Social Sciences
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Item Student Satisfaction with Physical and Digital Library Facilities in Higher Education Institutes(National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, 2024) Gunarathna, ManjulaThe landscape of higher education is undergoing continuous transformation, with library facilities playing a pivotal role in shaping student experiences and academic success. This study explores student satisfaction with both physical and digital library facilities within diverse higher education institutions, employing the Information Systems Success Model as a theoretical framework. While physical libraries offer curated collections and personalized services, digital libraries provide unparalleled convenience and accessibility. However, the satisfaction derived from each format differs, with physical libraries emphasizing service quality and collection relevance, and digital libraries prioritizing information quality aligned with the curriculum. Notably, the size of digital collections doesn't guarantee higher satisfaction, highlighting the importance of relevance. Perceived usefulness significantly influences satisfaction with digital libraries. To enhance user satisfaction, libraries should invest in user-friendly services, continuously curate collections, prioritize digital information quality, adapt to trends, and actively use feedback for improvement. This study underscores the imperative for libraries to evolve in tandem with changing student needs and preferences to optimize their role in supporting academic endeavours.Item Exploring the Tourist Perceptions of Destination Components at the Sigiriya World Heritage Site: A Tripadvisor-Based Study(Taylor & Francis Group, 2024) 11. Weerasinghe, G. B. I.; Biyiri, E. W.This study explores tourists’ perceptions of the Sigiriya UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. The study has used TripAdvisor reviews and analysed using content analysis employing the 5’A’s framework for destinations (Attractions, Accessibility, Amenities, Activities, Accommodation). The results indicate that tourists perceive the attraction based on scenery, historical significance, features, cost, and crowd levels. Their perception highlighted the availability of accommodation, facilities and amenities. The activities including rock climbing, garden visits, photography, and artefact observation along with the accessibility considerations, such as fitness requirements, were also highlighted in their perceptions. The study revealed a key finding that ‘authentic experience’ is a crucial component of heritage tourism. Accordingly, this study proposes expanding 5’A’s framework incorporating ‘authentic experiences’ to understand tourists’ perceptions and their recommendation behaviour. Practical implications include preserving the site’s natural and historical value, improving accessibility and amenities, and offering authentic experiences in heritage destinations to enhance tourists’ perceptionsItem Strengthening the Culture of Learning Outcome Assessment in LIS Programs through Student Self- Assessments(ALISE, 2024) Dilinika, J.M.S.Self-assessment empowers students to take ownership of their learning by assessing strengths and weaknesses in each area of competence they expect to achieve. This poster will illustrate perspectives gathered from a comprehensive examination and literature review to explore how LIS programs employ self-assessments, empowering students to understand their learning and competencies. Additionally, it aims to determine what lessons LIS programs can learn from other disciplines when creating an effective platform for facilitating student self-assessment. The review revealed that LIS programs use self-assessment tools such as self-reflective essays and journals, often combined with other direct assessment methods. Other professional disciplines, such as Medicine and Engineering, employ technology-based personalized self-assessment tools, aiding students in self-assessing at different program milestones. However, literature and best practices emphasize that self-assessment should not be individualistic but should be collaborative, involving peers and instructors. In addition to self-assessment methods, the review highlighted the importance of metacognitive awareness to ensure the accuracy of self-assessments and help students become more mindful of their learning. Many professional programs support students by facilitating rubric-guided judgments, self-rating, self-efficacy inventories, and metacognitive awareness inventories. LIS programs can adopt best practices from other disciplines to enhance the effectiveness and accuracy of student self-assessment practices.Item Breaking the Loop, Finding the Balance: Predictors of Social Media Detox among Graduate Students(ALISE, 2024) Dilinika, J.M.S.; Huanga, Kuo-TingSocial media detox is recognized as an effective strategy for mitigating the negative impacts of excessive social media usage. This study explores the factors influencing graduate students’ decisions to engage in social media detox. Factors related to social media overload and general social media experience were examined as potential predictors. Data were collected using an online survey from 179 graduate students who are active on social media. The results of the study revealed a high prevalence of social media overload among graduate students, with information overload emerging as the strongest predictor of social media detox. This suggests that effectively managing the constant influx of information on social media platforms is crucial for reducing stress and promoting digital well-being among graduate students. The study provides practical implications and further research directions for promoting digital well-being and enhancing information management skills.Item Cause and Effect Analysis of Impacts of Land Cover Changes on Belihuloya Mini-Catchment Area(Postgraduate Institute of Science Research Congress, Sri Lanka., 2024) Gunathilake, K.L.W.I.; Jayawardhana, D.T.; Chandrasekara, C.M.K.N.K.The rapid expansion of human activities has significantly transformed landscapes, leading to major impacts on water resources and ecosystem health. This study comprehensively assessed the transformations within the Belihuloya mini catchment, focusing on the effects of land use and land cover changes. The primary objectives included identifying changes, analyzing trends, and evaluating human perceptions of the impacts on the mini catchment. The study utilised remotely sensed data from 1959, 1988, 2000, and 2020 to assess land use and cover changes over time. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 60 randomly selected households across six Grama Niladhari Divisions within the catchment area. Correlation-based pair-wise analysis, paired t-test analysis, vulnerability value calculation, and interpolation mapping were employed to interpret the data. A cause-and-effect analysis was conducted using the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) framework. The results revealed significant changes in land cover and use over the study period. Forest cover decreased dramatically, from 80% in 1959 to 33% in 1988, primarily due to the expansion of paddy fields and home gardens. Nine major driving forces were identified, highlighting the pressures on the natural environment and wildlife from land and forest clearance for construction. High-altitude areas surrounding the young Belihuloya river faces significant risk due to rapid land use changes, threatening the river's energy flow. The southern region, including Sabaragamuwa University and the Samanalawewa reservoir, is equally vulnerable, potentially compromising the mini-catchment's health. The findings underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts and informed land management practices to mitigate adverse impacts on the mini-catchment ecosystem and ensure sustainable development for future generations.Item A Social Aspect of Policy Implementation Challenges on Elders’ Social Protection(National Institute of Social Development, 2024-09) Subasinghe, WasanthaAging is an universal phenomena which present significant implications and challenges for various challenge of them. Enabling the policy practice is the macro-level intervention strategy to ensure the social protection of elders. The effectiveness of these policies is deeply rooted in the socio economic and cultural context of given society. This study aim was to examine the challenges on the implementation of social policies for the elders in Sri Lanka focusing with Asian experiences. The research problem and the research question were ‘What kind of policy practices are implementing for the sake of social protection of elders in their country? And What are the prevailing policy implementation gaps on social protection of the elders? This paper focused on desk research approach with systematic review. The randomly selected two research studies done based on Pakistan and Nepal in related to the policy implementation on elder’s social protection. Both countries face the challenge of political instability affecting policy continuity and effectiveness. Nepal has a constitutionally mandated framework but struggles with practical implementation, while Pakistan's policies are influenced by religious traditions but lack modern comprehensive approaches. Both countries require significant improvements in governmental and administrative capacities. Nepal's challenges include bureaucratic inefficiencies and lack of trained personnel, while Pakistan needs to enhance its administrative capabilities to better implement and sustain programs. Economic vulnerability is a major challenge in both countries. Nepal faces financial constraints and infrastructure deficits, while Pakistan's elderly population struggles with severe economic insecurity. Both nations need sustainable funding solutions and improved service delivery mechanisms. Both countries have historical and cultural influences shaping their social protection policies. Nepal needs to better integrate modern applications with its cultural contexts, while Pakistan should combine religious principles with contemporary social protection frameworks for greater efficacy. The study concludes with recommending the enhancement of prevailing policies, administrative capacities, improving community engagement and long-term sustainability for optimizing the output in both countries to ensure social justice for the elders by empowering the social protection mechanism.Item Sexual Child Abuse in Sri Lanka; A Comparative Factor Identification on Child and Child Abuse Perpetrators’ Social Background(National Institute of Social Development, 2024-09) Subasinghe, WasanthaAccording to the NCPA Report, there were 9673 in 2023 reported child abuse cases. The objective of this paper is to discuss the biopsychosocial consequences of child abuse and suggest the basic components of social support network programs to mitigate child abuse in Sri Lanka. This research is a comparative, descriptive study of child abuse in Sri Lanka. The study focused on analyzing related background factors of both sides of child and child abuse perpetrators. The research problem was to explore the risk factors and root factors that influence child abuse from both sides’ children and the perpetrators. The research was conducted with secondary and primary data. Background factors related to the abused child were revealed through randomly selected scholarly research articles. Perpetrators’ background was analyzed with primary data which was collected from semi-structured interviews of ten cases convicted for child abuse in the prison. The social background of child abuse is highly related to reasons such as lower educational levels of both child and the parents, low awareness of sexuality and child rights related to sexual and other types of abuse, insecurity family situation with poverty, drunken fathers, parents’ marriage mismatches and casual marriage relationships, and cultural acceptances and customs. Biopsychosocial symptoms of sexual child abuse can be identified from rape to death with kissing, touching of genital areas and organs, oral sex, showing and taking pictures of sexual images, and habitual sexual intercourse at home with close relatives. Most common child abuse perpetrators are biological fathers, stepfathers, school teachers, close relatives such as sisters’ husbands or uncles, father’s friends or close Nabors. Most perpetrators had negative childhood experiences, low education levels, low parental care, illicit drug use, and excessive sexual desire. Social support networks for mitigating child abuse should be focused on addressing risk factors including family, child, youth, and reputation of all groups and interference of government and volunteer agencies.Item Contemporary india- sri lanka relations in post-covid pandemic period(2023) Thalpawila, Osantha NayanapriyaIndia's foreign policy under the Narendra Modi government has been focused on rebuilding cooperation in South Asia. The Indian foreign policy has been restructured as 'Neighborhood First,' which primarily plans to strengthen relations with its South Asian neighbours. In this context, India -Sri Lanka relations have been considered by scholars in South Asian politics in recent times. Relations between both countries during the immediate post-civil war period deteriorated with some better experiences. However, relations have been progressing since 2015 in the context of changing new governments in both countries. This paper examines the contemporary relations between India and Sri Lanka in the post-COVID pandemic era. The research paper is based on secondary data from books and journal articles in the relevant disciplines. Further, recent data was collected from printed and electronic media reports. The collected data were analyzed using a descriptive-analytical method. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka faced many adversities in the country. In this context, India offered her cooperation to rebuild the collapsed economy in Sri Lanka. India extended her financial and humanitarian assistance to the government of Sri Lanka. In addition, India signed some bilateral cooperation pacts in investment projects on energy, economic, development, and cultural relations by enhancing the relations between the two countries and the pe'ople-to-people of both countries. In addition, official visits of the two premiers during times of crisis in Sri Lanka initiated mutual relations again. It was proved that India was keen to initiate her policy of 'Neighborhood First" towards her immediate maritime neighbour.Item Religious harmony that reveals from the inscriptions at Budumuttāva(2023) Gunawardana, Nadeeshaක්රි.ව 1017 සිට ක්රි.ව 1070 දක්වා රක්ඛපාෂාණඛණ්ඩ හෙවත් රක්වාණ සීමා කොට පැවති සොළී පාලනය කරණකොටගෙන විශේෂයෙන් රජරට ප්රදේශයෙහි ද්රවිඩ බලය සීඝ්රයෙන් ව්යාප්ත වූ බව නොරහසකි. ක්රි.ව. 1070 දී දකුණු ඉන්දියාවේ පළමුවන වන කුලෝත්තුංග දවස පළමුවන විජයබාහු, රජරටින් සොළීන් පලවා හැර දීප සක්විති විය. එහෙත් මේ වන විට රජරට ස්ථිර නිවාස ග්රහණය කරගෙන සැලකිය යුතු ද්රවිඩ ජනගහණයක් සිටි බවට සාධක තිබේ. සොළී පාලන සමය තුළ ත්රීකුණාමල දිස්ත්රික්කයේ විල්ගම් විහාරය නවීකරණය කළ සොළීහු, එයට “රාජරාජ පෙරුම්පල්ලි” යන නාමය දුන්හ. ත්රිකුණාමල දිස්ත්රික්කයේ තිරියාය (ගිරිහඩු සෑය) මේ කාලයේ දී “නාථනාර් කෝවිල” නමින් හැඳින්විණි. දීප සක්විති වීමෙන් පසු ඇති වූ වේළයික්කාර කැරැල්ල මැඩපවත්වා ඔවුන් විශ්වාසවන්තව තබා ගැනීමේ දේශපාලන උපායක් ලෙස ඔවුන්ට දළදා වහන්සේගේ භාරකාරත්වය පැවරීමට පළමුවැනි විජයබාහු රජුට සිදු වී තිබේ. ක්රි.ව. 1111 දී පළමුවන වන විජයබාහුගේ අභාවයෙන් පසු ඒකීය ශ්රී ලංකාව දේශපාලන ඒකක හතරකට බෙදී පැවතිණි. ක්රි.ව. 1111 සිට ක්රි.ව. 1153 අතර කාලයේ රජරට දක්ඛිණ දේශය, අටදහස් රට, දොළොස්දහස් රට යනුවෙන් දේශපාලන ඒකක චතුෂ්කයකට ශ්රී ලංකාව බෙදී පැවතිණි. අනුරාධපුර යුගයේ අවසාන භාගයේ හා පොළොන්නරු යුගයේ ආරම්භ අවදියේ විශේෂයෙන් රජරට ප්රදේශයේ සමාජ සහ සංස්කෘතික පසුබිම නිරීක්ෂණයට අදාළ වන අභිලේඛන අතර බුදුමුත්තාව සෙල් ලිපි තුන අතිශයින් වැදගත් ප්රාථමික මූලාශ්රයෝ වෙති. ඒවා මධ්යතන ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ද්රවිඩ ආභාසය හෙළි කරන ප්රබල සන්නිවේදන මාධ්යයක්ව පවතී.Item Socio – economic and cultural relations existed between south india and sri lanka as gleaned from inscriptions(2023) Gunawardana, NadeeshaSouth India and Sri Lanka had close relations from time immemorial. Due to their proximity, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka have maintained close contact since proto-historic times. From the early period onwards, the South Indian mercantile communities like Vanijha, Sattu, Aiyavole, Nāṉādesis, and Tisai Āiyirattu Aiňūṟṟuvar and their medieval, associated military communities like Vīrakkoṭiyār and Vēḷaikkārar in different periods, played an essential role in the economic and political history of the island. These relations can be testified not only from literary sources like Mahāvaṃsa and Saṃgam literature but also from the inscriptions and other archaeological artifacts. In this paper, an attempt has been made to gather historical facts highlighting the mutual relationship existed between Sri Lanka and South India through inscriptions. These inscriptions give evidence on three dimensions: trade, political and cultural. Here, it is supposed to pay attention to the pre-historic period to the end of the kingdom of Anurādhapura.