Browsing by Author "Kodithuwakku, D.S."

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12

The awareness of E-waste disposal Mechanism in Colombo District, Sri Lanka
(Social Statistics Students’ Association, Department of Economics, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayawardhana, M.N.; Dulani, K.P.K.; Muhandiramge, K.M.R.R.; Kodithuwakku, D.S.; Himanshi, H.L.N.
Effect of ammonia inhibition on anaerobic conversion process of pig manure
(Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2017) Sandani, W.A.P.; Amarasekara, D.A.T.; Kodithuwakku, D.S.; Rathnasiria, P.G.
Anaerobic digestion process inhibits due to the presence of ammonia, sulfide, light metal ions (Na, K, Mg, Ca, and Al), heavy metals, and some organics (cholorophenols halogenated aliphatic, N-substituted aromatic, long chain fatty acid). Ammonia is the main inhibitory factor in pig manure as it contains nitrogen. Although it is an important buffer in the process and an essential nutrient for microorganisms, if not controlled, high concentrations causes to operational failures. It is also leading to a low methane yield. Since ammonia has free cell membrane-permeability, it is the active component causing ammonia inhibition. As ammonia is hydrophobic, the molecule diffuses passively into the cell which causes proton imbalance and potassium deficiency. Free ammonia concentration depends on the total ammonia (NH3 + NH4+), pH and temperature. Total ammonia concentrations level of around 1700–1800 mg/l, completely inhibitory to the inoculum which has not adapted. Literature shows that, with adaptation, inhibitory total ammonia nitrogen levels could increase up to 5000 mg/l. By using a semi continues anaerobic digestion process with an anaerobic inoculum and pig manure, can achieve that adapted inoculum. Adapted inoculum can give more than 250ml of bio gas volume per 50ml of pig manure which has 7% w/w solid content. Because of above phenomena methonogen bacteria can be completely inhibited while Acetogen bacteria still can produce acids in a toxic environment. Therefore, acids are formed leading to lower methane yield. Due to that reason, when pig manure is anaerobically digested with adapted inoculum, pH drops from 6.5 to 6.3 during first 3days. There are several methods mentioned in literature to reduce the ammonia inhibition directly in the anaerobic processes such as adaptation of microorganisms, co-digestion, increasing the COD:TKN (Chemical Oxygen Demand: Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen), dilution of the reactor content and adding trace elements. In this research Co digestion strategy was used to minimize ammonia accumulation in pig manure anaerobic digestion process. Pig manure was digested with food waste in different ratios. Adapted inoculum was used for this process.
Factors Influence on Job Satisfaction of Graduate Employees in Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing Industry
(Department of Social Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Karunarathne, S.N.K.; Kodithuwakku, D.S.
It is important to have a satisfied workforce in an organization to build up a successful organization. Hence, the study aims to identify the factors that affect job satisfaction among graduate employees in Sri Lanka's manufacturing industry. The sample population of the study was all the graduate employees of the main five sub-sectors in Sri Lanka’s manufacturing Industry. The sample (n=156) was selected from the sample population by using the stratified sampling method. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire. Initially, the study applied factor analysis and chi- squared test to derive the objective of the study. The factor analysis revealed five factors that influence job satisfaction among graduate employees. They are1- Company Policies and Supervision, 2- Working Conditions, 3- Work Itself, 4- Recognition and Advancement, 5-Job Security, and Human Relationships. Additionally, the chi- square test is used to identify the demographic factors that affect the employees’ job satisfaction. The results showed that the degree obtained by the employees had a significant impact on their job satisfaction.
Factors Influence on Job Satisfaction of Graduate Employees in Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing Industry
(Department of Social Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Karunarathne, S.N.K.; Kodithuwakku, D.S.
It is important to have a satisfied workforce in an organization to build up a successful organization. Hence, the study aims to identify the factors that affect job satisfaction among graduate employees in Sri Lanka's manufacturing industry. The sample population of the study was all the graduate employees of the main five sub-sectors in Sri Lanka’s manufacturing Industry. The sample (n=156) was selected from the sample population by using the stratified sampling method. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire. Initially, the study applied factor analysis and chi- squared test to derive the objective of the study. The factor analysis revealed five factors that influence job satisfaction among graduate employees. They are1- Company Policies and Supervision, 2- Working Conditions, 3- Work Itself, 4- Recognition and Advancement, 5-Job Security, and Human Relationships. Additionally, the chi- square test is used to identify the demographic factors that affect the employees’ job satisfaction. The results showed that the degree obtained by the employees had a significant impact on their job satisfaction.
Farmer's challenges on willingness to join agri-tourism: special reference to nuwara eliya agro-ecological zone
(Faculty of Management Studies, Rajarata University Sri Lanka, 2023) Sumanapala, S.D.A.; Gunarathna, K.M.L.M. Manjula; Kodithuwakku, D.S.
Tourism is strategically important industry to Sri Lanka's economy, serving as the nation's third-largest export earner and contributing 10.3% to the total GDP (Central Bank of Sri Lanka CBSL, 2019). With positive global and national trends supporting the sector, the country has great potential with various opportunities to sustainably develop the Sri Lankan tourism industry through alternative tourism ventures, which remain relatively untapped (Perera, 2016). Among these alternative tourism concepts, Agri-tourism stands out as a promising development dimension (Mahaliyanaarachchi, 2015). It holds great potential in Sri Lanka and aligns with the government's focus on sustainable tourism strategies. In both industrial and developing countries, Agri-tourism has proven to contribute significantly to regional development and poverty alleviation (Akpinar et al., 2005; Malkanthi & Routry, 2011). Sri Lanka's current economic crisis, developing the tourism industry, especially Agri-tourism, becomes even more crucial as it requires minimal additional costs. This study aims to address challenges faced by the agriculture industry while offering solutions to existing issues in the tourism sector, all in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. The study seeks to foster local development and create employment opportunities by promoting sustainable tourism growth through Agri-tourism. Thus, this research focuses on identifying the challenges related to developing Agri-tourism in Sri Lanka. In Agri-tourism, farmers play a crucial role in determining the success of agritourism ventures. On the supply side, farmers and agricultural firms provide the call experience and attractions that attract tourists. They offer visitors an opportunity to experience and learn about agricultural activities, rural lifestyles, and the natural environment. Accordingly, Agritourism development is primarily based on farmers' intentions and characteristics because they are the key factors determining Agri-tourism success. Therefore, farmers' challenges are necessary to understand before any Agri-tourism implementation because their readiness is the first significant step for Agri-tourism development. Although the motivational factors of current Agri-tourism practitioners have been somewhat studied in industrial countries, the investigation of farmers' challenges before starting Agri-tourism has not been conducted in developed or developing countries. As such, the primary objective of this study is to identify and comprehend the farmers' challenges concerning the development of Agri-tourism in Sri Lanka. To address this research goal and extract relevant insights, the following research objective is "To identify the farmers' challenges regarding their willingness to join Agri-tourism".
Identify the Travel Destination Attributes that Attract International Tourists to Visit Galle Tourism Zone
(In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2017 (IPRC – 2017), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Kodithuwakku, D.S.; Gunarathna, K.M.L.M.M.
International tourism has become the world‘s largest export earner in developed and developing countries including Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka entered the international tourism market in the 1960, however because of North and East separatist war and Southern political violence tourism showed a fluctuation demeanor. Hence, Sri Lanka unable to identify the attributes which are attract tourists to travel in destination. Sri Lanka is one of Asia‘s richest treasure troves of both natural and man-made wonders especially with seven World Heritage Sites. As the World Heritage Site Galle tourism zone is one of the traditional and powerful competitors in tourism market. When considering the competitive tourism market, identification of important travel destination attributes when choosing their prospective destination would be of great value to tourism planners. Therefore the objective of this study was identify the travel destination attributes that attract international tourists to visit Galle tourism zone. The research model was formulated and it postulates that international tourists‘ perception of important attributes in Galle impacts on their decision making in three ways as directly, indirectly - through influencing Galle overall image and indirectly - through influencing international tourists‘ overall satisfaction level with their trip to Galle, impact on international tourists‘ future decision on destination selection. Ten important destination attributes were identified by the literature review. International tourists, who visit the Galle tourism zone are the target population of this study. Sample size was 100 and structured questionnaire was distributed to participants who were randomly selected international tourists in Galle tourism zone. Factor analysis was used to identify the important destination attributes in Galle, which were formulated according to the three ways influences. The results show that, landscape in Galle, culture & religious value, hospitality, health, safety and relaxation are more important attributes in Galle. Also results concluded that, landscape, climate, culture & religious and service are more important to overall image of Galle.
The Reasons of Students Choose Private Universities/Institutes than Government Universities in Sri Lanka
(Social Statistics Students’ Association, Department of Economics, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Muhandiramge, K.M.R.R.; Jayawardhana, M.N.; Dulani, K.P.K.; Kodithuwakku, D.S.; Kiriella, P.M.
Statistical Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) in Sri Lanka
(Department of Social Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2021) Kodithuwakku, D.S.; Peiris, T.S.G.
Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) are one of the most prominent public health problems as it is a leading cause of death by injury and all deaths globally. This study, therefore, intended to determine the significant factors associated with RTAs in Sri Lanka (2005 - 2019) and the impact of those factors using data obtained from the Department of Police, Sri Lanka. The leading causes for RTAs are overtaking, speed driving and diversion and about 80% RTAs are due to these factors. The percentage of RTAs due to alcohol consumption by the driver is around 9%. Both exploratory and confirmatory factors analysis found that the causes for RTAs can be classified into two independent factors namely, (i) negligence of pedestrians & drivers and (ii) lack of attention of the driver. These factors are invariant by the factor extraction method and the type of orthogonal rotation. The condition of road the surface, light condition of the road, the situation of weather, type of vehicle and age of the driver are significantly influential factors in fatal accidents. The highest percentage of fatal accidents have occurred when the road is wet and light condition is poor during night. The inferences derived from this study can be effectively used for policy decisions related to traffic in order to minimize RTAs in Sri Lanka. The study confirmed the benefits of data-driven decision-making for policy decision process.
A Study on Destination Satisfaction of Repeat Visitors: Special Reference to Galle Tourism Zone
(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Kodithuwakku, D.S.
In tourism industry, future purchasing intention of tourists is difficult to understand because it is vary with different outlooks based on tourists’ attitudes. Tourists revisit intention can be describe based on two phenomenon as likeliness to revisit the same destination and willingness to recommend to others. Usually tourism industry requires high level of promotional cost, though repeat visitors provide more revenue and minimize the costs. Because of this, understanding the satisfaction level of repeat visors is one of the dominant issues. Hence, the key objective of this study was identify the destination satisfaction of repeat visitors. To achieve this objective, study used the theoretical and empirical research methods. The international tourists, who visited Galle were the target population of this study and the simple random sampling procedure was used to collect the sample. The results revealed that, repeat visitors highly satisfied with Galle health care, landscape, cultural value, hospitality, safety, relaxation and accessibility. And also repeat visitors were more satisfied than first time visitors and have strong intention to visit again the same destination.
Study on the factors affecting private investments in Sri Lanka
(Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kodithuwakku, D.S.; Jayawardana, Y.W.; Jayawardhana, M.N.; Muhandiramge, K.M.R.R.; Dulani, K.P.K.
Today it’s widely accepted that private sector is a key engine of economic growth in any country across the globe. As a part of private sector, private investments also plays a greater role particularly within developing countries who are very much in need of capital resources as well as skilled labor, new technology and innovation in achieving faster growth. Sri Lanka still being a developing country is no exception to this. Therefore, considering the role of private investments in Sri Lanka, this study aims to identify the factors affecting private investments within Sri Lankan economy. The study was based on secondary data covering the period from 1975 to 2015. Findings derived from regression model and correlation coefficients of the study have revealed that real GDP growth, real exchange rate, inflation rate, budget deficit, foreign trade, foreign direct investment and liberalization factor are positively associated with private investments. It has further been identified that out of all the independent variables, foreign direct investment is the most affecting factor to private investments in Sri Lanka whereas the liberalization factor is the least affecting factor. The relationship between liberalization factor and private investments denotes the less importance of export and import industry in determining private investments in Sri Lanka. Therefore, in conclusion, this study emphasizes that foreign direct investment, real exchange rate and foreign trade play significant roles as factors in determining private investments.
Tourists’ expectations on willingness to visit Agri-Tourism destination (Special reference to Nuwara Eliya Agro-Ecological Zone)
(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2023) Sumanapala, S.D.A.; Gunarathna, K.M.L.M.; Kodithuwakku, D.S.
Agri-tourism combines agriculture and tourism, giving visitors the chance to participate in agricultural activities, connect with nature, learn about sustainable farming practices, and experience local cultures.It provides immersive experiences, generates economic opportunities, and contributes to the development of the agricultural and tourism sectors. To fully capitalize on the potential benefits of Agri-tourism, it is crucial to identify and understand the expectations of tourists. By recognizing what visitors seek in their Agri-tourism experiences, destinations can tailor their offerings to effectively meet these expectations. The study targets the Nuwara Eliya agroecological zone and employs a quantitative research approach that incorporates questionnaires as data collection methods. Through the implementation of stratified sampling methods, a total of 160 tourists have been selected as respondents. The study is based on the “Evolving Tourists Expectation Model” (ETEM), which aims to identify the changing expectations of tourists regarding their concerns about Environmental-friendly Sustainable Operation (ESO) in the tourism products and offerings they choose to purchase. The findings revealed that more than 76% of tourists expressed their willingness to visit destinations focused on Agri-tourism. Through the exploratory factor analysis, the study identified five factors that influenced tourists' decision-making: flexible pricing, entertainment options for tourists, opportunities for tourists to participate actively, availability of high-quality products, and the overall environmental condition. Further analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that among these factors, the basic environment, quality of products, and flexibility in pricing had a statistically significant impact on tourists' expectations and their willingness to engage in Agri-tourism activities. However, it was noted that tourists also emphasized the need for improvements in farm entertainment activities, including a wider variety of options, in order to enhance the overall environmental experience. Additionally, upgrading the quality of farm products and ensuring proper hygiene and sanitation facilities were identified as crucial factors for enhancing tourists' willingness to visit Agri- tourism destinations.
Tourists’ expectations on willingness to visit Agri-Tourism destination (Special reference to Nuwara Eliya Agro-Ecological Zone)
(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2023) Sumanapala, S.D.A.; Gunarathna, K.M.L.M.; Kodithuwakku, D.S.
Agri-tourism combines agriculture and tourism, giving visitors the chance to participate in agricultural activities, connect with nature, learn about sustainable farming practices, and experience local cultures. It provides immersive experiences, generates economic opportunities, and contributes to the development of the agricultural and tourism sectors. To fully capitalize on the potential benefits of Agri-tourism, it is crucial to identify and understand the expectations of tourists. By recognizing what visitors seek in their Agri-tourism experiences, destinations can tailor their offerings to effectively meet these expectations. The study targets the Nuwara Eliya agroecological zone and employs a quantitative research approach that incorporates questionnaires as data collection methods. Through the implementation of stratified sampling methods, a total of 160 tourists have been selected as respondents. The study is based on the “Evolving Tourists Expectation Model” (ETEM), which aims to identify the changing expectations of tourists regarding their concerns about Environmental-friendly Sustainable Operation (ESO) in the tourism products and offerings they choose to purchase. The findings revealed that more than 76% of tourists expressed their willingness to visit destinations focused on Agri-tourism. Through the exploratory factor analysis, the study identified five factors that influenced tourists' decision-making: flexible pricing, entertainment options for tourists, opportunities for tourists to participate actively, availability of high-quality products, and the overall environmental condition. Further analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that among these factors, the basic environment, quality of products, and flexibility in pricing had a statistically significant impact on tourists' expectations and their willingness to engage in Agri-tourism activities. However, it was noted that tourists also emphasized the need for improvements in farm entertainment activities, including a wider variety of options, in order to enhance the overall environmental experience. Additionally, upgrading the quality of farm products and ensuring proper hygiene and sanitation facilities were identified as crucial factors for enhancing tourists' willingness to visit Agri- tourism destinations.