9th Students' Research Symposium 2020

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/22681

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Assessing Financial Literacy Among Undergraduates of University of Kelaniya
(Department of Finance Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya, 2020) Samarasekara, M. A. G. I.; Abeysekera, R.
The purpose of this article is to analyse the level of financial literacy among university students at the University of Kelaniya. The study focuses on how demographic factors such as age, gender, faculty, year of study and income level affect undergraduates' financial literacy levels and whether there is a correlation between financial knowledge and demographic factors. To achieve the research objectives, the researcher collected data from 400 university students representing all faculties and years. This research used a stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaires were used as the primary sources of data collection methodology in this study. Descriptive Statistics, independent sample T-Test, ANOVA test and Probit regression were used for data analysis, and SPSS software was used as statistical software to analyse the survey data. The overall mean percentage of a correct score for the survey is 60.29%, indicating that the level of financial literacy of students at the University of Kelaniya is medium. The hypotheses test revealed that three factors, including gender, faculty, and income level, significantly affect the financial literacy level. According to the findings of the ANOVA test, there is a significant difference between financial literacy and age, gender, faculty and income level. Further, there is no significant difference between the financial literacy and the year of the respondent. This study fills the current research gap in financial literacy. The findings demonstrate the need for financial literacy education. Mainly researcher has concluded the level of financial literacy of students at the University of Kelaniya is moderate. Finally, the researcher recommends some recommendation to increase the level of financial literacy of undergraduates and recommends future researchers to overcome existing limitations and expand these studies to a variety of areas.
The Impact of Service Quality on Customer Loyalty in Sri Lankan Banking Sector with The Mediation Role of Customer Satisfaction
(Department of Finance Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya, 2020) Punsala, A. A. D. D.; Abeysekera, R.
Introduction - This study empirically examined the impact of service quality on customer loyalty in the Sri Lankan banking sector with the mediation role of customer satisfaction. At first, this research focuses on the relationship between service quality in terms of human aspects, tangible aspects and technical aspects between customer satisfaction. Then, it draws attention to the mediation effect of customer satisfaction between service quality and customer loyalty. Design/Methodology/Approach - Positivism was used as the research philosophy, while the deductive method was the research logic and the quantitative method as the research approach. A cross-sectional survey of 112 banking customers was conducted in the Sri Lankan context in order to gather the data. The questionnaire has included Likert type structured questions. Sample customers were selected from nine major banks according to the stratified proportionate random sampling technique based on the market share of selected nine banks. Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis have used for the analysis. Furthermore, the Hayes test was conducted to test the mediation effect of customer satisfaction. Findings - The results indicate that the service quality dimensions have a positive direct effect on customer satisfaction, and the most influential factor is the human aspects of service quality. It was also found that customer satisfaction mediates the effect of service quality on customer loyalty. Conclusion - The overall model is statistically significant. The final result emphasizes that there is a positive relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the Sri Lankan banking sector, while customer satisfaction mediates the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty. Contribution -The findings of the research give some important implications to bank managers and employees in making decisions, especially in creating the marketing mix, marketing strategies and the year plans.
Perception of Online Banking Customers in Sri Lanka: With Special Reference to the Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka
(Department of Finance Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya, 2020) Appuhamy, K. H. I. S. M.; Abeysekera, R.
In the past few decades, technology has shown rapid growth, and consequently, the internet has become a significant technology component. Most individuals and businesses are paying attention to the technology and internet to make competitive advantages. Banking can be considered as a significant sector that uses this ever-advancing technology for its operations. Banks use internet banking to provide different services to their customers. As a result, internet banking has become a major channel that banks use to serve the customers via websites of the banks. The study aims to explore the factors that affect the customers' perception on internet banking in Sri Lanka and to determine the magnitudes of those factors. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data which was considered as primary data. The researcher selected 212 customers with particular reference to the commercial banks in Sri Lanka using the convenience sampling method. To test the hypothetical relationships between dependent and independent variables, correlation and multiple regression were used using the SPSS software application. According to the study, results provided sufficient pieces of evidence that there is a significant positive impact on the customer perception towards internet banking by the independent variables of Accessibility, Bank Functions, and Cost Ease and of Use, while Awareness depicts a negative impact on customer perception on internet banking in Sri Lanka. Compared to the globe, in Sri Lanka, internet banking is at the primary stage performing only main banking activities such as checking account balances and transferring funds between accounts. Thus, improving the Awareness of the customers can be considered as a main target to be achieved by banks. The results of the study will be influential for banks to design their strategic marketing and promotional plans in order to expand their internet banking customer base. The study fulfils the existing research gap in the area of perception of internet banking customers in Sri Lanka. These findings will help for future studies relating to factors that affect customer perception towards internet banking in Sri Lanka
A Study on Buying Behaviour of Long-Term Care Assurance with Special References to Middle-Income Earners in Sri Lanka
(Department of Finance Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya, 2020) Madhushika, K. P. D.; Abeysekera, R.
This study identifies buying behaviour of Life Assurance with special references to middle-income earners in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to identify factors that affect clients not purchasing Life assurance, how these factors influence the decision-making process and consumer's buying behaviour relevant to the Life assurance. This research was conducted using a qualitative research method by conducting semi-structured interviews. The sample was chosen using the purposive sampling method and it consists of seven participants who did not purchase life assurance, four life assurance policyholders and four Sales officers. Data were transcribed and analysed. The findings indicate that consumer awareness, government involvement, Expertise and agency expertise and finance literacy directly influenced people not to purchase life assurance product. Service quality, Ease of assurance procedures and communication barriers changed the decision-making process of life assurance, and Attitudes of clients with inactive participation from clients, negative feelings, Social influences, customer satisfaction and technology development directly affected buying behaviour of life assurance. The final results emphasize the need to change consumer attitudes, government involvement with compulsory rules, and improve service quality as recommendations.
What are the Factors Affecting the Loan Repayment of Microfinance Industry: A Case Study in Rathnapura District
(Department of Finance Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya, 2020) Wijesinghe, W. I. B.; Abeysekera, R.
Microfinance gives a solution for people who are excluded from a formal financial system. The typical idea of providing credit to lower-income people is to increase their income and enhance their necessity needs and thereby reduce poverty. Microfinance becomes a more productive tool for poverty alleviation. Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) provide microcredit (i.e. loans) to clients. Loan repayment is very important for the sustainability of MFIs. This research was used to study MFI and borrower factors that affect loan repayments. The researcher has purposively selected four microfinance institution in Sri Lanka and Data were gathered using sixteen in-depth interviews through a semi-structured questionnaire. Those collected data were transcribed and analysed. The study found income, expenses, family background, attitudes, information asymmetry, educational level, amount of loan borrowed, and economic instability affected the loan repayment from the borrower's side. Further, training programmes, grace period, lending policy, regulatory framework, interpersonal relationship and interest rate affected loan repayment from the MFI side. Further, the researcher has found barriers that affect both microfinance institution and borrowers in loan repayments, such as income, family support, group barriers, lack of collateral, financial instability and technology barriers, high competition and employee turnover. The study will help the development of microfinance institutions and achieve microfinance loan holder's objectives.