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24 IMPACT OF THE WORKPLACE DIVERSITY ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE OF MIDDLE-LEVEL EMPLOYEES IN SELECTED CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN SRI LANKA
(Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2025) Amarasinghe, A.T.N.; Welmilla, I.
In today’s business world, workplace diversity is considered as one of the much-debated topics. Diversity is viewed as an all-inclusive strategy to enhance employee performance and improve an organization’s reputation. Workplace diversity is a multi-faceted concept that will continue to evolve as more industries move toward a global marketplace. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to study the impact of the workplace diversity on employee performance, conducted in a selected construction company in Sri Lanka. The construction sector is recognized as an emerging sector in Sri Lanka, and this sector is well known as an under-researched area. This study is significant as such research projects have been sparse in the Sri Lankan context and this research aims to fill that gap. The analysis was mainly based on 103 middle level employees from the company selected through convenience sampling. Primary data were collected using a self-administrated questionnaire and analyzed through a deductive approach. The results obtained through regression analysis indicated that workplace diversity has a positive impact on employee performance. The researcher identified few limitations of this research. Time constraint was one of the problems. Respondents tend to be biased in answering the questionnaire provided by the researcher because the respondents were chosen from a single company. In conclusion, when management in the construction sector makes decisions regarding employee performance, they should consider not only the workplace diversity but also, other factors that can affect employees.
67 Years of Bibliometric Analysis on House Price Research
(Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2021) Zainuddin, Zaemah; Subramaniam, Tanchini A/P; Yusof, Rosylin Md
The housing market plays a significant role in developing the country's economy in terms of the capital market, employment, financial wealth, and consumption by stimulating the business cycle determined by the government, suppliers, and banks/ financial institutions. Abundant evidence indicates that the housing market has been studied by many researchers worldwide. Nevertheless, the scope of these studies only analyzed one particular aspect: the house price and its characteristics/ determinants and failed to capture the interconnections of house price with other factors visually. Consequently, the objective of this study is to analyze and provide the current trends of publications on house price studies across the world using bibliometric analysis. In addition, the study is also mapping the network connections of the keyword "house price" with several factors. The application of Bibliometric analysis and VOSviewer in the housing market is relatively new and underdeveloped. The bibliometric, which is a qualitative analysis, contains several steps. First, the study identified the keyword "house price" to search for documents in the Scopus database. The search was carryout from 1954 to 13th February 2021. In the next step, based on the keyword, the documents were screened and identified for data processing, and the data were extracted from the database in CSV format. Finally, the data were imported into Microsoft Excel for further evaluation for data analysis and Scientometric analysis. For data analysis, a summary of statistics, publication trends, top journals, author and affiliation, highly cited citations, top keyword analysis, top funding sponsor, a publication based on the subject area, document types and publication based on the country were analyzed. As for scientometric analysis, the CSV file format was extracted from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer to visualize the network connection. The result of the study is divided into; 1) performance analysis, 2) science mapping and 3) network analysis. In performance analysis, 4,284 articles published on house price for the past 67 years with Professor Dr Rangan Gupta from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, published 684 articles with 7869 citations. As for science mapping, the most influential publication comes from the Journal of Real Estate Finance & Economics, with 169 articles or 24% of the total population. The common keywords found from house price literature are; â€œhouse priceâ€• (860-14%), housing market (839-14%) and "housing", and "price dynamicâ€• (428-7%). The network analysis reveals 70961 citations with 1059.12 cities per year, 16.59 cites per paper, 39834.94 cites per author, 2.26 author per paper with an hindex of 108 and g-index of 161. The collaborative authors are Gupta, R, Apergis, N and Chang T, while the most collaborative country is the USA. The analytical information that stipulates by bibliometric analysis and VOSviewer is highly comprehensive and can assist practitioners and researchers in researching house prices. Furthermore, this study provides insights into the current trend of research on house prices.
A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Firm- Specific and Macro Economic Factors Influence Capital Structure Decisions: Evidence from Sri Lankan Finance and Diversified Holdings Companies.
(Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2025) Moulana, M. T. M. A. H.; Perera, L. A. S.
Introduction: This research describes the influence of Firm-Specific and Macro Economic Factors influence on Capital Structure Decisions of Sri Lankan Finance and Diversified Holdings Companies during the period of 2013 to 2023. Then understanding the knowledge gap then we can get the understanding of relative impact on these factors, the study concern to observing the financial strategies and regulatory policies. The research focuses on Firm-specific and Macro Economic Factors such as Profitability, Firm Size, Tangibility and Liquidity includes under Firm-specific Factors, the GDP, Interest Rate, Inflation Rate and Exchange rate includes under Macro Economic Factors. Methodology: The study applying a quantitative approach using panel data analysis. We were collected Financial Secondary data from the Colombo Stock Exchange website and the Macro Economic Factors data collected from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka website. We were used STATA software to run the data set, the Statistical techniques including descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis and Regression analysis are were used to analyze and make interpret the connection between the variables. The hypothesis testing and robustness test to check the accuracy of the findings results. Findings: Based on the results the Profitability and Firm Size made a significant impact on Capital Structure across the sectors. The Finance Companies definitely depend on debt financing, it was impact by Liquidity and Asset Tangibility. The Diversified Holdings Companies explore more balanced approach between debt and equity, it was influenced by Macro Economic Factors such as GDP growth and Inflation. Finally, the key differences were understood in the relative importance of these determinants between the Finance and Diversified Holdings Sectors. Conclusion: The research explained the complex combination between Firm-Specific and Macro Economic Factors impact the Capital Structure. The finding delivers preferable insights for financial managers and policymakers in fluctuation economies like Sri Lanka. Furthermore, identifying sector-specific determinants, the research supports strategic decision-making for sustainable growth and Financial Stability.
A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Firm-Specific and Macroeconomic Factors Influence Capital Structure Decisions: Evidence from Sri Lankan Manufacturing and Telecom Companies (2013-2023).
(Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2025) Begum, M. H. S.; Perera, L. A. S.
Introduction: Optimal capital structure is important for the sound financial and future growth of any enterprise. This study aims to examine the significant impact of firm specific variables namely profitability, size, tangibility, liquidity and dividend payout policies in combination with macroeconomic variables consisting of; GDP growth rate, interest rate, inflation and exchange rate on the Manufacturing and Telecom firms of CSE for the year 2013-2023. Methodology: The analysis was carried out using panel data regression on a sample of 22 firms, 2 telecom firms and 20 manufacturing firms employing the criteria of market capitalization. All samples were chosen based on available ratios to accomplish the measurement of capital structure using the debt-to-equity ratio, and validity tests were applied to assess the accuracy of the calculations. In addition, the sectoral and combined examinations was conducted to look for difference and difference patterns. Findings: From the findings of the study show that this study finding of this manufacturing sectors represent firm specific characteristics, which show that tangibility and liquidity of the manufacturing firms have significant effects on capital structure decision and that firms with high tangible and high liquid assets utilize least debts. The level of profitability has a strong inverse relationship with leverage and strong positive relationship with dividend and interest rate that may be due to telecommunication infrastructure financing requirements. In the combined sector analysis, tangibility and liquidity are used as the major indexes, and the indexes of macroeconomic environment, including interest rate, exchange rate, inflation, and GDP growth had not been concluded to exert major influence over both sectors. It was also revealed that simply due to these observations, Firm size, Growth, GDP growth, Exchange rate and inflation rates held insignificant impacts across both sectors. Conclusion: This study has shown that firm specific characteristics organizational liquidity tangibility, Dividend and Profitability significantly affect capital structure decisions in the Manufacturing and Telecom industry of Sri Lanka aside from influence by the macroeconomic indicators namely the interest rates. The overall model also shows significance at the 1% level for both the telecom and the manufacturing sectors. These insights vindicate the essentiality of industry-specific financing to give firms the ability to improve their solvency and performance.
A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Firm-Specific and Macroeconomic Factors on Capital Structure Decisions: Evidence from Sri Lankan Automobile and Consumer Goods Companies
(Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2025) Kenusha, T.; Perera, L. A. S.
Introduction: Capital structure decisions are fundamental to a firm's financial management, influencing its ability to optimize resources and mitigate risks. This study evaluates the impact of firm-specific factors - profitability, firm size, tangibility, liquidity, and dividend payout and macroeconomic factors, including GDP growth, interest rates, inflation, and exchange rates, on the capital structure of automobile and consumer goods companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) between 2013 and 2023. Methodology: The analysis used panel data regression on a sample of 30 companies, consisting of five automobile firms and 25 consumer goods firms, selected based on market capitalization. The debt-to-equity ratio was utilized to measure capital structure, and rigorous diagnostic tests ensured the reliability of the results. Sectoral and combined analyses were conducted to identify distinct patterns and variations. Findings: The results indicate that firm-specific factors such as firm size and tangibility are significant in shaping capital structure decisions. Firm size positively influences capital structure in the automobile sector, while tangibility shows a marginally significant positive effect across sectors. Liquidity has a significant negative impact on capital structure in the consumer goods sector and across the combined sample. Among macroeconomic factors, interest rates exhibit a significant negative influence on capital structure in the consumer goods sector and combined analysis, while exchange rates show mixed effects, negatively impacting the automobile sector but positively influencing the consumer goods and combined sectors. Notably, profitability, dividend payout, GDP growth, and inflation rates were found to have no significant effect across all sectors. Conclusion: The study's findings reveal that firm-specific factors, particularly firm size and tangibility, and macroeconomic factors such as interest rates and exchange rates significantly influence capital structure decisions in Sri Lanka's automobile and consumer goods sectors. The overall model demonstrates statistical significance at the 1% level across both sectors. These insights highlight the critical importance of tailored financing strategies for different industries, enabling firms to enhance their financial stability and performance.
A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Firm-Specific and Macroeconomic Factors on Capital Structure Decisions: Evidence from Sri Lankan Retail and Utility Sector.
(Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2025) Kajanika, P.; Perera, L. A. S.
Introduction: This study investigates the influence of firm-specific factors, such as profitability, firm size, asset tangibility, liquidity, and dividends, and macroeconomic factors, including GDP growth, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates, on capital structure decisions within Sri Lankan utilities and retail companies. Spanning the period from 2013 to 2023, this research compares the distinct financial dynamics of these two sectors to provide insights into their capital structure choices and the factors influencing these decisions. Methodology: A quantitative approach was employed using secondary data from 21 companies—15 in the retail sector and 6 in the utilities sector—listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Capital structure was measured through leverage ratios, while profitability, size, tangibility, and macroeconomic indicators were analyzed. Panel data regression techniques were applied to assess the relationships between the independent variables and capital structure. Sectoral comparisons provided further insight into variations. Findings: The findings indicate significant differences between sectors. In the utility sector, higher tangibility of assets strongly correlates with increased debt usage, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of this industry. Conversely, retail firms exhibited a higher reliance on equity, likely driven by their need for financial flexibility amidst competitive market dynamics. Macroeconomic factors such as GDP growth and inflation had varying impacts, with inflation negatively affecting retail firms but offering a mild hedging benefit to utility firms. Interest rates showed a uniformly negative influence on debt usage across both sectors. Conclusion: This study highlights the critical role of both firm-specific and macroeconomic factors in shaping the capital structure decisions of Sri Lankan utilities and retail companies. Utilities, with their stable cash flows, favor debt, whereas retail firms prioritize flexibility due to market volatility. Policymakers and corporate managers can use these findings to tailor strategies for optimizing capital structures, mitigating risks, and enhancing financial resilience in their respective industries. The study concludes that firm-specific factors such as tangibility, firm size, and liquidity, along with the macroeconomic factor of interest rates, are the most influential determinants of capital structure. Utilities Sector: Tangibility and firm size are key drivers, reflecting the sector's reliance on debt financing for infrastructure development. Retail Sector: Liquidity and profitability are critical, underscoring the need for financial flexibility in a competitive market. Macroeconomic factors, especially interest rates and inflation, further shape these decisions by altering the cost and attractiveness of debt. Firms and policymakers should consider these findings to optimize capital structure strategies, enhance resilience to economic fluctuations, and support sustainable growth in their respective industries.
A Conceptual Review on Effectiveness of AI-generated Content on Customer Experience; Special Reference to Social Media Platforms
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya., 2024-11-11) Piyumali, M.; Hewapathirana, N. T.; Bandara, B.S.S.U.
This paper reviews the impact of AI-generated content on customer experience on social media platforms, focusing on automation and personalized consumer engagement with the key aspects. The review examines current literature to identify critical factors for leveraging AI technology in social media content creation, addressing both the benefits and potential drawbacks, including emotional authenticity and ethical concerns. Further, the articles that were referred from the indexed journals account for over 25 papers. When looking for the articles, the terms "generative AI," "AI-generated content," and "customer experience" were entered as keywords. In conclusion, this study's deductive approach reviews the concepts and empirical contributions. AI can enhance consumer engagement through personalized experiences and increased efficiency. However, concerns about emotional authenticity and ethical considerations need to be addressed. The study emphasizes the need for ethical AI practices and robust evaluation methodologies. The review is conceptual and may lack empirical data to support some findings. Further the findings will be changes based on the generative AI platforms as well. The paper highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to understand the interplay between AI, content creation, and consumer experiences. It emphasizes the need for ethical AI practices and robust methodologies to evaluate AI-generated content's impact on user experience.
A Narrative Exploration of Quality in Higher Education
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya., 2024-11-01) Chathurangani, D. S.; Wickramasinghe, C.N.
The pursuit of quality in higher education is a complex challenge driven by diverse stakeholder perspectives, such as staff, students, and employers. This study investigates quality in higher education through a narrative review of recent literature. The review explores the perceptions and implementations of quality initiatives across various contexts. The methodology includes a narrative review of journal articles published between 2014 and 2024, retrieved from databases. Key findings reveal a significant disconnect between stakeholders' definitions of quality, challenges balancing accountability with genuine improvement, and cultural and contextual barriers in applying Western quality models globally. The study underscores the necessity for a strategic approach that integrates quality processes to foster a culture of continuous improvement and academic excellence. It also reveals the emerging concept of quality work, which focuses on academic staff's practical, everyday efforts in enhancing educational quality and improving student achievement. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on quality in higher education by identifying gaps in quality-related practices and proposing future research directions, including the role of cultural contexts and integrating quality enhancement processes for holistic institutional improvement and academic success.
A Study on Awareness and Positive Attitudes Towards Cryptocurrency Investments Among Millennials in Sri Lanka.
(Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2025) Samarasinghe, S. K. S. D.; Herath, H. M. N. P.
Introduction: The increasing interest in cryptocurrency investments among millennials has made understanding their awareness and attitudes toward these digital assets crucial. The current study focuses on assessing the influence of impact of awareness and positive attitude on the behaviour of Sri Lankan millennials regarding cryptocurrency investments. Methodology: The research adopted a quantitative-deductive approach, with data gathered through an online questionnaire from 394 Sri Lankan millennials. The independent variables were awareness and attitude, while the dependent variable was investment behavior. Statistical analyses using SPSS were conducted on reliability, descriptive, correlation, and multiple regressions. Findings: Based on the findings, it is evident that both awareness and positive attitudes have a significant influence on cryptocurrency investment behavior. Awareness appears to play a slightly stronger role in shaping investment decisions. The correlation analysis shows strong positive relationships among these variables, supported by inter-correlation, VIF, and Cronbach’s alpha values, which confirm the reliability of the data. Conclusion: The study highlights the need to enhance awareness and foster positive attitudes to promote responsible cryptocurrency investments among millennials. These insights can guide policymakers and educators in developing programs to improve financial literacy and investment decision-making.
Academic Journey from China to Malaysia via Avid E-Education: The Multi-Layered International Business Model and Beyond
(Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2021) Manoharan, Pravina; Rethinasamy, Souba
The year 2020 and 2021 have been a year of pandemonium as the Covid-19 pandemic drastically affected all forms of human interaction and mobility from travel, work conditions, economic sector, to social activities. The education sector has not been immune to these changes and the last one and a half years has seen many learning institutions shifting their conventional face to face mode of engagement to a virtual platform. Border closures and total lockdown around the world meant restricted travel for many students studying abroad. Thus, universities around the world resorted to offering online courses for their local as well as international students. This paper aims to provide a detailed description on the collaboration between a Malaysian public university and the industry to develop a comprehensive start-up Educational Technology (EdTech) platform called Avid Education. The collaboration is aimed at providing undergraduate and postgraduate academic support for students in China intending to pursue studies at Malaysian universities. The paper focuses on the creation of the business model of the platform and the various layers that contribute towards its successful execution. The Avid Education employed the On Demand Business Model that was spurred by the increased demand in student applications from China. The business collaboration was first established between the university and the industry to develop the Avid Education online platform. MOUs were then signed with student recruitment agents from Malaysia and China and the university to ensure a legal and steady flow of students. Module writers were engaged based on their vast expertise in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Bilingual teaching assistants and tutors were also hired to help students with their writing process. Based on the requests, three main modules were created, namely the postgraduate proposal writing module, undergraduate music module and English language proficiency enhancement module. Learning on the platform is delivered in three folds. Firstly, there are weekly live lectures taught by the module writers themselves with the presence of a bilingual teaching assistant. The content of selected topics is complemented by pre-recorded videos that are presented in a bilingual team-teaching format. This is then followed by one-to-one tutoring sessions with a bilingual English-Mandarin speaking tutor to assist the students and enhance their understanding of the module. The tutors consist of senior students who are given the opportunity to put their learning into practice and earn some pocket money as well. Assessments are presented in the form of gamification to keep learners engaged. At the end of the programme, the students are awarded a certificate by the university to acknowledge their successful completion of the module. In addition to the creation of the multi-layered business model and financial benefits, this paper will also discuss the educational benefits based on the findings from the feedback received from the first batch of students and how it has doubled their chances of gaining acceptance into public universities in Malaysia.
Academic Success among Trincomalee Campus Management Students: Exploring Academic Self-Efficacy, Technological Self- Efficacy and Prior Learning in Accounting Education
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya., 2024-11-11) Delima, V. J.
This study examines the multifaceted factors influencing academic success among first-year management students at Trincomalee Campus, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, focusing on the roles of Academic Self Efficacy, Technological Self Efficacy, and Prior Learning. Through a comprehensive analysis incorporating demographic profiles, survey responses, and regression modelling, the study elucidates the interplay between these variables and their impact on students' performance in accounting education. Results reveal a positive correlation between Academic self-efficacy, Technological self-efficacy, and academic success, underscoring the pivotal role of students' confidence in their academic abilities and technological proficiency. While Prior Learning also contributes to academic achievement, its influence appears comparatively weaker. These insights highlight the importance of cultivating a supportive learning environment that enhances students' confidence and proficiency in key academic and technological domains to optimize their academic outcomes in accounting education. The study contributes to the understanding of factors shaping academic success and informs targeted interventions aimed at fostering student empowerment and excellence in accounting education.
Academics and Digital Technologies at Work (Preliminary Stage)
(Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2021) Arunasalam, Arual Dewi P.
Digital technologies are transforming education and dramatically increasing access that students have to global education, besides overcoming many limitations especially to students who are disadvantaged by traditional approaches to teaching. Academics can also harness digital technologies as a powerful educational tool which also allows for temporal and spatial flexibility. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has forced both the student and academic to adapt quickly to the use of digital technologies especially in the unpresented push to online learning and teaching. Research suggests that the challenge to many lecturers in adopting digital technologies so quickly has been the lack of support in terms of training and resources provided. Limited research, however, has examined the impact on academics from international branch campuses that are blessed with an abundance of resources and support to help with online teaching. This study therefore aims to explore the impact of digital technologies in learning and teaching among academics from international branch campuses in Malaysia together with its impact on these academics' personal resources (e.g., time, energy, and frame of mind).
Acceptability of Artificial Intelligence-Based Customer Service Agents in the Service Industry
(Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2021) Abdullah, Valerie Chan Sue Lin; Ngelambong, Anderson; Kibat, Silverina Anabelle
An artificial intelligence-based customer service agent, commonly known as a chatbot, is gaining popularity in the service industry. A global survey of 3,525 respondents published by Statista (2020) revealed that most service organisations use chatbots to facilitate selfservice (78%), collect information to solve service cases (77%), and for customer service guidance (71%). Although there is a trend of increased usage of artificial intelligence (AI) as a viable alternative to human-based customer service, its acceptance among customers remains relatively poor. In another report, Statista (2021) revealed that 80 percent of customers still prefer to engage with an actual or human-based customer service agent as opposed to a virtual or artificial intelligent-based customer service agent. A review of the relevant literature shows that limited research has been done to evaluate customer feedback on artificial intelligence-based customer service agents in the airline industry. In the SouthEast Asian region, AI research is still in its infancy. No study has investigated the sentiment of customer acceptance of artificial intelligence-based applications in the airline industry using data collected from customer feedback on social media, especially in Malaysia. Thus, this study would be among the few that employ sentiment analysis as a novel approach to investigate customers' acceptance of artificial intelligence-based applications as customer service assistants in the airline industry. The study's main objective is to evaluate customer acceptance of artificial intelligence-based applications as customer service agents in the Malaysian airline industry using sentiment analysis. Chatbots are commonly used to automatically respond to users' questions and requests via chat interfaces. It is reported that companies find it is difficult to evaluate and compare various chatbot systems on their interaction with users (Mou et al., 2019). The study employs a two-step qualitative design approach to produce more in-depth and rich data, essential to improve understanding of the topic. The two steps include a sentiment analysis of customer feedback posted on social media and a thematic analysis of a semi-structured focus group interview. Based on a purposive non-random sampling, customer feedbacks posted on the selected airline companies from March 2020-March 2021 will be collected and analysed, followed by a series of semi-structured focus group interviews to validate the findings from the sentiment analysis. The participants for the semi-structured focus group interview are recruited based on a snowball sampling technique. Only individuals with experience with the selected airline company's artificial intelligence-based customer service agents are chosen for the study. The data is analysed using NVivo, a popular qualitative data analysis software. The study provides theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions to hospitality scholars and practitioners. The study would pave the way for a new and fertile area of research in artificial intelligence-based customer service agents, service management, and sentiment analysis of online customer feedback. The study's findings would assist service organisations in enhancing the performance of their artificial intelligence-based customer service agents. It is imperative since the increasing investment in artificial intelligence applications should benefit the service organisations and customer service experience.
Accountants’ Perception of Internal Control Problems Associated with the Use of Computerized Accounting Systems: Evidence from Sri Lanka
(Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Wijesuriya, D.R.D.; Perera, H.A.P.L.
Today most of companies depend upon the computerized accounting systems and these systems have more complex in meeting information needs. Due to the enhancement of business complexity in recent decades, companies are facing internal control problems associated with the use of computers and computer related systems. The main purpose of this study is to examine the accountants’ perception of internal control problems associated with the use of computerized accounting systems exist. For this study, the main instrument of data collection was the questionnaire. Data is collected from 84 accountants in selected companies covering different types of industries and Descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions, percentage distribution of responses, means, cross tabulation and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results indicate that there are internal control problems exist with the use of computerized accounting system in Sri Lankan companies. The major important problems are Unfamiliar user may enter incorrect data, Great potential for error by employees as a result of insufficient knowledge about the system ,Great speed of computers can be manipulated to the advantage of users, New sources and potential for errors are likely to arise in the: Hardware and software, Duties are concentrated within the computer (i.e. no separation of duties as in the manual system), Information can be changed without physical traces, concentrated information is easy to steal and Electronic information is easy to lose, Employees, customers and other users trust the computer output .However, they perceive that certain control procedures can be undertaken to overcome them such as authorized access to computers, Proper system design, Use physical controls and proper authorization, Use backup copies, only authorized people should have access to the records, Use physical control and cross-check and Use control totals to check computer results .It was found that the problems in the storage level are most frequently occurred internal control issues.
Accounting Based Performance Measures and Shareholder Value Creation: Evidence from Listed Companies in Colombo Stock Exchange
(Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Iroshani, M.B.M.; Rajapakse, R.M.A.D.P.
Rapid growth of investments in the market has led the “Shareholder Value Creation” being one of the most important and popular concept all over the world. Since the companies were highly attracted for creating shareholder value, the concept has become a critical component. Traditional Accounting Based Performance Measures were critiqued for reporting a low level correlation with shareholder value creation. Thus this study examines the relationship between Accounting Based Performance Measures and Shareholder Value Creation for selected Beverage, Food and Tobacco companies listed in Colombo Stock Exchange. Nineteen companies from the sector were selected as the sample for the study. Audited annual reports for 6 years from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed to collect data needed for the study. Market Value Added (MVA) was used as the proxy to Shareholder Value Creation Measures and Return on Equity (ROE), Earnings per Share (EPS) and Return on Assets were used as the Accounting Based Performance Measures. Simple Regression and Multiple Regressions were used to test specified four research objectives. Other than those methods Descriptive Statistics and Correlation analysis have been done. The research findings suggested that there was no strong significant relationship between Accounting Based Performance Measures and Shareholder Value Creation. In conclusion it is recommended to consider contemporary economic measures when making an investment rather than only considering the Accounting Based Performance Measures.
Accounting System on Polish Local Government in the Context of New Public Management
(Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kowalczyk, M.
Accounting of the local government units in Poland has evolved within the last several years mainly and undoubtedly due to introduction of the New Public Management assumptions. The new concept of management implemented in the sector of public finances has significantly influenced on the accounting of local government. The purpose of the herein study is to demonstrate changes to the accounting of local government in Poland, which were caused by introduction of the New Public Management assumptions. On the basis of the research author will try to determine whether the changes introduced to the accounting of local government are beneficial and how they influence on the efficiency of operations. The object of the herein study is the accounting of public finances sector at the local level and the local government constitutes its subject. The article shall be elaborated with the use of literature research to demonstrate the evolution of accounting of local government in Poland within the last several years. The article will constitute of three parts. The first one presents the principles of operations of the local government in Poland. The second part concentrates on the core of New Public Management and its main assumptions. The further part constitutes critical analysis of assumptions of the new management concept on the basis of the literature in subject. The third part describes another changes to the accounting of local government in Poland which are being introduced.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals by Implementing the Blue-Green Economic Provisions: An Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities of Sri Lanka
(Department of Finance, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2024) Fazha, A.F.F.; Weligamage, S.S.
Introduction: The present study explores the potential of incorporating blue-green economic measures to drive sustainable development in Sri Lanka. The objectives encompass a comprehensive examination of policy and regulatory obstacles, economic challenges, and the exploration of potential pathways for both biodiversity preservation and economic expansion. Methodology: The materials and techniques used in this study are critical to comprehending the research procedure. A qualitative study based on secondary data was carried out, which included a thorough assessment of literature, policy papers, and reports on sustainable development in Sri Lanka. The research framework directed the collection and organization of pertinent data. This method allowed for a thorough analysis of the problems and possibilities related to blue-green economic arrangements. The study's qualitative orientation allowed for a detailed investigation, guaranteeing an extensive understanding of the complex interaction of economic, environmental, and social issues in the Sri Lankan setting. Findings: The findings indicate the presence of notable challenges in the form of current policies and economic limitations. However, they also shed light on encouraging opportunities to improve biodiversity and promote economic variety. This study undertakes a critical analysis of the obtained results, drawing comparisons to established knowledge in the field and addressing methodological critiques. Conclusion: The study's conclusions encompass a range of inferred principles, exceptions, theoretical and practical implications, as well as recommendations for future endeavours. The research presented in a comprehensive and structured manner contributes to the discourse on sustainable development in Sri Lanka. It highlights the potential efficacy of blue-green economic provisions in achieving broader developmental goals.
Adaption of Information Technology Systems on Success of Supply Chain Management in Apparel Industry of Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2014) Ubayachandra, E.G.; Rathnasooriya, W.A.S.; Wijayaratne, W.A.M.C.
The research topic “Adaption of Information Technology Systems on success of Supply Chain Management in Apparel Industry of Sri Lanka” discussed in this research paper. This study aims to identify the degree of application of information technology in supply chain management in the apparel industry. Also the study will cover the problems encountered in implementations of supply chain management and finding out the requirements for successful IT implementations in Supply chain management. As such the problem centered in this study was how far information technology is used by the appeal industry in case of its supply chain management. Also the notable research gap identified by the researcher was what factors have affected implementation of Information Technology systems and to what extent the apparel industry uses IT systems in its Supply Chain Management. IT was filled by the research. The key objective researcher attempted to achieve was to examine practice of IT in supply chain management. It was followed by the three specific objectives. Consistent with the objectives of the research, four research questions were raised and mainly such as what is the degree of applying IT solutions in Supply Chain Management followed by two other questions were raised. Based on the variables represented in the conceptual framework, five hypotheses were formulated. Therefore empirical evidence was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Mainly deductive approach was used as the research approach. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in presenting and analyzing the data. Inferential statics such as regression and correlations analysis were used to determine relationship between relevant variables. There are ten number of findings made. The degree of applying IT solutions in supply chain management is somewhat average in the Sri Lankan apparel sector. The adaption of IT systems needs to get further competitive advantage and other benefits in the supply chain management. Finally eleven recommendations were made and twenty suggestions for future researchers pointed out.
Adoption of Blockchain Technology to the Sri Lankan Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: An Analysis of Factors
(Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2021) Wasana, Paththinige Pavani; Rajapakse, Chathura
Counterfeit drug production and distribution is a serious and growing global problem, particularly in developing nations. The main issue with the pharmaceutical supply chain is aligned with the inability to identify the initial way it was manufactured and the subsequent transformations of its way through the supply chain before reaching the customer. Data is not always communicated between systems in the current supply chain circuit making the regulatory authorities have no visibility into the system as well as making recalls complicated and expensive. Tracing the proper and active pharmaceutical ingredients during production is challenging, thus the inability to recognize pharmaceuticals that do not contain the intended active ingredients may result in patient injury or death. Governments in several nations are now arming themselves with the latest trending technologies. The advanced capabilities of blockchain make it capable of providing a foundation for complete drug traceability from manufacturer to end customer and it has the capability to improve transparency and data security, decentralization, immutability, scalability, privacy, and visibility to detect mass production of counterfeit drugs. Blockchain can help prevent pharmaceutical drug fraud by increasing supply chain transparency. Each transaction is approved and validated by the selected peers on the blockchain framework. The Quick Response code is used to certify pharmaceuticals at each step of the supply chain. Entities in the supply chain can scan the Quick Response Code to verify the origin and quality of each product. Product ownership is kept unchanged, and each relevant logistic milestone will be recorded. It has the potential to transform the pharmaceutical supply chain. The methodology of this research is categorized into three major phases. As the first phase data is gathered from literature review and structured interviews with Blockchain experts. The results were then used as input into developing a conceptual model to evaluate the adoption of blockchain technology to the Sri Lankan pharmaceutical industry. During the second phase, a questionnaire is utilized to collect the data from the technology experts, to test the conceptual model. The sample data is obtained from technology experts in Sri Lanka to validate the conceptual model. In the final phase, key factors for the adoptability of blockchain were identified: government support, relative advantage, complexity, cost, upper management support, architecture, compatibility, and technological infrastructure. Structural equation modelling is studied to test the proposed conceptual model, and PLS-SEM was utilized to determine the validity of the proposed model. The practitioners will be able to decide on an approach for implementing blockchain in the Sri Lankan pharmaceutical supply chain by identification of these factors.
Adoption of Digital Marketing in MSME: A study in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
(8th International Conference on Business & Information ICBI – 2017, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Varghese, J.; Sudhahar, J. C.
Today, information technology has nationally as well as globally turned over the entire working atmosphere. Electronic commerce paved a new way into the common people’s lives on the way how products and services are bought and sold in entire world market. Digital revolution has been changing the entire world style fundamentally. The purpose of the study is to generate an insight on the digital marketing adoption and whether it has been fully involved into the Tier III city like Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Internet marketing and advertising are typically used as a replacement for the earlier traditional types of advertising such as radio, television, newspapers and magazines. The methodology adopted for the study as Scheduled Questionnaire with convenient sampling. The study spreads out in showing a clear cut picture on the important platform of digital market with its benefits and finally suggesting the new entrepreneurs to get into the marketing field without burning their hands in the competitive business environment.