Browsing by Author "Ranawella, T.C."

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Empowering Education in Challenging Times: Unveiling the Virtual Reading Room Initiative at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Library Through Open Access Resources
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Seneviratne, W.; Rajapaksha, M.P.; Kanchana, U.D.H.; Ranawella, T.C.
This study explores the successful implementation of Virtual Reading Rooms (VRRs) at Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Library as a solution to financial constraints in higher education. It focuses on the adoption of Open Access Resources (OAR) to enhance information access. The paper discusses how digital transformation addresses changing user preferences, especially through open science initiatives. The compilation of virtual reading rooms (VRRs)of the KDU are presented as solutions to financial constraints faced by Sri Lankan higher education due pandemic situation. The objectives of the study are to present designing of the VRR and its implementation. The study employs a case study design to explore into KDU Library's experiences in establishing VRRs. The discussion outlines parameters considered, the implementation process, challenges (content selection, technical expertise, OA content longevity), and recommendations for future VRR expansion. In conclusion, this study underscores VRRs' importance in overcoming financial constraints and accommodating diverse information needs. It highlights Open Access as a means to promote knowledge dissemination. The challenges and recommendations provide insights for future library services and information access.
Factors Affecting Academic Integrity in Research: Analysis based on Turnitin Similarity Reports of Postgraduate Students of General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University (KDU)
(3rd International Conference on Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Alagaratnam, V.; Ranawella, T.C.
Involving in research activities and presenting in a dissertation form is considered as a pure acedemic activity. These researches are carried out based on the evidences of previous researches in the same subjects. This type of refering ideas must be properly quoted. Quoting or aknowledging for the previous researches is an activity of scholars for affirnming thier new ideas. But some scholars prentend to put others ideas or informations as thier own due to many reasons. Especially, it is very common after the electronic resources came into being. As this is an illegal and unethical activity, scholars are expected to follow scholarly ways to avoid plagiarism. There are many anti-plagiarism softwares introduced to avoid plagiarism. Kotelawala Defence University has subscribed for turnitin to promote rich research culture among academic staff and the students as well. Anyhow students continue to plagiarise for their research activites. Hence, this study intends to show the nature of plagiarism, find the reasons and propose possible ways to avoid it. A mixed research methodoloy was adopted to carry out the study. Sixty six (66) dissertations, submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of Kotelawala Defence University were taken as samples for the study. The importatant plagiarised places in the disserations were revealed and reasons for the plgiarism were found
Internet Use and Its Impact on Library Usage by Trainiees at Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Sri Lanka
(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Ranawella, T.C.
This study focuses on the impact of Internet on Library usage, Navel and Maritime Academy (NMA), Sri Lanka. In this study, two hundred trainees attached to NMA were given a semi structured questionnaire to collect data. It shows that the usage level of NMA library is very low due to the personal laptops given with dongles to the trainees to access Internet directly. It is also noted that the opening hours of the library and the location, hampers the use of library. The researcher recommends that adequate funding to be made available to the library to provide electronic resources and to introduce training programs to enhance the knowledge of trainees on information retrieval and citation techniques to maintain academic honesty. The researcher also recommends to introduce a plagiarism software to the NMA library to prevent violation of copyrights.