Browsing by Author "Rathnabahu, R.M.N."

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Awareness of Academic Integrity among the Undergraduates: A Case Study based on the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Rathnabahu, R.M.N.
Academic Integrity is considered a vital parameter to protect from academic dishonesty. Currently, undergraduates use these concepts in their studies and research. However, it was still looking for the survey related to the awareness of academic integrity among the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) undergraduates. Therefore, this case study focused on identifying an awareness of Academic Integrity among BA honours degree undergraduates of the DLIS, University of Kelaniya. The main objective was to examine the awareness of the academic integrity of the DLIS undergraduates under the main concepts of plagiarism, making false claims, paraphrasing, limitations on getting and giving help, and summarising. Under the non-probability sampling method, a convenient sample was used to select BA honours degree 106 undergraduates from the DLIS. An online questionnaire was distributed to the undergraduates as a tool for data collection. According to the findings, 80.4% of undergraduates knew the concept during the lectures, while 7.5% had the idea through self-studies. The rest of the 12.1% of percentages represented that they were aware of the concept when searching the internet, from friends, reading journal articles and through the final year research supervisor. Most undergraduates had a good understanding of plagiarism, making false claims, paraphrasing, and limitations on getting than the giving help than summarizing. All undergraduates would like to learn these concepts via the curriculum, and they proposed teaching the concept in detail in the syllabus. The study proposed establishing a compulsory course module for all undergraduates to complete before their final year.
Current Status of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) initiatives in University Libraries of Sri Lanka
(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Rathnabahu, R.M.N.; Gamage, R.
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) is most important for academic research and plays an esteemed role in improving university ranking at present. The objective of this study is to find out the current status of Electronic Theses and Dissertations initiatives in university libraries of Sri Lanka. Fifteen (15) university libraries were selected as a sample for the study. A questionnaire was administered to fifteen university libraries and everyone replied. The data was again verified through telephone conversations and university website observations. According to the data analysis 73% of university libraries have initiated ETD projects while 07% was in the process of initiating. Twenty percent (20%) had not initiated an ETD project. The Open University of Sri Lanka, University of Peradeniya and the University of Moratuwa libraries were the pioneers of initiating ETD in Sri Lanka. All 73% libraries who had already implemented ETD were up-to-date. All libraries were using DSpace software to create ETD. Majority of the libraries have public online access up to abstracts level. Copyright issues, lack of professional staff and lack of proper training were considered as problems regarding ETD implementation in these libraries.
Information Technology and Management the Mendeley: an innovative Reference Management Software for Research
(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Rathnabahu, R.M.N.
Technology has now made availableadvanced Bibliographic Management Tools to overcome the said situation .Such kinds of open source andcommercial Bibliographic Management tools are of immense value for resource discovery,collaboration, information management and citation .The Mendeley which was developed in 2007now functions as a powerful social networking tool .It consists of two parts) :a ( DesktopApplication )b (Web Application .The Mendeley supports Windows, Mac and LinuxOperating Systems .It is also free of charge .The Mendeley is fully compatible withWindows Word 2003-2010, Mac Word 2008-2011, LibreOffice and BibTex as well.Respective software helps researchers to write research papers in a desired format andprovides assistance to the researchers to manage, share and discover research materialsadding PDFs of articles, book chapters, notes .It is capable to work in collaboration withweb based environment .Accordingly, identifying research sources and facilitating research group work finds it easy . The Mendeley reduces workload trouble for researchers in termsof edit and proof read the research as well . The Mendeley immensely serve the researchersto overcome the inaccuracies that they encounter during their research and to manage shareand discover both content and contacts in researchTherefore, this study intends to find out how the Mendeley functions to organize, write,collaborate and discover research information for the researchers .
A Study of Senake Bandaranayake Classification Scheme for the Archaeology and Related Disciplines
(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Rathnabahu, R.M.N.
There are two types of classifications, one is the general classification scheme which covers all subjects while the special classification scheme which covers a subject or single subject bundle. Above general classification schemes apply in general libraries like university, public, national and so on where as special libraries tend to use special classification schemes. Single subject based or special libraries are facing many problems when using general schemes. However due to several reasons, special libraries have to use general classification schemes. Therefore, the principal purpose of this paper is to study a special collection namely, SenakeBandaranayake Classification scheme (SBC) introduced to the Library of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), Sri Lanka. The SBC is simple, usable and special library classification system. Neither the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) nor the Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) are suitable for classifying an archaeological collection. Therefore, late Prof SenekeBandaranayake developed this system in classifying the archaeology and its related subject materials.Later this PGIAR Classification System was named as a SenakeBandaranayake Classification by the Senior Assistant Librarian of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR) in year 2010 in honor of his devotional dedication to the development of this system. Forth version of SBC system is currently using at present and it was edited on 30th December 1995. The SBC organizes library materials by three main classes namely, General Subjects (A), Archeology (B) and Region or country specific material (C). The notations in section A and section B are purely non numerical. Letters of the English language are used as symbols. The two major sections namely, A and B are subdivided into board subject areas by addition of a second letter to the notation. Further subdivisions have indicated by the third letter notation. Decimal uses for creating further divisions. Following example will described the situation; B- Archaeology, BC-Techniques, BCB.Ex-Excavations. Third category section C, are assigned a numerical notation of four digits. Further specification is achieved by division of the whole number in a hierarchical pattern i.e 3608 Sri Lanka. These area numbers are combined the classification numbers of either section A and B as appropriate i.e “Sri Lankan Philosophy” is classified as 3608 AC. Rules and regulations and guidelines for classification are incorporated in main volume to make numbers. Further, Index to SBC also available. SBC is able to accommodate new subjects. No tables are indicated.This is overall classification system and not for all divisions and subdivisions have been finalized. These will be developed as the collection grows. Currently The Libraries of PGIAR, the Central Cultural Fund and Department of Archaeology are using this system.
The Theses and Dissertations Deposited in Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology Library: a Bibliographical Analysis.
(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka., 2017) Rathnabahu, R.M.N.; Perera, S.
The collection of theses and dissertations deposited in the library of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya plays a significant role in the field of archaeology and sub-disciplines. The collection that consists of 150 theses and dissertations is immensely popular among library users. However, no serious attempt has so far been made to analysis the collection in a specific order, therefore, its varied and non-orderly appearance makes hard to find research subject, person(s) responsible for supervision and what type(s) of postgraduate degree(s) have been awarded for the research study etc., at a glance. 50 theses and dissertations (9 PhD theses,19 MPhil theses and 22 MA dissertations) taken as a sample at the first stage to be analyzed with the following bibliographic specifications: subject of the research, period of study, affiliated organizations, supervision, medium of instruction, extent and references. According to the analysis, the first MA dissertation submission has taken place in 1992 by Raj Somadeva who is now a Senior Professor of Archaeology. Prishantha Gunawardhana submitted the first MPhil thesis in 1995 beingtoday a Professor of archaeology. Mr.Senarath Dissanayake, former Director General of Archaeology and Prishantha Gunawardhana submitted the first two PhD theses in 2003. It is noted that Prof. Senake Bandaranayke has been the highly commended supervisor for the period from 1992 to 2013.Historical archaeology, architecture and art history have gained popularity from the subjective point of view. Most of the research have been carried out in Sinhala. Regarding the extent and references, PhD theses take precedence. The analysis suggests to expand the areas of research, to follow systematic referencing and scientific writing, to include the abstract in English in the theses and dissertations written other than English and to publish the theses and dissertations by the PGIAR.
Travel routes in the interior of the Island: based on Davy’s An account of the Interior of Ceylon and of its Inhabitants with Travels in that Land (1821)
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Rathnabahu, R.M.N.
John Davy born on 24 May 1790 in Penzance, United Kingdom was not only a Physician of the armed forces of the British Ceylon during the 19th century but also an excellent scholar and traveler at the time. His excursions in the interior of Ceylon are well elaborated and interesting to read. It provides a vivid description related to the socio-cultural history as well as exclusive landscapes in the Island. Based on Davy’s “An account of the Interior of Ceylon and of its Inhabitants with Travels in that Land (1821)”, present study will trace the transportation modes at the time as well as create a cartographic image with RGIS 102 software to indicate the travel routes in the interior of the Island at the respective time.