International Conference on the Humanities (ICH)

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Acoustic evidence for three selected phonological norms of Standard Sri Lankan English
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Widyalankara, R.C.
The phonology of Standard Sri Lankan English (SSLE) reflects a strong influence from the vernaculars of Sri Lanka: Sinhala and Tamil. This results in deviations from the donor colonial Standard British English pronunciation. This study provides acoustic evidence for threeselected phonological norms of SSLE: retreat of the diphthongs /ei/ and /əʊ/ to the unmarked /e:/ and /o:/ respectively; the absence of /ɒ/;presence and the differentiation of the back vowels /ɔ/, /o/; the retreat of the vowels central mid /ʌ/ and back /ɑ:/ to central open position as /ɑ/ /ɑ:/. Evidence is compiled through Rate of Change in the diphthongs and F1 and F2 formant readings of acoustic documentation from elicitations of two bilingual case study subjects are compared to data in literature. Of the two bilingual case study subjects one has Sinhala and the other Tamil as the first language while SSLE is their second language. Theoretical underpinning invokes language specific markednessconstraint ranking and retreat to the unmarked.
Acquisition of locative and directional prepositions by ESL learners of Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayasinghe, R.R.
The aim of the study is to examine whether the ESL learners whose first language is Sinhala, acquire locative prepositions better than the directional prepositions initially, and this particular lexicalization difficulty in acquisition slowly disappears by the time the learners reach the tertiary level education. Space related language manifests itself in different ways. In English it appears as prepositions. Mastering the use of spatial prepositions is one of the challenging tasks that the English language learners face. Spatial prepositions are of two types: (1) Locative prepositions, for example, The candle(figure) is on the table(ground) (2) Directional prepositions, for example, The horse(figure) jumped over the wall (ground). Locative and directional prepositions in English language occur before the groundof the spatial scene whereas in Sinhala language, postpositions are used instead. Stinger (2005) has shown that the directional prepositions (traversal paths) present a particular lexicalization difficulty in the early stages of acquisition of English, French and Japanese as the first language. A dictation task was administered to 185 students from two government schools and the performance of 20 students was analysed from each of the following grades: Grade 8, Grade 10, and Grade 12. A sentence battery consisting of 20 sentences of which 10 sentences each contained locative and directional prepositions was used. Students were asked to listen to the each sentence carefully and write it down. The elicited imitation method was used to collect data and quantitative statistical analysis was computed using SPSS to find out whether there is a significant difference between the accuracy of the locative and directional prepositions within and across the grades. As the outcome of this research, if one category of spatial prepositions shows an initial advantage over the other, the relevant order can be used as a guideline in the ESL class-room to facilitate the teaching of spatial prepositions in the relevant grades. If this particular acquisition difficulty disappears by Grade 12, both categories of spatial prepositions can be introduced at equal frequency at the tertiary level through dictation.
Advice from a Journal Editor
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Braine, G.
Publication in international refereed journals is now a requirement for career advancement in most countries. The presenter, who edited an applied linguistics journal for 10 years, has observed that manuscripts submitted by many authors are not even sent out for review because the authors appear to be unaware of the publication process. This seminar provides participants advice on how to succeed in getting past the gatekeepers (journal editors and manuscript reviewers) when submitting manuscripts to academic journals, with specific reference to journals in applied linguistics. Some of the topics covered are understanding the publication process, choosing the right publication, generating more than one publication from a study, replicating research, composing effective titles, using clear visuals, drafting clear cover letters, making the editors’ and reviewers’ tasks easier, and revising effectively.
An Analogy between Linguistics and Science: A comparative study
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Silva, S.U.T.
Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It mainly comprises three aspects including language form, language meaning, and language in context. On the other hand, science involves the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.The main objective of this paper is to present diverse and multidirectional relationships between these two disciplines which are apparently separated from each other due to the fact that they belong to completely different domains. Therefore, the research problem that the researcherintended to investigate in this study is “What similarities do languages have with theories of science as far as their characteristics are concerned?” This study was conducted in three stages. In the initial stage of data collecting, the primary methodology infocus is to extract specific characteristics and virtues of scientific theories while investigating major breakthroughs in the history of science. Secondly, an attempt was made to link these fundamental qualities to features of language while identifying the linguistic approach that is hidden in scientific theories. Similarly,philosophical ideologies of Thomas Kuhn and Paul Feyerabend were analyzed with special attention. In the final stage, seven such characteristics were established while concluding the extent to which linguistics and science are similar in the core nature of their qualities.These conclusions are based purely on a qualitative analysiswhere an analogy is seen from a dynamic perspective.
Analysing the effectiveness of group work in the ESL classroom
(International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Deveniguru, D.K.L.C.; Ratnayake, A. R. M. J. C.; Thilakawardana, I.G.L.S.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using Cooperative Learning, (CL) which is also known as Group work, in the English as a Second Language (ESL) Classroom. The survey was conducted at the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya and the data was gathered through a randomly selected sample of 25 undergraduates of the first year belonging to the Basic Level. The selected group had scored marks ranging from 0-39 at the English Placement Test conducted by the Faculty of Arts. A majority of the undergraduates who follow the Basic Level pay less attention to ESL as most of the courses in their curriculum are offered in either Sinhala or Tamil. So, they show less interest in most of the activities done in the ESL classroom. Moreover, their inhibition towards English language learning as well as the lack of self-confidence can be identified as major obstacles in their learning process. Therefore, a group speech activity was chosen as a remedial method to assess the effectiveness of co-operative learning. To carry out this study, the randomly chosen undergraduates (25) were instructed to do a speech activity. The target group of students were divided equally into 05 groups and they were asked to do a group presentation on a topic related to a current issue. The data gathered from the students were then analysed and the findings were discussed. Through this study, the following main hypotheses can be drawn forward. (a) CL technique enables the learners to feel more comfortable in using the Second Language (L2) spontaneously. (b) CL technique has a positive impact on the level of motivation which ultimately leads to a higher level of proficiency in the Target Language (TL). Data collection involved both qualitative and quantitative methods. Both, students and instructors were given questionnaires to mark their preferences. Both questionnaires were then analysed and compared. The students‘ questionnaire demonstrated that they have a positive attitude towards CL or group work. The results of the instructors‘ questionnaire revealed that CL can play a vital role in language learning and teaching. Through the responses stated at the interviews both the students and instructors revealed that the CL technique creates a positive atmosphere and a less threatening classroom. Moreover, through the findings of this research it was posited that CL technique develops self-confidence of the students, reduces classroom anxiety and inhibition and most importantly that it allows students to learn from each other.
An analysis of land ownership rights in document registration: A pragmatic Sri Lankan perspective
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayakody, J.A.D.
Land is a valuable asset of the people in Sri Lanka. If there is a clear tenancy with no title disputes, its commercial and financial marketability is increased. The ownership of land has long been considered a property right, enacted through land registration in this country. The system of land registration system in Sri Lanka consists of two components, the Registration of Documents and the Registration of Title. The Registration of Documents programme was implemented as a primary ownership registration procedure based on the Ordinance related to the Registration of Deeds and Documents No.23 in 1927. After 1927 a law was imposed to register deeds, to protect the land ownership rights of uninformed buyers and to regularize documents pertaining to land. In the context of this registration procedure, registering by manually writing in volumes and folios in the land registry is a problematic and challenging task to the general public.The objectives of this study are, therefore, to critically evaluate and investigate the impact and practical difficulties of ensuring the rights of land ownership originated by acquaintance with the law of registration of documents in the existing system and finally to provide recommendations.Though registration of documents may create the impression that it is a fair and equitable method of ensuring rights of ownership of the lands, it is problematic. This research is basically a qualitative one but for the purpose of assessing the impacts and to ensure the rights of ownership by implementing a registration of documents, a mixed approach was used, which included case studies. The study reveals the reality of acquiring a clear tenancy and the rights of ownership Therefore the study concludes that the land registration system should enforce pragmatic procedural strategies rather than maintain its confidence in overly formal and inefficient rules and regulations
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.
An Analysis of Motivations for Code-mixing Sinhala into English among Undergraduates
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Senaratne, U.D.
Code-mixing is indubitably an inevitable linguistic behaviour in most bilingual/multilingual contexts, which refers to the mixing of two or more languages in speech. The prime objective of this paper was to discern the motivations for code-mixing Sinhala into English among hundred undergraduates from the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya. The students were selected using simple random sampling while the survey technique was employed to gather data of this study. Three psycholinguistic motivations - filling the lexical gaps which arise due to language deficits and non-availability of English terms and the relative ease of accessibility - were acknowledged as reasons for code-mixing by over 50% of the respondents. However, the medium-of-learning effect was not identified as a motivation for code-mixing by most of the respondents. On the other hand, majority of respondents engaged in code-mixing as they were susceptive to the interlocutor's language proficiency. Conversely, most students code-mixed neither to arrest others' attention nor to display their affiliations to the "elite class." Nevertheless, displaying affability and gaining peer recognition were identified as motivations for code-mixing by more than 50% of the selected undergraduates. One of the significant finding of the study was that the participants anticipated being the cynosure of any given setting by code-mixing English into Sinhala, not vice versa. It was also found that one's smattering knowledge of Sinhala was considered a "mark of pride" whilst limited proficiency in English was greatly ridiculed. Accordingly, the overall findings of the study gave perceptive insights into the students' attitudes towards the Sinhala and English languages.
An analysis of selected songs of popular music based on the concepts of existentialism
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Amarasooriya, D.N.P.
The existence of man with the individual identities amid the miscellaneous social realities has been defined and observed through the disparate social and religious ideologies thus elucidating it depending on their beliefs, prejudices and judgments. Thus the existential identities of the social being tend to waver between distinct realities questioning the true essence of their existence. Viewing this perplexing social milieu the philosophical ideology ‘Existentialism’ with a broad perspective addresses the dichotomy between the negation and acceptance that the individual identities confront in front of the meaninglessness and absurd nature of the social sphere. Popular music which has evolved through diverse genres extends its scope towards the prevalent societal and individual issues which relate with the oppression and liberation of the social being thus developing a critical discourse on the identity, survival and empowering one’s own self. Elaborating on these argumentative perspectives this research has focused on identifying the linkage between existentialist ideas and the themes of the popular music and on examining how and to which extent the concepts and thematic notions of popular music address existential viewpoints. Within the analyzing process the songs of Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody), Metallica (Master of puppets, Nothing Else Matters, The Day That Never Comes), Simon and Garfunkel (The sound of silence), Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead have been examined based on the prominent notions of existentialism and the theoretical perspectives of Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir have been given a thorough concentration. Due to the socio-cultural, sociopolitical and psycho-social conditions, the individual, his actual identity and the true essence of the ‘self’ have been moulded into an incomprehensible shape with zero identification and validity, thus thrusting their identities and lives to revolve in a futile cycle and negating and disrupting the individual who breaks away from the meaningless, absurd social pattern.
An Analysis of Semantic Shift in the English Language Neologisms Used in Facebook
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Harankaha, Vindhya H. A.V.
Digital technology has significantly improved communication networks, leading to the birth of several communication techniques. Finding the simplest and quickest method of communication is the main objective when selecting a communication approach. Though social media has affected greatly almost all languages, it has not been the topic of many studies. However, social networking is having an impact on language, significantly English language. This study focuses on semantic language shift in social media, significantly in English language neologisms, and its impact on the English language. This change can occur due to various linguistic, cultural, or social factors that influence language development. A range of neologisms has resulted in a semantic shift in the English language used on social media. Semantic shift, also known as semantic change or semantic evolution, refers to the process through which the meaning of a word or phrase undergoes a significant alteration over time. A variety of neologisms have resulted from a semantic shift in the language used on social media. This study uses qualitative research methods, specifically a descriptive research design. The researcher has used a non-probable purposive sample of 50 chosen respondents’ posts. An interactive model is used in the data analysis. It was found that phrases were replaced by neologisms, and there is a semantic shift in the language used in neologisms in social media compared to the Standard English Language. Semantic shifts found in neologisms available on Facebook can be categorized mainly as expansion, narrowing, amelioration, and synecdoche.
An Analysis of the Concept of Psychiatry Related to Buddhist Practices
(Faculty of Humanities University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2021) Vithana, Sajini Wasundra
This research study seeks to explore the manner in which practices based in Buddhism can be identified and applied as practical psychotherapy. Psychiatry is branch of western medicine that recommends treatment for mental and psychological disorders caused by physiological and psychological factors. Psychotherapy can be defined as psychotherapeutic modalities for the treatment of mental illnesses based on psychological approaches and regulations. Hence, due to the many aspects of Buddhist culture such as bodhi pooja, meditation, sill observance, dhamma discourse and pilgrimage, this study argues for the existence of an interconnection between Buddhist practices and psychiatry. Accordingly, this research study attempts to inquire the means across which Buddhist practices can be used as a psychotherapy. The purpose of this inquiry is to portray the value of psychotherapy that is embodied in Buddhist practices, to the present society. The research study takes upon a qualitative research approach where literary and scientific sources were analysed closely. This study concludes that Buddhist practices can be used as a form of psychiatric treatment and healing in overcoming psychological conditions and challenges to mental health such as stress, tension, frustration, depression, and many other ailments that prevail in today’s society as a result of social inequalities, and pressures. Therefore, this study depicts the potential for further research on studies centred on Buddhist practices as means of promoting mental health
An Analysis of the effect of working mothers in increasing child abuse in Polonnaruwa District
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Warnathunga, P.S.; Liyanapathirana, K.N.
Child abuse is a crime which can be considered a tragedy in Sri Lankan society. This is revealed byadequate statistics based on police reports around the island daily The focus of this study is its prevalence in the Polonnaruwa district, in the Dry Zone, where agriculture is the livelihood of the majority of its population which also lags behind other more developed districts in Sri Lanka in terms of education. The district is also characterised by an unstable economy. An understanding of the social and economic situation of this area is essential in order to present this research study. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the circumstances of the reported child abuse cases and to analyse the effect of working mothers in relation tothe increase the incidence of child abuse. This research is also concerned with the steps that have been taken by relevant authorities to address its increase. Five of the nine police divisions in the Polonnaruwa districts form the sample of this study. The investigation employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. They included discussions with working mothers and fathers and interviews with lawyers, police officers and non- governmental organizations. The final section of this paper is devoted to suggestions and recommendations to reduce the effect of working mothers on the incidence of child abuse in the Polonnaruwa district.
An Analysis of the Impact of Task-Based Learning on Peer Interaction, Peer Learning and Presentation: SLTC Research University
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Wickramasinghe, Samantha; Maddekana, Anupama; Jayasundara, Ashani
Task-Based Learning (TBL) is a popular teaching method that encourages students to apply their learning practically to real-life situations. TBL- inspired small group activities compel students to interact, converse with their peers and achieve a common goal. The current study investigated the impact of TBL on peer interactions and peer learning in small groups. Three classes of first-year undergraduates who varied in proficiency levels at the SLTC Research University were given a task to complete as a follow-up activity integrated into a lesson. Each class consisted of nearly 15-25 students who were further divided into small groups. At the end of the activity, the undergraduates had to present their progress to the class through group presentations. At the end of the presentation, students were given a questionnaire. The study is ongoing, and the findings from the pilot study suggested that peer interactions helped students to complete the task successfully. However, peer interactions and peer learning did not help with other important aspects of learning such as the importance of observing communication ethics within groups and when executing the given task. The students majorly paid attention to completing the task and most of them succeeded.
An Analysis of the Processes of Conflict and Reconciliation in the Works of George Keyt
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Bandara, W.M.P.S.
This study on the modern Sri Lankan painter George Keyt focuses on his visual art and the way he had shaped and defined his styles. Any artist can be ‘influenced’ by external trends and traditions. Painters also tend to absorb different aspects of other traditions and represent the salient features of those forms in their work. Some resist, question and critically analyze these traditions while some others may negotiate with external influences in more subtle ways. In any case, whether explicit or implicit,there is a struggle and the process is loaded with friction. It could even be called a conflict led process when an artist is influenced by or encounters other art forms it is necessarily guided by conflicts, which could either bepersonal, social, cultural or political. Conflicts become acute when artists attempt to create their own artistic identities against a background of established traditions and styles.To reconcilesuch conflicts artists may select certain aspects from other art forms and mergethem deliberately or intuitively with their own art forms. Thus, a new art form arises through this dynamic process of merging/adjusting/ settling/ harmonizing, which can be called a process of reconciliation. George Keyt is prominent among many artists who have resorted to this method of reconciliation. The objectives of this research are to study how Keyt, as a modern painter, had reconciled conflicts germane to making of art and to being an artist in a particular historical moment, to explain his reconciliation methods, and to examine when and why he had failed or did not attempted to reconcile. The research design used in this study is qualitative, including content analysis and phenomenological study.
An Analysis of the Undergraduates’ Perspectives on Anxiety in Speaking English as a Second Language: University of Kelaniya
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Manathunga, Muditha Lakmali
The English Language is widely accepted as the dominant medium in which people all over the globe communicate, regardless of their existing cultural and language diversities. Despite the endeavours of English as a Second Language (ESL) learners to excel in the course of their English language learning, they are impeded by certain affective factors, including anxiety in speaking. Accordingly, it is vital to investigate the students’ perspectives on the causes for Second Language Speaking Anxiety. Through the preliminary investigations, it was noticed that almost all the participants in the sample had experienced anxiety in speaking English as a Second Language. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the possible causes of speaking anxiety from the learners’ perspective. Accordingly, 50 undergraduates, who follow English for Humanities at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, were randomly selected as the participants of this study. The data gathered through questionnaires, and semistructured interviews were analyzed through a mixed approach. The findings reveal that the students’ previous experiences in unsuccessful speech activities have negatively impacted their present perceptions. It was also highlighted that speaking anxiety has occurred due to the fear of being mocked by others for making errors. Additionally, some other major causes of Second Language speaking anxiety was identified. They lacked self-confidence, support and guidance from the teacher, a stressful classroom environment, and difficulty in vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Hence, in the light of their perspectives, this study emphasizes the need for effective and efficient teachers’ dedication to create stimulated ESL classrooms in which the students’ self-confidence and relevant speaking skills can be enhanced explicitly and implicitly with the required guidance and support.
An analysis on reading skills of first year Engineering undergraduates: Skimming, Scanning and Vocabulary
(International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Dissanayake, S.
Teaching and learning English constitute a core part of the field of Humanities in Sri Lankan higher education as it encompasses both a utilitarian and humanitarian aspect. English education provides a bridge to its beneficiaries to a wide range of local and international opportunities in various fields. The present research was conducted with the objective of assessing and developing basic reading comprehension skills of first year Engineering Undergraduates following an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course at the Sri Lanka Institute of Technology (SLIIT), Malabe. The study was a result of the researcher‘s observation of low performance by these students in reading comprehension tests. Experts in the field of reading identify effective reading in English as a crucial skill in current academic and professional settings while also highlighting a lesser amount of reading research being conducted compared to studies in the other language skills of listening, speaking and writing. Hence, research on reading skills at tertiary level, such as the present study, is significant in empowering learners with a language tool having a lifelong value and in creating better teaching practices and learning opportunities for future students. Three essential reading skills, skimming, scanning and vocabulary were assessed in this study and three hypotheses were tested. The hypotheses were centered on a comparison of the participant group‘s performance in scanning and skimming, a comparison of their knowledge of nouns, verbs and adjectives and their overall knowledge of these three parts of speech. A reading comprehension test based on the three reading skills was prepared by the researcher and administered to the target group. Primary data was collected through this test. Secondary data was obtained from books, journal articles and theses related to reading skills assessment and development. The results of the data analysis showed significant differences between the participants‘ competency in skimming and scanning and between their knowledge of nouns and the other two parts of speech, verbs and adjectives. It was also revealed that the group‘s overall vocabulary knowledge was significantly low. Therefore, it was concluded that the target group was better in using scanning skills than skimming and that they were more familiar with nouns than with verbs and adjectives while they had a low overall vocabulary knowledge. Recommendations are accordingly given for improving these skills through employing effective instructional practices, increasing student motivation, creating opportunities for extensive reading and regular testing of the relevant reading skills
An Analysis on the Differences in the Tea Culture between China and Britain
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Xunjie, L.
When tea was discovered by Chinese, it was initially used as a herb. After it was culturally integrated, a specific tea culture began to develop. In China, under the influence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, Chinese tea culture was formed on the basis of cultivation. In the 17th century, tea began to enter European market. Although many countries had joined the Chinese in the consumption of tea, only the British established their own systematic tea culture. China and British formed their respective systems of tea culture within different cultural backgrounds. The contrasts in the connotations of tea culture between China and British given in this paper were both material and spiritual. First, this paper introduces the origin of tea and the spread of Chinese tea in Western countries. Then it emphasizes the definition and connotation of tea culture, and explains the formation of Chinese and British tea cultures through a fairly detailed description of the historical, economic and political impacts of the two countries upon the formation of a tea culture. Next, it analyzes and contrasts the significance of Chinese and British tea cultures from material and spiritual respects. Finally, the paper makes a summary statement about reasons that lead to the differences between Chinese tea culture and its British counterpart. This paper takes the difference between the tea cultures in Chinese and British as its study subject, and attempts to identify the essential material and spiritual differences between the two kinds of tea cultures.
An Analysis on the Impact of Sequencing of Grammar in English Textbooks Used in Sri Lankan Government Schools from Grades 6-8 in the Achievement of Intended Learning Outcomes
(Faculty of Humanities University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2021) Amrasinghe, Hiranya
The present study focuses on the investigation of the sequencing of grammar lessons in government English textbooks from grades 6 to 8. Despite the prestigious position that English holds within the country, it is a well-known fact that the English language competency of majority of students in schools and universities is below the expected standard. According to the evaluation reports of the Ordinary Level English examinations published by the Department of Examinations (2015-2018), it is evident that the results of majority of the students have been subpar and that most of them have failed the exam. In 2015, only 55.44% of the school candidates have obtained weak passes for the O/L exam paper, and in 2016, only 52.00% obtained weak passes, while in 2017 the percentage further declined to 11.12%. The year 2018 saw a rise of 45.10% which is approximately only half of the examination candidates. Furthermore, the 2018 O/L evaluation report accounted that English is the subject with the highest rate of failure. The O/L English exam paper is prepared largely based upon language lessons learnt from grades 6 to 11. The English language curriculum for the afore mentioned grades are developed by the National Institute of Education (NIE), upon which textbooks have been prepared for students. Although, teaching methods and the availability of resources for students may differ based on individual teaching style and location, respectively, the syllabus and textbooks remain as constant factors that impact the students’ language learning processes. Therefore, there arises a need to assure the quality of textbooks. Hence, the main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of sequencing of grammar lessons in English textbooks to examine their influence on the leaner’s ability to use the English language within target language use domains accurately and effectively. Accordingly, this study concludes that the examination of the quality of textbooks could be perceived as a stepping-stone towards the development of English language skills of the students.
An Analytical Study of Buddhist Attitude Towards Compassionate Death
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Jayasinghe, Sampath Suranga
Due to some disease, at a time when there is no longer any hope of life or old age and unable to return to normal, a person who is suffering a painful end and is given a healing death to relieve the pain is called compassionate killing. This compassionate killing is also called euthanasia, happy death, good death, and euthanasia. Around the world, euthanasia has been talked about for some time. In some countries, this system is legal, and in some countries, citizens over the age of eighteen can request permission for a healthy death if they are suffering from an incurable disease. The purpose of this research is to investigate whether it is compatible with Buddhism to take a human life based on compassion or to contribute to or support it. Primary and secondary sources are contributed to this research. Killing a person, providing a weapon for death, or causing death by means of any medicine are mentioned in the Vinaya Pitaka as reasons for a monk to become parajika. Buddhism teaches that every creature born in this world has the right to live. In Buddhist practice, a mother protects the only son born from her womb and spreads her heart to all beings in such a way. It protects the right to life of all animals. If a person thinks death is better than living in extreme pain in a terminally ill condition where he can no longer hope for his life, can another person support it? According to Buddhism, five things must be fulfilled for a murder to take place. If these five things are fulfilled out of hatred or compassion, then the crime of manslaughter is committed. Also, it can be concluded that compassionate killing, which is carried out of compassion or any reason, is against Buddhism, and the person who does will have to face the consequences of his demerits of murdering a human.
An Analytical Study of Buddhist Philosophical Concept in Nāladiyār
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2023) Thivakaran, Vijitha T.
It is a matter of observation that even though studies have been carried out on the religious philosophies mentioned in Nāladiyār, which is one of the eighteen books (Pathinen kilkkanakku noolkal) originated in the Post Sangam period and have shown that they are based on Jain philosophy, It is noteworthy to note that Buddhist philosophical ideas are also prevalent in Nāladiyār. Buddhism is also one of the religions that hold a high position in Tamil literature, along with Jainism. Thus, Buddhist philosophies also influenced the literature of that era. The poems of that book reflect the multi-religious elements in Nāladiyār. The society in which Nāladiyār appeared had the primary aim of developing morality in people's life. Nāladiyār’s Venpā (kind of verse of four lines) clearly explain the principles of Buddhism. The idea that religion is one for those who have attained enlightenment and see the truths of religion through art is embodied in Nāladiyār. Nāladiyār also implies that those who examine the material truth with non-realistic knowledge will interpret it in accordance with their own religious philosophy. Thus, although Nāladiyār is identified as a Jain book with Jain religious theories, how does it contain the background for Buddhist religious ideas to spread and whether it can be classified as a public book are the research questions. The purpose of this study is to identify with examples the Buddhist philosophical principles expounded in Nāladiyār. It is also to confirm what is Nāladiyār’s foundational philosophy and, at the same time to identify other philosophical backgrounds in this book. This study follows a descriptive research approach and uses the book Nāladiyār as primary data and books, research articles, and online data related to Nāladiyār and Buddhist philosophy as secondary data.