Browsing by Author "Embuldeniya, A."

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Assessing the Glass Ceiling Effect on Women in the Tourism Industry of Sri Lanka
(International Conference on Applied Social Statistics (ICASS) - 2019, Department of Social Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Embuldeniya, A.
Tourism is one of the major industries in Sri Lanka that under the service sector and more specifically belong to the accommodation and food service activities. The annual report 2018 highlighted that the tourism industry has recorded substantial growth 11.6 in percent in year 2018 while achieving earning to US dollars 4.4 billion. Also Sri Lanka is one of the highly attracted country with different cultures, archaeological place, adventurous places, historic places, natural places etc. There by the tourism industry witnessing an investment to fulfill the demands of increasing number of tourists. The annual report 2018 has emphasized that tourist arrivals has recorded a substantial growth of 10.3 percent in 2018 in compared to 3.2 Percent growth in year 2017. Sri Lanka has attracted more tourists through a successive agendas with heritage, culture, nature, accommodation, foods, services, recreation etc. Thereby employment opportunities also emerged in in each and every related fields of tourism such as hotels and restaurants, travel agents and tour operators, airlines, agencies providing recreation facilities, tourist shops, guides, national tourist organization, and state sector as well. Central Bank 2018 share that there was a decline in female labour force by 6.7 percent in 2018 where compared to 2017. This decline is not only from the tourism industry but also from all the economic sectors as a whole
Betel-quid use and its effects on symptoms of schizophrenia and extrapyramidal symptoms among a group of patients in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.
(Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2020) Isuru, A.; Ediriweera, D.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Embuldeniya, A.; Narammalage, H.; Warnakulasuriya, S.; Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Hapangama, A.
BACKGROUND: There is limited research regarding the prevalence of betel quid use and its effects on symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Available studies suggest an association between betel chewing and positive symptoms among males with schizophrenia. AIMS: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of betel quid chewing between patients with and without mental illness, and to explore the association between betel quid use, symptoms of schizophrenia and side effects of psychotropic medication. METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried atoutpatient clinics at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. A structured interview schedule was administered to all participants. RESULTS: Out of 1000 participants, 20.9% chewed betel quid (95%CI: 18.4% - 23.4%). The rate of betel chewing among patients with and without a mental illness was 20.7% (95% CI: 17.0% - 24.4%) and 21.0% (95% CI: 17.6% - 24.5%) respectively and there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the occurrence of positive or negative symptoms and extra pyramidal side effects in patients with schizophrenia who did and did not chew betel. Female gender (p=0.004) and betel quid chewing (0.002) were associated with more anticholinergic side effects. CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between betel quid usage and the occurrence of positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia or extra pyramidal side effects. KEYWORDS: Schizophrenia, Betel quid, Positive symptoms, Negative symptoms, Extra pyramidal side effects
Conceptual Framework for Promoting Food Tourism in Pettah, Sri Lanka
(19th Conference on Postgraduate Research, International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, Faculty of Graduate Studies,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Embuldeniya, A.; Embuldeniya, P.
Sri Lanka as country is well known for tourism as well as hospitality. There is an increasing trend in tourists’ arrivals on the cause of archaeological and historical places, cultural activities, adventure and etc. On the same time tourists were tend to stay short period of time in the country. As tourists are encouraged to stay few nights in the country, promotion of short term tourism experiences for the tourists will be an effective utilization of available natural and man-made resources. Therefore, the study is motivated to develop a conceptual framework in order to promote food tourism in Pettah, Sri Lanka. As the sample frame of the study cannot be clearly identified the convenience sampling method has been used to collect data from the field and questionnaire method was used to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with Pettah in promoting food tourism. Questionnaire method was the main source of information while unstructured interviews also occasionally carried out. Descriptive statistics, SWOT analysis, and chi-square test were used to analyze data with the assistance of SPSS version 21.0 and Microsoft Excel 2010. The results of the study identified that most of the tourists are aware of Pettah as a place where all the goods are available. But none of the tourists was tend to visit Pettah due to popularity of its foods. Also the study could have identified that the majority of tourists buy some street foods from the street vendors while they are experiencing shopping at Pettah. Thereby the study could have identified that there is a huge opportunity to improve Pettah as a destination for Food Tourism. Pettah could be identified as a destination where a combination of strength and opportunities as well as weaknesses and threats too. The study found that Pettah is with a preferable environment for tourists and local travelers where majority of tourists and travelers comes for shopping purposes at lower cost. There is a collection of food manufacturing companies in the country whom that can be encouraged to be an active part of promoting food tourism in Pettah. Also there can be identified wide variety of foods and diverse product mixes relevant to specific regions, religions, festivals, races, and etc. On the same time the lower level attitude towards the quality of products in Pettah and the lack of cleanliness around the area are the major drawbacks to promote food tourism in Pettah. However, the study could conclude that there is a significant relationship between demographic factors of the tourists and preference to the food tourism in Pettah. Thereby the promotion of food tourism in Pettah should be align with the different requirements of the tourists along with their demographic characteristics as well.
Contribution of Occupational Health and Safety Practices on Non managerial Employee Productivity in the Apparel Industry of Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka Forum of University Economists (SLFUE), Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, 2016) Embuldeniya, A.
Coping strategies used by traumatic spinal cord injury patients in Sri Lanka: a focus group study
(Informa Healthcare, 2016) Arya, S.; Xue, S.; Embuldeniya, A.; Narammalage, H.; da Silva, T.; Williams, S.; Avindran, A.
PURPOSE: Psychosocial consequences of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) have been well documented in Western populations, but there is no published literature on such incidence in the Sri Lankan population. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial impact of SCI in a SriLankan population and to examine this population's coping mechanisms. METHODS: Participants were recruited purposively at the Ragama Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital, the sole rehabilitation facility for SCI patients in Sri Lanka. Focus groups were conducted with 23 consenting individuals. Interview transcripts were analysed using descriptive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four domains of life impact, three types of active coping strategies and four types of external supports were identified. Decreased ambulation and burden on family life were significant concerns for male and female participants alike. Religious practices were reported most frequently as active coping strategies, followed by positive reframing and goal-setting. Reported external supports included guided physiotherapy, informational workshops, social support and peer networks. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation efforts for Sri Lankan SCI patients should be sensitive to psychosocial concerns in addition to physical concerns in order to help patients re-integrate into their family lives and community. Furthermore, religious practices should be respected as possible aids to rehabilitation. Implications for Rehabilitation Rehabilitative efforts should be conscientious of patients' psychosocial well-being in addition to their physical well-being. Hospital-based rehabilitative efforts for traumatic spinal cord injury patients should promote functional independence and community re-integration. Spiritual and/or religious practices should be respected as ways by which traumatic spinal cord injury patients may confront personal challenges that arise following injury.
Factors Effect on the Customer Perspective towards the Usage of Online Banking in Sri Lanka
(In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2017 (IPRC – 2017), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Embuldeniya, A.
The evolution of information technology has brought extensive changes in the means of service delivery in the banking sector as internet is the thrust behind online banking that conducts and process transactions in one click. Competition among rivals and compatible with the revolutionary components of the electronic marketplace, Sri Lankan banks have actively developed online banking services recently in Sri Lanka. The customers are not substantially perceive any increment in use of online banking respectively to the development of online banking services by the banks. Thereby the study is increasingly interested in finding the factors effect on the customer‘s attitudes towards the usage of online banking in Sri Lanka. The study consists of eight hypotheses that developed on the basis of attitudes of trust, usefulness and ease to use towards online banking. The target population of the study was consist of customers who have bank account for last year in Colombo district of Western Province, Sri Lanka. The study selected 250 customers by random sampling technique from Homagama divisional secretariat included to Colombo district. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive analysis, and chi-square analysis were used to analyze data. The results indicated that daily usage of online banking of females are higher than the male customers while majority of female and male are using their personal computers and smart phones to use online banking services respectively. All the customers are aware about the facilities such as balance inquiry, viewing transaction history, bill payments, and managing credit cards online while some customers are not aware about opening a fixed deposit, and opening savings accounts, and make investments by online. The study concludes that privacy, security and the responsiveness from the bank are the most significant factors towards usage of online banking while convenience and service quality included to the attitude of usefulness towards online banking as well as accessibility and speed included to the attitude of ease to use are also plays a significant role. However the impact of bank performance, image and user friendliness of the website is negligible.
Impact of Apparel Industry on the Economy of Sri Lanka
(Department of Economics, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Embuldeniya, A.
Impact of Apparel Industry on the Economy of Sri Lanka, as the research topic indicated the dependent variable of this study was the Economy of Sri Lanka that is measured with Gross Domestic Product while the independent variable was Apparel Industry that is measured with export performances. The general objective of this study is to identify the significance of the apparel industry and its impact to the economy of Sri Lanka. This research has used secondary data to gather information where Internet & websites, journal articles and books were main sources of information and percentages, frequencies, tables and charts were used to present data while using statistical packages as SPSS and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze data. Sri Lankan Apparels are at a stage where they can export quality products continuously to the export market. Sri Lanka's garment industry is highly concentrated in large scale factories. That concentration had save a large part of export earnings while providing job opportunities. Sri Lankan apparels are exported to the large number of countries all over the world including European Union and United States of America. The facts regarding apparel industry conclude there is a more impact of apparel industry than other industries to the total export earnings of the country over the past five years. The research has identified a positive relationship between Apparel Industry and Economy of Sri Lanka. Therefore the research has found that the Apparel industry is able to make an impact on economy of Sri Lanka.
The Impact of Celebrity Endorsement in Mobile Telecommunication Industry of Sri Lanka: With Reference to The Undergraduates in Government Universities
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Embuldeniya, A.
Mobile Telecommunication Industry is a fast growing industry that acquires more consumers to their respective service providers day by day. Most of the mobile telecommunication service providers tend to endorse their service by a celebrity or celebrities. Celebrity is a personality who is known to the public for his or her accomplishments in the areas. Celebrity endorsement is a form of advertising used by all most all well-known products and services to enhance their profitability. This research aims to analyze undergraduates’ behaviour in using telecommunication services in relation to celebrity endorsement for advertising. The research study emphasized on the undergraduates’ category of the society as it represents the young generation with the layers of the society. Primary data was collect through structured questionnaire regarding the factors considered about the celebrity concerned such as trustworthiness, expertise, attractiveness, similarity, and respect in contrast other contributing factors of the mobile telecommunication such as network coverage, rates per minute, and other additional features in choosing telecommunication service provider. Undergraduates in government universities in a particular time are identified as the population of the research while the internal undergraduates belong to University of Kelaniya are the target population of which the sample was two hundred (200) undergraduates. The sample selected by stratified random sampling technique included to probability sampling methods while identifying the different faculties as strata. Hypotheses were constructed in order to gain the objectives of the research. Therefore Descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analysis of data. The findings of the research conclude that there is no significant relationship between celebrity endorsement and undergraduates’ behaviour in consuming mobile telecommunication services and there is no difference in buying intention among the undergraduates in different faculties. Therefore celebrity endorsement is a non-effective aspect in terms of telecommunication advertising with reference to the undergraduates in Sri Lanka.
The impact of employee job satisfaction by different perspectives on employee productivity in Apparel Industry of Sri Lanka
(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Embuldeniya, A.
Employee Productivity measuring the output relative to the input per person with reference to a point of time is a major dynamic and vigorous concern of any organizations. The organizations in Apparel Industry is highly employee oriented and their employees are the main driving force of the success where the employers pay their highest attention on maintaining job satisfaction on their valuable assets, employees. Three perspectives has been chosen for the study at the assumption of other perspectives are been constant where if any. Employee relation which engrosses proper relationship between employer and employee is one of the perspectives emphasized as a sub division of job satisfaction. Organizational culture and Competitor organizations are the perspectives other than employee relations for employee job satisfaction. Organization culture and Competitor organizations refer to peers and subordinates relationships at the organization and attitudes towards competitor organizations or other similar organizations respectively. More specifically this study underscores the perspective with the highest impact on employee job satisfaction. The study was conducted in Colombo District. Primary data was collected through questionnaires from the sample of 200 employees selected by the stratified random sampling techniques and secondary data was used to gain information towards dependent variable, employee productivity which measured by the organization specifically. Further descriptive analysis and chi-square analysis were used with the tool of SPSS software. This study argues that employee satisfaction, apart from the satisfaction towards organizational culture and competitor organizations, towards employee relations has the highest impact on employee productivity. The least impact on employee productivity has given by competitor organizations.
Perceived functional impairment and spirituality/religiosity as predictors of depression in a Sri Lankan spinal cord injury patient population
(Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK : Stockton Press, 2016) Xue, S.; Arya, S.; Embuldeniya, A.; Narammalage, H.; da Silva, T.; Williams, S.; Ravindran, A.
STUDY DESIGN:Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study.OBJECTIVES:To test the hypothesis that self-perceived functional impairment and religiosity/spirituality (S/R) predict depression among traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in Sri Lanka. SETTING: Ragama Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka. METHODS: The Spinal Cord Independence Measure, Benefit Through Spirituality/Religiosity Scale, Sheehan Disability Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were administered to 61 consenting in-patients with traumatic SCI between June and July 2014. A linear regression model on BDI-II score was developed to examine the impact of self-perceived functional impairment and S/R activities on psychiatric outcomes in context of various sociodemographic variables.RESULTS: Psychiatric consequences of SCI were reflected in a 41% prevalence of depression. Thirty-six percent (R2=0.36) of the variance in BDI-II scores (F(5, 55)=6.07, P<0.001) was explained by the regression model. Functional impairment (β=0.54, t(55)=4.73, P<0.001) and perceived benefit through S/R activities (β=-0.31, t(55)=-2.55, P<0.05) emerged as the strongest predictors for depression severity.CONCLUSIONS: Perceived functional impairment in work, social and family domains predicted depressive symptomatology among SCI inpatients in Sri Lanka, while perceived benefit through S/R protected against depression. The findings emphasize the need for rehabilitative programming to support patients' S/R activities and mental wellbeing, promoting reintegration into their community roles.
A Quantitative Analysis of Factors that contribute to Non-Managerial Employees’ Productivity in the Apparel Industry of Sri Lanka
(International Journal of Academic Staff (IJAS – 2019), Volume 01, Issue 01. Department of Social Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Embuldeniya, A.; Dasanayake, L.W.
Productivity is an assessment of the efficiency of a worker and productivity of the organization depends on the productivity of the single employee. The management faces a complex situation in maintaining the satisfaction of the employees as they are the most valuable asset to an organization in today’s business context. The primary objective of this study is to identify the determinants that contribute to enhance employee productivity in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka. The research model comprises eighteen factors that are grouped into three categories as compensation practices, training and development practices, and health and safety practices. This study is based upon primary data from 150 non-managerial employees in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka based on stratified random sampling plan where questionnaire is the main source of information. The dependent variable of this study is employees’ productivity of non-managerial employees that is measured using the level of individual productivity, while the independent variables are the factors that are measured by practices pertaining to compensation, training and development, and health and safety. Data analysis are based on descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and Logistic Regression analysis. The selection of the sample from one apparel industry is limitation of the research. Findings indicate that there is a positive correlation between above practices towards employee productivity in the apparel industry
Social Awareness of Archaeologically Significant Places in Colombo District
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Embuldeniya, A.; Embuldeniya, P.
Colombo district has long term historical background since pre-historic period. The main objective of this study is to identify the awareness of archaeologically significant places in Colombo district which can be further used for safeguarding archaeological significances, and tourism development programs. Adding values to the existing archaeological places in Colombo district is a specific objective of this study. There could be seen archaeological remains related to multi-ethnic community of Sri Lanka such as religious places, architectural constructions, etc. Colombo district is consists with the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Colombo, Dehiwala, Homagama, Kaduwela, Kesbewa, Kolonnawa, Kotte, Maharagama, Moratuwa, Padukka, Ratmalana, Seethawaka, and Thimbirigasyaya. The population of the study is entire population of people in Colombo district. As the population has spread over a large geographical area, cluster sampling method has used in selecting the sample while identifying the 13 divisional secretariats as clusters. Furthermore, the sampling proceeds as two stages cluster sampling as selected divisional secretariat of Homagama has 81 Grama Niladari Divisions which allow selecting two stages cluster among them. Thereby, Galawilawatte South Grama Niladari Division has been selected as the target population which has 820 families. 200 families have been selected by randomly among the target population and the questionnaires were distributed via postal method and follow-ups have done in order to enhance the response rate. Therefore, this study is based on field research and library survey methods. Descriptive analysis, Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to analyze data with the assistance of SPSS and Microsoft excel. The results of this study shows that the people lives in Colombo district are unaware about the existing archaeological places in Colombo district and regardless of the demographic characteristics such as gender, age, level of education, occupation, etc. people are unaware of archaeologically significant places in Colombo district. Therefore, there is a gap that can be filled by the relevant parties in both government and private sector to enhance the value and importance of these places while promoting new programs.
A Study on Promoting Hanguranketha Divisional Secretariat Division as a Tourist Destination
(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Embuldeniya, P.; Karunarathna, K.G.M.; Embuldeniya, A.
Hanguranketha Divisional Secretariat Division has archaeological, historical, cultural, and natural environmental (botanical, zoological, climatic) significance. Hanguranketha DS Division belong to the Nuwara Eliya District of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The area is surrounded by the famous tourist destinations of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. However, Hanguranketha DS Division cannot be regarded as a famous tourist destination. The general objective of this research is to propose a Sustainable Tourism development approach to promote Hanguranketha DS Division as a tourist destination in Sri Lanka with diverse tourism products while revealing the existing archaeological, historical, cultural, and natural environmental significances of research area. The specific objectives of this research are to organize a proper preservation program to preserve archaeological evidences and to preserve the biodiversity of Hanguranketha DS Division, to develop suitable infrastructures and hospitality services for domestic and foreign tourists and to develop the socio-economic aspect of host community of Hanguranketha DS Division. Pothgul Maliga Maha Viharaya, Vishnu Devalaya, Pattini Devalaya, Araththana Rajamaha Viharaya, Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya, Wilwala Rajamaha Viharaya, Wegama Rajamaha Viharaya, Kitulpe Rajamaha Viharaya, Ancient Inscriptions, Ambalam (Public resting places), Annual Perahera pageant Pothgul Maliga Maha Viharaya, Vishnu Devalaya and Pattini Devalaya, Paddy, Tea and Vegetables cultivations, Traditional rituals, Traditional foods, Folklore, Historical background, Mountains, Climate, Waterfalls, Water streams, Natural caves, Botanical and Zoological significances could be considered as some tourist attractions of research area. Library survey, field research, and sample survey methods were used to collect data for this research and Statistical analysis and SWOT analysis were used to analyze the collected data on social awareness, satisfaction, and tourist arrivals. Hence, this research is aimed at pointing out the significances of existing archaeological, historical, cultural, natural environmental sites and to make recommendations to promote Hanguranketha DS Division as a famous tourist destination with diverse products and activities which could provide satisfaction for both domestic and foreign tourists.