Symposia & Conferences

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Rumors as a Political Instrument: Transformation of Interpersonal Rivalry to Inter-Ethnic Riot: A Study Based on Riot in Mawanella 2001
(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Gunasekara, S.; Epa, H.
The rumor is one important means of mobilizing force for conflict. It work as a justification for resorting to violence. The problem was “increasing the density of the ethnic riot by rumors”. Objective was finding out how rumors pave the way for expand communal rivalries to interethnic riot. The present study is an exploratory which describes the ethnic relations and rivalries in ethnic township of Mawanella, Sri Lanka. It was based on primary and secondary data. Tools employed in collecting data include discussion with key informants, and others in face to face contact in the process of data collection and observation. The findings were, through pre – riots, an attempt had been made to arouse ethnic sentiments. An ethnic crowd are not known to each other personally and imaginary. So, a threat aimed at a member of the same ethnic group that they belong to is considered as a threat at them. The attempt made by the pre – riot rumors had been to cater such emotions. By the present emotion revealed, what could be interpreted is, that riot leaders of both Sinhalese and Muslim communities, have made an attempt to support. Some rumors have used to adopt religious fervor as an instrument to retaliate. In analysing the nature of the various rumors spreading during the post – riot situations, it looks like designing to continue the stressful conditions without a break. Rumors had been fabricated by the spoilers in conflicting situation; they were politicians, extremist religious leaders or robbers and thieves. Conclusion of the study are Rumors are structurally embedded in the riot situation and they facilitate communal violence, in many ways, because they are satisfactory and useful to rioters and their leaders, and efforts to counter rumors to misdirected and it promote either involvement or none involvement. Rumors are employed by both sides to mobilize the members of ethnic communities to face real or imagined damages for the people as a community and the cultural symbols of the community by the said to be enemy community
Contribution of National Libraries in Dissemination of Knowledge in Developing Countries: Challenges and Opportunities
(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Dilinika, J.M.S.
National libraries play a vital role as knowledge centers for their nations. Mandate of the national libraries is to collect, preserve, and provide access to heritage content and materials about the nation and the wider region. In this context, libraries are introducing variety of knowledge dissemination services for their local and global community. With the invention of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), libraries nowuse different types of technologies to disseminate the knowledge. This paper investigates the recent changes to provide access to knowledge in National Libraries in developing countries. This was measured using library websites and scholarly literature focusing on information services, purposes, and recent problems. The sample consisted of 10 national libraries of developing countries. The results indicate that the ICT has become an integral part of the library.Computing technology, communication technology and mass storage technology are some of the areas of continuous development that reshape the way that libraries access, retrieve, store, manipulate and disseminate information to users. Digitization, enhance user access, legal demands, infrastructure facilities and etc could be identified as recent problems. Libraries in developed countries are highly competitive and advanced through information and communication technology. Within this competitive background many libraries in developing countries need further development strategies based on ICT to overcome these difficulties. This research provides recommendations to provide a discussion in order to modernize libraries in to the 21st century.
Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka – An Outsider’s View
(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Govinnage, S.
Sustainable development focuses on the importance of meeting the needs of current and future generations through the integration of environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity. In the implementation of sustainable development strategies the communities, people and their values are considered to be of vital importance. “A Sustainable community would be secure, healthy and equitable, with a clear sense of place,” (Environment Protection Authority, 2002). After more than 130 years of colonial rule, Sri Lanka gained independence from the British in 1948. Today, the country is at crossroads following a brutal civil war which ravaged the country since 1983. Despite all the internal constraints and challenges facing economic prosperity, “Sri Lanka reaffirms the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 which emphasize the need to eradicate poverty and reduce disparities in living standards to achieve sustainable development…” (United Nations, 1997). The paper will question the extent to which Sri Lanka’s sustainable development strategy assists in developing a society which is secure, healthy and equitable, with a clear 'sense of place'. In this regard the paper will examine key issues which either link or separate Sri Lanka’s sustainable development programme from its national disaster management programme. Its objective is to highlight the need for developing an alternate, sustainable development strategy which will meet the needs of current and future generations, through the integration of environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity.

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