenian empire while securing its strategic interests abroad. These special colonies boosted the economy of the Athenian empire by its large revenues and the monopoly of corn and trade routes of the Aegean. However the allies which received cleruchies were reduced into the level of subjects and their autonomy was infringed. The local population of the allied states were depopulated or mass massacred while their land was taken to address the needs of the Athenian empire. Therefore this study is significant in identifying the micro-macro concept of complete disregard and deprivation of human values and rights of one group of individuals or the peripheral states by another group of individuals or core states from the time as early as the earliest western empire. It is also observant that the similar practice of furthering imperial interests at the expenses of the allies by the powerful countries in the 20th century CE led to the origin of international organizations such as United Nations to protect human values and to uphold values of humanities.
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    Influence of trees for Human beings according to the Vāstushāstra
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Ven.Panawala Dhammadhaja
    Trees are very useful for human beings and other animals to live healthily. The majority of animals including humans inhale because of oxygen produce by trees. Water is protected where the trees are. According to vāstushāstra, when the house is established, considerable attention should be paid to trees. Many primary resources on vāstushāstra such as Mayamata, Mānasāra and Viswakarmaprakāsha allocate a paragraph to describe trees which are planted in the land according to directions. Today many people do not use these methods or systems to create their houses and they have to face a lot of troubles after settling down in the house such as diseases, physical abjectness, mental abjectness, poverty and childlessness etc. The main purpose of this research study is to investigate suitable trees and unsuitable trees to plant in house land according to västuçästra and the scientific theories about them. In this research study, collecting data from primary resources such as Mayamatha, Mānasāra, Viswakarmaprakāsha etc. and online sources are used as the research methodology. Gargasamhitā is one of the primary resources on vāstushāstra and it is said that Aswatta tree is not planted in the east, Pāṭalī tree is not grew in the south, Nuga is not cultivated in the west and Udumbara is not planted in the north of the house. It mentions the good and positive way to plant trees in land. For example, Pāṭalī tree is good in north. In some sources like Mayamatha, Mānasāra, Viswakarmaprakāsha etc., there is a classification done according to the appearance of trees.
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    Significance of mindfulness and clear comprehension (sati-sampajañña) for material and spiritual development
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Ven. Jatila
    Mindfulness and clear comprehension (sati-sampajañña) play significant role in implementing both material and spiritual development among human being. Working without sati-sampajañña generates problems and failures, whereas working with sati-sampajañña leads to successful material and spiritual enrichment. This research is a textual and critical approach which gathered data from the discourses. This observation involves applying sati-sampajañña with right thought, right speech and right action for material development and utilizing sati-sampajañña in satipaṭṭhāna practice for liberation. Thought with sati-sampajañña generates right thought which brings good benefits. Thought without sati-sampajañña causes wrong ideas which results in problems and sufferings. Speaking without mindfulness is dishonest. Hence, one should be mindful and have a clear comprehension in whatever talked or discussed. One should speak at the proper time, what is true, gently and beneficial with loving kindness described in Vācā Sutta. Performing work without sati-sampajañña cannot implement tasks. To develop wealth, enhance the standards of living and increase the values of man, one should perform careers and responsibilities by sati-sampajañña with right action. Thus, sati-sampajañña is important to apply in humanity for material development. Further, for spiritual improvement, sati-sampajañña is a part of the contemplation of the body in satipaṭṭhāna practice. In the Satipaṭṭhāna sutta, this practice is required to establish four mental qualities: diligence, clear comprehension, mindfulness and freedom from covetousness and dejection. A meditator acts with a clear comprehension when going forward and returning, looking ahead and looking away, etc. While standing, walking, sitting, lying and eating, he is mindful and have a clear comprehension to prevent obstacles and increases spiritual development. The Papañcasūdanī signifies that clear comprehension has fourfold: purposefulness, suitability, resort and non-delusion. Sati-sampajañña also deals with dwelling in equanimity towards mindfulness and clear comprehension. This highlights that one should cultivate sati-sampajañña for spiritual liberation. Mindfulness and clear comprehension (sati-sampajañña) are vital importance for individual who seeks material development and spiritual liberation. Utilizing sati-sampajañña with right thought, right speech and right action generate wealth. Through contemplating sati-sampajañña in satipaṭṭhāna meditation, one can be removed from covetousness and dejections, not clinging to world and obtaining purification of beings from all defilements.
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    Can social media influence Buddhist monks to disrobe? A Theravāda perspective based on the Ūmibhayasutta of Aṅguttara Nikāya
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Ven. Ashin Nanda Cariya
    It is clear that social media are so useful that many people and even Buddhist monks cannot live without social media in the modern world. In regard to the Buddhist monks being associated with social media, some may argue that Buddhist monks should not surf the Internet probably because social media would cause them to disrobe. Actually, it is so hard to say that Buddhist monks will give up the training and revert to the lay life because of surfing the Internet or being associated with social media by any kind of modern gadgets. However, it can also be said that some monks will try to give up the training and revert to the lay life because they can get improper experiences by surfing the Internet. In order to clarify this situation, it is important to observe the Ūmibhayasutta of Aṅguttara Nikāya in which the Buddha pointed out four perils that can cause monks to give up the training and revert to the lay life. Among the four perils mentioned in this sutta, the latter two perils; the peril of whirlpools, and of fierce fish, are related to how social media can cause Buddhist monks to disrobe. According to the peril of whirlpools, āvaṭṭabhaya, a certain monk can admire people enjoying, or endowing with the five objects of sensual pleasure. At that time, a monk may think of enjoying the wealth and do meritorious deeds in lay life, and try to give up the training and finally revert to the lay life. Then, according to the peril of fierce fish, susukābhaya, a certain monk can see women dressed in disarray, or badly attired while going for alms. At that time, lust may invade his mind and a monk would try to give up the training and later revert to the lay life. Ancient monks could get these experiences through being associated with people when going for their alms. Nowadays, Buddhist monks can get such similar experiences by being associated with social media without going for alms into a village or a town. By the help of social media, such as Phone, Facebook, Viber, Youtube etc., they can easily see people enjoying the sensual pleasures and connect with a woman they like. This is an obvious changing of the life style between monks in the past and present. Although ancient monks could be invaded by lust while going for alms, modern monks can be invaded by lust while sitting in their room. However, it is still hard to say that every monk who associates with social media will try to give up the training and revert to the lay life. According to the Ūmibhayasutta, if a monk went for alms mindfully, lust would not invade his mind and he would not try to give up the training. Similarly, if a modern monk could associate with social media mindfully, social media would not cause him to disrobe. Nevertheless, modern monks should be fully aware of the negative impacts of social media as it can also cause a monk to disrobe if the monk associates with social media mindlessly
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    Cultural aspects expressed in Cilappatikaram
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Nagarathnam, S.
    Literature as the mirror of time can fall through human life. It reflects civilization, culture, policy, doctrine and customs. These reflected aspects are flexible and they change according to time. Culture is the most important expression of these aspects. It was defined earlier as the symbols, language, beliefs, values, and artifacts that are part of any society. Moreover these cultural aspects are considered the important determinants of a human‘s social status. In this way, literature can be considered the expression of culture and culture can be considered the determinant of social status of human beings. Nevertheless, many Western scholars have mentioned poets as liars and literature as a fictional fantasy about human life. Thus, it is necessary to examine the true nature of literature. Cilappatikaram is the first epic among the five in Tamil literature with a story set in Tamilnadu. Tamil ethnicity has a unique culture compared to other communities. So it is important to find out whether Cilappatikaram reflects actual culture or not. What are the cultural aspects it contains and how does the influence of cultural aspects determine social status of both man and women? The objective of this study is to critically examine the reflecting cultural aspects and influence of those cultural aspects on determining the social status of both man and women by using the epic Cilappatikaram as a primary source. The cultural aspects expressed in Cilappatikaram are analyzed and a sociocultural approach is used to critically examine the influence of cultural aspects on determining social status of both man and women. ‗Katpu’ (Chastity or Conjugal fidelity) is a manifestation of the Tamil culture of being one for one, hospitality, admiration, during the marriage reveals culture such as providing dowry, allows the couple to live as single family and waiting for the husband are some rituals can be finding in Cilappatikaram. These are only for women. The traditional performing art and theatre of art belonging to Tamil People is expressed through the character Madhavi. She was an accomplished dancer. She represents the lives of kanihaiyar and their lifestyle. The woman who is not associated with marriage will not be respected by others, marriage had impact to consider kannagi as chaste god. She got the right to fight for Kovalan but not to Madhavi. However, when Kannagi was alone, Kovalan and Kannagi's family supported her but Madhavi was alone. The essentiality of the Tali is exposed by Kannaki and the significance of cilambu is exposed by both Kannaki and Paandimadevi. These jewels can only be worn by a married woman. Likewise, the cultural epic Cilappatikaram reflects the cultural aspects with the message that both nonmaterial culture and material cultural aspects have an impact on determining women‘s social status more than men‘s social status.
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    The opinions on the use of Sinhala language in adult ELT classroom: A survey conducted at the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Ratnayake, A.R.M.J.C.
    The study set out to investigate the opinions of the use of Sinhala language in adult English Language Teaching (ELT) classrooms. First it is important to state that research in regard to the opinions of the use of Sinhala in Adult ELT classrooms is limited in the Sri Lankan context. The survey was conducted at the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya. For the purpose of this study 20 first year undergraduates belonging to the basic level group were randomly chosen. The study involved both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. The main research questions of this research study were whether first language (L1) favoured ELT classrooms or not and whether students and teachers favoured the use of L1 in ELT classroom for teaching and learning processes and also whether L1 use in the classroom motivated and influenced students in an attitude change. The findings were used to determine whether they agreed or disagreed with the use of first language in the second language (L2) classrooms. At the same time, two ESL classrooms were monitored and observed for a semester in which one class used only the target language (TL) and on the other L1 was used for classroom activities and instruction. In order to gauge whether L1 use improves students motivation and attitudinal changes through student attendance, student attendance records were summarized and the number of students in each group who participated in ESL classes during the semester were listed down. Finally, the records of the percentage of the students‘ attendance was calculated to gauge whether L1 use in ESL classrooms led to student motivation and a change in student attitudes. The data collected from the students and instructors‘ responses in the interviews were also analyzed. The study revealed that students‘ L1 is used for pedagogical, administrative and international purposes in the English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom and that instructors teaching in these basic level classes used the L1 as a strategy to accommodate students‘ low language proficiency and also as a strategy to create more student friendly classrooms. Based on the findings it is posited that the students‘ L1 might be a useful strategy that enhance target language acquisition. With respect to the opinions with regard to L1 use in adult ELT classrooms, both the students and instructors stated that it facilitates the teaching and learning of English as a Foreign Language (FL).
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    Museum access for people with special needs
    (. International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Rathnayake, S.
    Museums play a major role to showcase a country‘s identity and dignity to the world. It holds a distinctive place in tourism industry and become a major attraction. Museums are attracting people in numbers that were unheard of even a few years ago. According to the definition of International Council of Museums, museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment. As specified by above definition museum is for all human beings. So when designing museums, authorities should pay attention to not only on normal people but also on differently-able people. Disabilities affect people in different ways. Many people associate the 'disabled' with someone who is in a wheelchair, or who is blind or deaf. The main objective of this research was to identify the ways of designing and facilitating museums for people with special requirements by Sri Lankan museums. Galle maritime archaeology museum was selected as the study area of the research. As a world heritage site, Galle Fort records highest number of visitor arrival. Also there are three main Govt. museums. According to visitor statistics maritime museum holds the first place among those. The research was based on field survey methodology where 50 domestic and foreign visitors were interviewed using structured questionnaires. The sample was randomly selected at the site and represented both the younger generation and senior citizens. Unstructured interviews and field surveys also used as primary sources of collecting data. Analysed final result shows that museum pays less attention on differently able visitors in basic fields such as accessibility, education and facilities and services. This study provides what are the ways that can use for facilitate differently able visitors in a museums. Not only maritime archaeology museum, but also all the museums in Sri Lanka must pay attention to above issue and providing facilities for people with special needs.
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    An Appreciation of Aelian de Silva's Contribution as a Neologist
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Randula, K.K.G.
    Neologisation is the act of coining and accompanying neologisms i.e., new words to the lexicon of a language. Aelian de Silva (31st October 1926 - 22nd December 2015), an electrical engineer by profession, was a neologist of the recent times who made a significant contribution to the lexical development of the Sinhalese language. However, his endeavours as a neologist have not yet been subjected to a commendable appreciation. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the linguistic features of his neologisms while focusing on the neologisation processes employed in coining them. An adequate corpus of data was collected for examination by referring to the books and articles written by Aelian de Silva. The data were analysed utilising the theories and methods of structural linguistics. It was observed in the analysis that his contribution to the field of neologisation is mainly two-fold. Firstly he has outlined five salient features that one should take into consideration in coining Sinhalese technical terms. These are flexibility, brevity, precision, comprehensibility, and pronounceability. Flexibility refers to the ability to yield the whole derivational paradigm of the neologism. Brevity refers to the one to one correspondence between the source and target forms. Precision is when the term conveys the exact intended meaning and nothing more or less. Comprehensibility is the quality of being intelligible to the average native speaker of the language. Pronounceablity is the quality of being easily pronounceable. In order to conform to these five salient features, Aelian de Silva always encouraged the use of indigenous roots in coining Sinhalese neologisms as borrowed foreign roots fail to fully comply with the five salient features. Secondly, Aelian de Silva has accompanied more than three thousand neologisms to the lexicon of the modern Sinhalese language. Most of them appear in the glossary of his masterpiece Technical Terms in Sinhala which was published in 2002. Interestingly, a considerable number of the neologisms he coined have gained currency in many a technical discipline like electrical engineering, petroleum industry, and television industry. Thus, Aelian de Silva's contribution to the lexical development of the modern Sinhalese language is a commendable service which deserves a proper appreciation preceded by strenuous research.
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    The depiction of gods in Greek and Tamil epics: A comparative study on Homer‟s „The Iliad‟ and Kampar‟s „Kambarāmāyanam‟.”.
    (International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Randiwela, R.M.D.
    The depiction of Gods in ‗The Iliad‘ is representative of the heroic and materialistic background that the Greeks emerged in. The Gods were venerated for their power and immortality more than their virtue. They were a class to be won over by prayer and sacrifice. In ‗Kambarāmāyanam‘ the Gods are immortal and powerful. Yet they were moral and presented with the intention of cultivating piety and morality in the reader. The research question of this study is to find in what aspect does the depiction of Gods in Greek epics differ from that of the Tamil epics and interpret the possible reasons for the existence of both similarities and differences among the two. This study is done by gathering relevant information from both Greek and Tamil literary sources. Further reading is done on writings done on the social, cultural and regional backgrounds of the two writers while being conscious of the time gap. Gathered information is analyzed in order to examine the divinity presented in the works themselves- in Homer‘s ‗The Iliad‘ and Kampar‘s ‗Kambarāmāyanam‘ There have been discussions among scholars on the depiction of Greek Gods with that of Rakshasa in ‗Kambarāmāyanam‘ interpreting the Greek gods as mere beings of power and evil. However in this research it is argued that the depiction of gods in relevant epics is a clear reproduction of time and culture that each poet lived in. Moreover the intention of this study is to understand how the two respective cultures presented a common theme through the medium of epic