Browsing by Author "Hettiarachchi, A."

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Deficiency and excess: Representation of intersex and transgender identities in Sri Lankan cinema
(International Conference on the Humanities (ICH 2018/2019), Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Hettiarachchi, A.
The present study analyses the aesthetic portrayal of intersex and transgender characters in 3 selected Sri Lankan movies, namely, Maya directed by Donald Jayantha (2016), Flying with One Wing directed by Ashoka Handagama (2003) and Frangipani directed by Visakesa Chandrasekaram (2013), in order to unearth patriarchal ideologies that inform the narrative logic of these films. The study identifies recurrent motifs used in the cinematic representation of transgender and intersex identities and explores the functions that these characters perform in the plot development of the selected movies. The political soundness of the cinematic agency of these characters and the motifs used in their representation are tested against a theoretical framework that is based on Judith Butler‘s insights into gender performativity and abject as well as Richard Ekins‘ conceptualization of ―male femaling‖ and Judith Halberstam‘s theoretical insights into ―female masculinity.‖ The qualitative content analysis of the movies based on this theoretical framework indicates that in Sri Lankan cinema, sexually and gender-wise ambiguous identities are represented as carrying both a deficiency and an excess. It is observed that while these characters are silenced by patriarchal discourses, they can also be deployed to identify the anxieties of the Sri Lankan society regarding definitive categories of gender and sexuality. Thus, the study addresses a deficit of literature and research observed in the Sri Lankan context regarding marginalised sexual identities such as intersex and transgender and their aesthetic representation
Landscape as a tool for human rehabilitation with reference to drug addicts
(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Abeywickrama, S.; Hettiarachchi, A.
Drug addiction and rehabilitation of addicts have become a growing problem in Sri Lanka and worldwide. Rehabilitation, being the process of facilitating a person to return to his/her original state itself is a healing process that cater for people who need special treatment. Throughout the history there are lots of evidences on the usage of landscapes for healing processes significantly in Asian, Greek and Rome. Relatively a very few studies have been carried out on human rehabilitation by addressing spatial qualities in a Landscape Architectural perspective. Developed countries give much prominence on incorporating landscape with rehabilitation centers to enhance the therapeutic process of detainees. In view of this it is attempted to seek the possibility of landscape Architecture to be an effective tool for the rehabilitation of drug addicts in Sri Lankan context. The current study explores the diverse psychophysiological parameters of drug addicts, theories and up-to-date practices of rehabilitation process, the concept of therapeutic landscapes and conducive therapeutic spatial qualities leading to the corresponding spatial cognition facilitating the process of drug rehabilitation. The objective of this study will be to recognize the corresponding outdoor spatial properties in assisting the addicts to return back to a normal healthy life under the notion of therapeutic landscape. A mixed method combined with questionnaire surveys and interviews was implemented in order to study two selected drug rehabilitation centers, one incorporated with landscape; “Nawa Diganthaya” Nittambuwa (NDN) against a center which is not connected with landscape ;Seth Sewana” Thalangama (SST) seeking the impact of landscape on the therapeutic rehabilitation process. Out of the drug addicts (n=51) participated in the study, 69 % of detainees in SST and 91% of in NDN were admitted to the facility voluntarily. A majority of the inhabitants from both centers (SST-91% and NDN- 81%) highlighted on the necessity of incorporating landscape to the rehabilitation process. Landscape was found to encourage social relationships. 60% of the detainees in NDN and 56% in SST preferred spending time as a group. Significantly, their most preferable places in the premises were found to highly relate to the therapeutic landscape elements The study revealed that landscape is an effective medium of recovery and healing from the social isolation caused due to drug addiction. Further, landscape was found to provide the required ambience for proper counseling. The study established the supportiveness of the landscape to the therapeutic process which needs to be highly encouraged in future drug rehabilitation centers.
Oppa prefers Gangnam style: linguistics borrowings in K-pop fansubs and their Foreignizing effect
(Department of English, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Hettiarachchi, A.
Hallyu wave, which implies the increasing popularity of Korean cultural products at a global level, is a cultural phenomenon that derives maximum benefit of the fansubbing culture. Within the discourse of translation studies, the “foreignizing” tendency of fan-made subtitles is an area well researched into, proving it a fertile ground for academic investigation. While most of these studies are based on Japanese anime fansubs that pioneered the fansubbing movement in 1980s, a significant lack of survey into the linguistic features of fan-made subtitles is also felt, owing to the fact that these studies are situated within the discourse of translation rather than language or cultural studies. Positioned within this gap, the present study encompasses a linguistic analysis of several versions of fan-made subtitles for music videos of six selected K- pop (Korean pop) songs. The study shows that the linguistically marked singularities of Korean culture as well as syntactical peculiarities of Korean language compel the translators to borrow Korean linguistic features directly and indirectly into English, making the fansubs “foreignized.” Based on this observation, the paper argues that linguistic borrowings in fansubs signifies a refusal to translate culture specific terms and concepts on the part of the fansubber.
An overview of the inland fisheries of Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 2008) Hettiarachchi, A.
Inland fisheries development activities in Sri Lanka began in early twentieth century. However, the commercial-scale inland fishery was developed only after the introduction of African cichlid species, Oreochromis mossambicus into Sri Lankan freshwaters in 1952. Discontinuation of state support for the development of inland fisheries during 1990-1994 period, brought about a drastic decline in inland fish production. There is a significant potential for enhancement of inland fisheries production in the country through management of capture fisheries in perennial reservoirs and development of culture-based fisheries in seasonal reservoirs.
Teaching English to Marketing Undergraduates - A Self Reflection
(Department of English, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Hettiarachchi, A.
This is a self- reflexive study of the researcher’s experience as an English Language teacher, which was carried out as an assignment for the course unit Literary Pedagogy.. A group of third year students of mixed ability, from the department of Marketing, varying from upper elementary level to lower intermediate level, was chosen to carry out a language lesson using a literary text, of which the focus was prepositions. Her presentation includes her personal viewpoints as well as the students’ view point on the effectiveness of the lesson and her own teaching methods. She will also address question of effectiveness in using literary texts in language teaching.