Browsing by Author "Vitharana, S."

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A qualitative analysis of barriers and challengers toward sports entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka
(International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 2021) Akalanka, S.; Weerakoon, R.; Vitharana, S.; Abeysignhe, C.
The current study was aim to identify the barriers and challenges face by sports entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Qualitative research approach has employed to understand barriers and challengers of sport entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Primary source of data have used for the study and semi-structured interview has applied to collecting data from selected sample. Thus, secondary source of data has gathered from relevant research articles, textbook, websites and other related academic work for develop the conceptual framework. The study has used purposive and snowball sampling methods to collect data from population. The qualitative data has analyzed by using thematic analysis techniques. The results have revealed that 10 major barriers and challengers, which face by Sri Lankan sport entrepreneurs such as Capital, Politics, Business Environment, Business Knowledge, Weather, Public Relations, Time Management, Personal Responsibilities, Employees, and Consumers. As a managerial perspective, current results will useful to practitioners, government and policy makers for preparing new rule and policies to develop sport entrepreneurship sector in Sri Lankan. In addition, Future researchers can use same factors to identify intensity of entrepreneur’s barriers and challengers in different context.
Strategies of Reconciliation through Education and Research
(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Vitharana, S.; Sumedha, K.; Jayaweera, S.; Manuratne, P.
Postwar Sri Lanka has explored several modes and models of reconciliation as part of its effort to address the deep ethnic divide that still affects the country. Ultra-nationalist groups continue to create discourses and forums that destroy the potential for any sustainable peace among the various ethno-religious groups that were affected by the conflict. Attempts at creating discourses on reconciliation do not always occur at the grassroots level, often employing top-down models that prove unsustainable in the long run. In this research, we theorize a pedagogical exercise in which we participated as lecturers at the University of Kelaniya. A group of Third Year Sociology students were required to conduct a field research as part of their study program. The study involved a field trip to Tirukkovil and Karaitivu in two consecutive years, two Divisional Secretariats in the Eastern Province. The students had to be part of home-stays that involved close cultural contact with the host community. In this paper, we explore how the experience of being part of this research project can be theorized in terms of pedagogical strategies for reconciliation. Drawing on this experience, and the insights of the Freirean model of education, we explore the limits and challenges of traditional modes of delivering information such as lectures and presentations. We argue that informal modes of cultural exchange, operating at the grassroots level, facilitate ethnic reconciliation more effectively than traditional modes of delivery.