Reviewing International Encounters ( RIE - 2015 )

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Leadership Role of the National Library and Documentation Centre of Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Weerasinghe, M.K.
The National Library (NL) is a living organization as well as a social institution in the contemporary society. It is the heart of library system of most of the countries. Therefore, it is a major responsibility of a library to provide its service to all the members of their communities, regardless of age, race, nationality, religion, culture, political affiliation, physical or other disabilities, gender or sexual orientation, and any other status. To fulfill this role the NL/NLs of a particular country perhaps has to play both the collaborative and the leadership role. In analyzing these roles NLs all over the world could be categorized into two as libraries in the developed and the developing countries, while some NLs in the developed countries playing a more collaborative role (CR), some NLs in the developing countries are playing a more leadership role (LR). The history of the origin of the NL of Sri Lanka goes back to 19th century. Government Oriental Library (GOL) in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was established in 1870 and it can be considered as the first setup in establishing a library at national level. The long felt need of a NL for the country was at last fulfilled when the NL of Sri Lanka was declared open in April 1990. Most of the NLs in the developing world play a leadership role in their library communities. The National Library and Documentation Centre (NLDC) of Sri Lanka is playing leadership role in the field of Library and Information Services especially in emergency situations. The NLDC has been playing rebuilding of libraries in Sri Lanka which were devastated due to two disasters namely Tsunami disaster in 2004 and terrorist attacks of Northern and Eastern provinces which were destructed by a terrorist group (LTTE) in last 30 years. The interview method is selected to gather data required for this research. It involves conducting lengthy discussions with selected people. The purpose of the interview is to provide the researcher with a relatively flexible format for gathering data. The form of an interview-questioning by one person, answering by another can be used for variety of purposes (Dillon, 1990). The significant advantage of this method is the possibility and capability of obtaining the most realistic data. Therefore, the author selected an unstructured interview method for data collecting. Interviews are usually thought as structured and unstructured. The outcomes of the research are useful to different groups of people in Sri Lanka, mainly those who are working in managerial positions and members of the Directors of NLs. Secondly, the outcomes of the research useful to academic groups in the Library and Information Science (LIS) segment as well as in the field of Organizational Management. Scholars, researchers and students in these disciplines and related disciplines may also be advantaged. Librarians/ library managers of other types of libraries also will benefit from these research findings
Threats and opportunities in library education: new strategies in the Curriculum Development in the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Weerasooriya, W.A.
The principal aim of this study is to identify the threats and opportunities face by the library education movement in Sri Lanka with special reference to Department of Library and Information Science (DELIS), University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka and to investigate the measures and strategies for answering them. The paper explores how the DELIS could counter these threats with the help of curriculum development strategies. Objectives of the study were to study threats and factors affecting library education with special reference to DELIS, to explore how DELIS overcome these threats and to develop a model of a curriculum design system. Methodology adopted in the study comprised the analysis of vision, mission, stakeholder, content and SWOT. The factors and threats affecting the library education in Sri Lanka can be categorized in to two aspects as macro and micro. Macro aspects are non-recognition and non-identification of the library sector in the government hierarchy particularly the higher education sector, dubious bureaucracy, and lack of cooperation among the principal library education contributors. Micro aspects of threats are the grass root level factors. These threats are rapidly changing subject knowledge content and relevancy, lack of communication and ICT skills among the Library and Information Science (LIS) students, perennial decrease of library science students‟ intake, negative thinking and attitudes among LIS professionals. Identifying this critical situation, the DELIS is in the process of revising its LIS curriculum drastically suiting to the current demands and requirement in the Student Centered Learning (SCL) context. The others measures for answering these threats are the inclusion of extraordinary course units, revising curriculum at every four year period, empowerment of industrial training component, identification of series of competencies, allocation of more ICT course units, inclusion of project based English course unit at every semester, introduction of more practical project based course unites particularly in Classification, Cataloguing, compilation of bibliographic tools and Literature survey project reports in Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Humanities. ICT, communication, management and language skills are some of the essential soft skills which should inculcate among the undergraduates. It is proposed to empower the curriculum evaluation process and further propose to set up a Curriculum Revision Committee with the representation from the principal library education contributors in Sri Lanka, library professionals and the government and private sector. It is observed that a benchmark system introduced so far has to be revised accordingly. These are some of the new strategies in the curriculum development in the Department and they could be applied in the other curriculum development processes. Academic feedbacks well received and responded by the audience in International conference on Social Sciences and Humanities, on 8th, 9th and 10th September, 2014, Istanbul, Turkey. They suggested to consider Industrial Training (IT) be mandatory and let it be given the students for a whole semester free of lectures. Their view was to overseer Industrial Training process very carefully. They informed it is better to students be given a trainee allowance. Innovative ideas they pointed are making a fixed time period for syllabi revision, allowing students to develop their soft-skills within and outside the curriculum, conducting SWOT, Need Analysis getting more feedbacks from library education stakeholders such as LIS teachers, library professionals, library schools etc. The suggestion to include a course unit on Knowledge management and Indigenous knowledge system was well responded by the audience. Since the internet and ICT development makes a radical development in the libraries and information sector, they suggested considering giving a higher weightage to that component in curriculum development. They endorsed the fact that Outcome Based Education could be achieved using Student Centered Learning. One value added emphasis was the utilization of Online Learning Management System (OLMS) for undergraduate education.
The Influence of International Labour Migration on the Family Institution in Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Amaratunga, K. M. G. C. K.
Sri Lanka is a major migrating country in Asia, with a high proportion of female labour migrants employed as domestic housemaids in the middle East. Although Sri Lanka labour migration can be seen as two streams i.e Skilled, and Unskilled, When viewed in the historical context. It is evident that since the first half of 1980,a heavy and extensively large flow of unskilled labour was in progress, especially to the oil-rich middle eastern countries. This trend was a direct result of the disintegration of the rural agricultural economy. Its dependency on land was the foremost challenge that was detrimental to the Agro social system. As a result, the female labour marked in the present social strata flourished and became profitable and popular. In this context migration of mothers as unskilled labours was common and foremost. in addition to the middle eastern countries, there are other certain prominently noticeable areas in Sri Lnka that can be recognized as supplying a stream of migrant labour notably to Italy. Though mothers seem to prefer catering their labour to the middle east, Italy had turned out to be more attractive to their counterpart – the fathers. When a mother of a family migrate to the middle east, the general tendency of her children, left behind, seems to face various setbacks as socio economic problems ,While she has the risk of physical and sexual harassment by her employers. But in the situation of a father migrating to Italy, the family becomes affluent as a result of which the morality of the family is at stake as mother and children face the tendency to be attracted to anti-social and immoral activities – creating a situation to the institution of the family
An Examination of Relations between Lanka and Other Countries: with Special Reference to Yapahuwa Period of Sri Lankan History
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Sudharmawathie, J. M.
After the decline of Rajaratacivilization, the Kingdoms of the country shifted to the Southwest. Hereafter, locations were chosen as capitals based on defense. Yapahuwa was also such place which became the seat of rule for a brief period. The place at Yapahuwa was built on a rock which was situated in the middle of a valley. The only king who ruled from Yapahuwa was King Bhuvanekabahu I. However, his reign at Yapahuwa is noted in the history of Sri Lanka because of various relations with foreign countries. The objective of this paper is to discuss the nature of foreign relations of Lanka during the YapahuwaPeriod. Both Primary and Secondary Sources were used to gather relevant facts and information to achieve the assigned objective. In interpreting data, both literary and archaeological sources were used. It is clear that Lanka had relation with South India, China and Egypt at the time. The nature of these relations varied and there were political, trade and religious relations. When considering the South Indian invasions at the time, it can be said that the invasions was a continuation of previous such invasions to the island. However, as depicted by the architectural remains there were also cordial relations with foreign countries during this period. BhuvanekabahuI can be considered as a king who made an effort to develop foreign trade. This fact is very clear from his policy of continuing the trade activities with china which was initiated during the Anuradhapura Period. Lanka became a part of the international trade activities carriedout through the Indian Ocen. This had affected positively to Lankan economy.
The Monks and their trading activities in Ancient Sri Lanka From 3rd B.C.E. to the 5th C.E.
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Gunwardhana, N.S.
It is a well-known fact that unlike Brāhmaṇism, Buddhism looked favourably upon trade activities. As revealed by epigraphic and literary evidences, the earliest donors and important patrons of the Buddhist establishment of South Asia were caravan merchants and wealthy seafaring traders.Teachings of the Buddhā say that “pubbahāsi” (be first to receive the other with a smile) “pubbabhasi” (first to talk courteously to the others). Most probably these qualities may have been attracted the visitors to the Sri Lankan harbours. Some donors of the caves, the earliest dwellings of the Buddhist monks, were nāvikas (mariners) or vanijha (traders). There are instances where the monks themselves have donated caves to the brotherhood. Most of the monks who have donated the caves belong to a higher rank. The KadurvävaBrāhmī inscription talks of a cave, dedicated by the elder Datta, a professor of the Vinaya(IC 1970.vol. i. no.1207:98).The MulgirigalaBrāhmī inscription speaks of a cave given by the reciter of the Majjhima Nikāya to the Saṅgha. The nuns have also donated caves to the Saṅgha. The two Brāhmī inscriptions of Mihintalē speak of caves given by two nuns.These inscriptions show that these nuns were wealthy enough to donate caves. Nearly twelve caves have been donated by the nuns to the Saṅgah during the period of 3rd B.C.E to the 1st C.E. The Brāhmi inscriptions belonging to the 3rd and the 1st C.E. reveal, the economic activities, existed during this period. There were different kinds of professionals and most of them have donated the caves to the Saṅgha. I have identified nearly 51 professions which are in the Brāhmī inscriptions. According to the Buddhist doctrines using money by the monks is considered as a sin. But the monks had to use money to cover their expenses such as the essential requirements for the fellow brotherhood, performances of the rituals and the maintenances of the monastic buildings.
Good Governance & Local Government in Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Mudalige, P.
This paper concerned good governance & local government in Sri Lanka.Local government is the part of the government which deals mainly local affairs, administered by authorities subordinate to the state government but elected independently by the qualified residents. Modern democratic system is the most appropriate system from the point of view of good governance. Good governance is seen to bring in happiness and welfare of the people. It also associated with efficient and effective administration in a democratic in framework. With this there will be effective measures to prevent and combat corruption, support for leadership development, sharing the lover level power, empower men and women &decision making. Sri Lanka is a republic and a unitary governed by a semi presidential system. Sri Lanka has a long history in practicing local government system. Local government is the third and lowest level of government in Sri Lanka after the central government and Provincial councils. They are responsible for the providing a variety of local public services. Local authorities are divided into three deference groups Municipal Council. Urban Council &PradeshiyaSabha. Both primary and secondary data are used in the study. Primary data have been collected through methods such as questionnaire survey, key informant interview, focus group interview, and were collected via observation, Sources of secondary information include project reports, official documents and published research reports . The Study was done with reference to Uwa and Western provinces in local authorities. The study for qualitative and quantitative methods used
Study on Human Ecological Process Affecting the Spatial Distribution of Dengue Epidemic; a Case Study on Colombo District
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Rathnasekara, S.R.L.S.
Dengue epidemic that outbreaks in all over the world create a huge burden on those countries in relation to their population, health systems, and economies. The dengue virus was reported and serologically confirmed in Sri Lanka for the first time in 1962 and it was transmitted to humans by Aedesaegypti and Aedesalbopictus mosquitoes. The situation in Sri Lanka was changed in the end of 1980 when more than 200 DHF cases reported around Greater Colombo Area. The research problem for this study is the relationship of the human ecological processes and the related spatial distribution of dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, identification of exact human ecological processes which caused the spatial distribution of dengue epidemic is the main objective of this study while identifying the factors that affect and inter-relationship between human ecology and disease ecology for spatial distribution of dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka. The research methodology was quantitative methods and data was collected through a structured questionnaire as well as interviews. Colombo district where there was the highest number of reported dengue cases in 2012, was selected as the study area, Within the Dehiwala and Padukka MOH areas were selected as regional level case study area as Dehiwela MOH area has the highest dengue cases from 2010 to 2012 and Padukka MOH areas has the least number of dengue cases in the same periods. The total population of dengue patients in three PHI areas in Dehiwela and five PHI areas in Padukka MOH area were 410 and 100 respectively. Out of these population 129 and 10 patients (age > 18) were ignored as they are not matured enough to participated this type of research. Fifty percent of the remaining population was selected as the sample for the study. The outcome of the research was that human ecological processes such as Awareness, Employment, Residencies and Living spaces, human behaviour, control measures and human Mobility has direct relationship with occurrence of dengue. Further the age and gender are also having relationship with the same. The most significant issue that was identified during the course of the study is that residencies and living space and domestic human behaviour are the main cause for occurrence of dengue in high dengue risk area and human mobility is the only process that transmits dengue to low dengue risk areas from high dengue area.
A Study of Modern Trends in Traditional Farming Methods of Paddy Cultivation
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Kumari, J.A.P.
Rice is main food as well as paddy cultivation is the major agriculture cultivation in Sri Lanka. Currently, around 807,763 hectares of land cultivated in Sri Lanka for paddy, 64% is cultivated in Maha season while 35% is cultivated in Yala season. Modern agricultural methods in the paddy sector were supported by the new and improved high yielding rice varieties, machineries, Pesticides and weedicides, Inorganic fertilizer. It was revealed that the modern paddy farming methods are prone to issues. Several problems were associated with modern rice cultivation, these crops were more susceptible to pest and disease attacks. Further, crop suffering from micronutrient deficiencies such as whitening, yellowing and retardation of growth. This research intends to identify and analyze the new trends of traditional farming practices on paddy cultivation. Information gathered through conducting interviews with total of 100 farmers in four paddy cultivation areas in Sri Lanka and utilized by case study and observation. Secondary data collected from books, articles, relevant websites and other relevant documents. Collected data analyzed by descriptive and advance research methods. Traditional farming method such as rituals and spiritual practices, Pirith, Suthra and Gatha.Kem methods, organic fertilizers, traditional rice varieties have identified as the success traditional agricultural practices for pest and diseases control as well as the high yield, increased production, profitability, etc.As well as the research was revealed that modern industrial farmers trend to use traditional farming methods for three reasons. They are, to restrict long term side effects inherited from the modern methods, as an ecofriendly agricultural practice and health and nutrition purposes
Economic value of water functioning system of paddy field in Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Nishantha, B.M.N.; Mahindha, G.M.; Semasinghe, W.M.; Kularathne, M.G.
Paddy farming in Sri Lanka can be divided in to tree schemes according to the source of water availability for farming. In addition scale of cultivation depends on the schemes. Naturally paddy field acts as a multifunctional surface due to its structure. Then paddy field helps to mitigating flood, recharging groundwater and purifying water which was determined previous studies. Then, the study focused on estimating economic value of those non-market benefits and find out how does the magnitude effects of those benefits vary within the cultivation schemes in Sri Lanka based on non-market evaluation methods of Replacement Cost Method (RCM) and Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Primary data was collected by using structured interview method and experiment method. Further one-way ANOVA was utilized to achieve the objective of the study. Further the result shows that the Economic Water Functioning system of Paddy Field is vary within the cultivation schemes and allocated as 172421.8LKR, 63320.7LKR and 32996.66 in major irrigated scheme, minor irrigated scheme and rain-fed scheme respectively per acre
Historical importance of Natha Devalaya in kandy
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Dilhani, A.,
NathaDavalaya is situated in Kandy or senkadagala, the capital city of the last Sinhalese kingdom in the central hills of Sri Lanka, surrounded by Mahaveli River from the south and west. NathaDevalaya could be identified as the oldest remaining structure in Kandy. NathaDevalaya is located in the terrace situated in front of the sacred temple of the tooth and the kings palatial building and its origin dates back to the era of Gampola kingdom. It is believed that NathaDevalaya had been constructed by king Vikramabayu III who was ruling the Gampola kingdom. The features of Avaloketheswara figure could be identified easily from the statue of Amithabhaya Buddha on the top of the matted hair. Although the statues of AvaloketheshvaraBodhisatwa were discovered from various parts of the island in the early stages, the name God of Natha was attributed to it only from the 14th century. In the examining the architectural characteristics of NathaDevalaya it could be observed that it resembles the image house features of crowing roof Gedige tradition which was popular during the medieval ages. The pavilion antechamber and the adytum which could be seen in Devalas of south India are also visible here. A coronation chaori constructed to select a prince eligible as heir to wall inscription of the Devalaya creates an immense assistance in building up the history of Kandyan kingdom. NathaDevalaya is bound with traditional rituals maintained from the ages of ancient kings. Accordingly, the objective of this research is to investigate into the historical significance of NathaDevalaya Kandy with an emphasis on the origin and evolution of the Devalaya with its architectural characteristics and rituals while exploring the value of this historical premises making use of primary and secondary data.
Women Entrepreneurship in Post conflict Societies: Reference to Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Gamage, B.N.
The main purpose of this research is to contribute knowledge about women entrepreneurs in war ridden areas with special focus on North-East province. This research intends to analyze women entrepreneurs‟ business orientation, types of entrepreneurial ventures created and their motivations for business ownership in a resource constrained post war environment. Resource constrained post war environment is defined as a resource scarcity environment that involve inadequacy/shortages of necessary skills, access to finance and physical infrastructure, poor knowledge on technology and inadequate government support base. Further, this research will provide supportive policies and programmes for the women entrepreneurs in North-East province, and will act as reference for government policy makers, who are responsible for post war socio-economic development. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used to analyze data. Multiple regression analysis is used to determine the relationship among independent variables and dependent variable. The independent variables are entrepreneurial orientation (innovativeness, risk taking and proactiveness), types of entrepreneurial ventures created and motivation for business ownership. The dependent variable is the ability to overcome post war resource constrained environment. This study concentrated on the determination of the strength of relationship between the independent and the dependent variables. Studying the nature of entrepreneurial styles of conflict ridden areas, which portrays lesser-heard characteristics of being members of post war communities and the strategy used by these women entrepreneurs would be slightly different and may differ from the mainstream entrepreneurial communities in Sri Lanka
A study on poverty and women unemployment
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Subasinghe, W.
This paper explores one of the key issues in current research on gender and development: the links between poverty and women's employment and underemployment. The nation‟s economic crisis has deeply affected the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans. Unemployment has pulled the rug out from under many families, particularly those living in low-income communities. Deepening poverty is inextricably linked with rising levels of homelessness and food insecurity/hunger. Poverty can be considered as a central socio and economic problem. The women ratio is highly vital factor in concerning of current population statistics including women households, education level, and women workforce. The purpose of the study is looking the women unemployment and makes proposals to uplift the women‟s contribution to the national economy. Objectives: To identify male vs. female unemployment, what extent is a woman's household economic status, which programs are most suitable for women for livelihood. Research question: What is the co-relation between poverty and women‟s unemployment? Methodology: Survey method has been done for collecting primary data through structured questionnaires. FGDs and KII has done. Findings: The first phase of the project involves screening overall studies have shown very different effects of poverty, for different types of poverty: from income inequalities, to social exclusion and unemployment. The final phase involves the analysis provides strong evidence for a co-relation between household economic status and women's current employment status. This is true for the entire sample and for the married and unmarried women. The interplay of economic factors (in terms of household needs and aspirations) and cultural factors (in terms of women's position in the family as unmarried daughters as opposed to wives or daughters-in-law) as determinants of women's employment is important both on the supply side of the labour market and women's ability to obtain employment in an imperfect and almost saturated labour market in the context of Sri Lanka.
Alternative Approach For Designing Curricula in General Degree Study Programs: A Lesson From Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Dharmasiri, L.M.,
Curriculum Development (CD) is an vital requirement for updating available or newly designed curricular and is an process of improving the curriculum. Several approaches has been used in developing a curricula in the field of education. Commonly used approaches Consist of analysis (i.e. situation, need analysis, task analysis), Design (i.e. objectives and design curricular), Selecting (i.e. chose of appropriate learning outcomes and teaching methods, chose of appropriate assessment method), Formation ( i.e. formation of the curriculum implementation and evaluating committee) and Review ( i.e. curriculum review committee) (CaDSFR). The designing part of the CaDSFR has been modified as an organism approach of this experiment. The major objective of this study is to apply an alternative approach for designing of new curricular for the General Degree Study Programs (GDSP). In additions, an alternative model will develop for identifying and illustrating the organism approach. The methodology that has been applied for the CD has five folds, i.e. (a) Selecting and appointing an Educationist and Subject Specialists for each subject streams of the faculty from outside the university and they were assigned for the task, (b) Conducting a workshop for Curriculum Planning, (c) Conducting mini-workshops at Department level for discussing bench mark and other issues related to CD, (d) Formulating a Common Framework for the CD and (e) Finalizing the CD. Stakeholders‟ views and consultation from outside the university have provided excellent feedback and support for the CD. The five folds strategies have been applied for the CD of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) of the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka in 2013/14. The FSS has nine Departments and been offering seventeen Degree programs including General Degrees, Special Degrees and Postgraduate Degrees like M.A., M.S.Sc., M.phil.and PhD. The Consist analysis of the CaDSFR strongly proven the urgency of revising the GDSP, because available curricular is older than a decade. Accordingly, the CaDSFER process has been applied for the CD. In particular, novel approach of five folds that applied for designing part of the curricular of the FSS and the process is near to completion. As a different program, the experiences CD process of the FSS may useful for the respective parties who involve with CD.
Impact of Socio-economic Changes on Demographic Transition in Sri Lanka
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Anulawathie Menike, H.R.
There is a reciprocal relationship between population growth and economic development. Although many socio-economic indicators affected to change the population growth rate, the health and education indicators have observed that there is a significant development of the people. Therefore, this study has paid special attention to the said variables. When examining the indicators presently in respect of the nutritional level, education, health condition, housing and sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka, could be well observed that these welfare activities have affected positively on the population. Maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, life expectancy at birth, literacy rate, school enrollment rate etc. have all shown steady and commendable improvement in the last five decades. This study reveals that the crude death rate and literacy rate have significant and negative impact on population growth rate. I.e. health and education have been strongly affected on demographic transition. Also, the study shows that the impact of health on demographic transition has been higher than the impact of education. As a result of country‟s socio-economic progress, Sri Lanka has been entered the third stage of demographic transition and reaching the final stage of it. This situation has specially caused to change the age structure of the population in Sri Lanka and the former population pyramid with a wide base has been gradually changing. The ageing population in the country will increase very rapidly in the near future. Even at present, the old people have taken a high percentage of the population
Impact of New Housing Scheme of Estate Workers on Their Improvement of Livelihood
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Sanjeewani, K.S.
Due to the labour shortage for plantation works the British administration had to depend on Indian labour force. After bringing them to Sri Lankan estates, they have given „line rooms‟ with poor facilities. Those plantation Tamils have been living as a segregated community in the plantation areas today even. But, after the independent governments concerned more on the improvement of the estate workers livelihood. As a result of that the Plantation Human Development Trust and the National Housing Development Authority played a key role in introducing new housing schemes for estate people. Therefore, this study has focused on two selected housing settlements in estate Poyston and estate Carolina in Ambagamuwa divisional secretariat division, NuwaraEliya district, Sri Lanka. The main objective of the study was to identify the impact of the new housing settlements which were carried out by the government in the plantation sector as an alternative to the contemporary line rooms. This study has taken two research strategies namely, Survey Method and Comparative Method. Key informants‟ Interviews, Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), and observation also conducted. A significant change in the workers livelihood can be identified in both settlements. But it depends on the type of the house and the facilities it included.
The regional expansion of vintage motor cars imported to Sri Lanka in the latter part of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Wijesuriya, D.
The latter part of the19th century could be considered as the beginning of considerable changes, taken place within Sri Lankan history. An import export economy came into being where the then economy which was mainly based on agriculture, introduced by the British who came to Sri Lanka in 1815, was changed. In that aspect the infrastructure facilities, the communication system and also the modes of transportation were developed. Development achieved in the field of transportation seems to be most outstanding. The traditional or existing transportation system was more or less primitive and it was restricted mainly to walking, riding on animals, dolawa etc. However in the latter part of 19th century, the motor car which is a product of modern technology started to find its roots in the island. Hence a unique situation was created in the establishment of this island. Different social stratus in the island embraced this motor car. It is understood that the motor car in particular became quite popular even within varying regional circumstances. A system had been introduced in the registration of motor vehicles from 1928 onwards where a letter from A to Z was allocated to each province, Sri Lanka having been divided into 26 provinces. In this research paper, it is expected to present as to how the vehicles imported to Sri Lanka were regionally distributed based on 400 vintage motor cars imported during the latter part of the 19th century taking into account research carried out for five years
The Changing Terms of Trade in the Small Farming Sector in Sri Lanka: Special Reference to Paddy and Vegetable Cultivation
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Henegedara, G.M.
Decline farm output prices relative to the prices of farm inputs and consumer food items become a core factor of the dropping farm income of small farmers in Sri Lanka, particularly in paddy and vegetable cultivation. Though the dropping farm income is a common problem in many agricultural countries, its impact is very crucial for a small country like Sri Lanka where nearly 30 percent of the labour force is occupying directly or indirectly in agricultural activities. Hence, the main objective of the paper was to review factors influenced for drooping TOT in the small farming sector and assessing its implications on the economy. The methodology of the paper was based on deductive method and used both primary and secondary data. According to price data analysis, parity ratio between paddy and consumer items has declined continually in the recent past. Farmers have to pay nearly 2 kilo of paddy to purchase one pound of bread in 2012, while it was one kilo in 1984. Similarly, the required paddy amount for receiving one packet of milk powder (450gram) has increased from 7.03 in 1984 to 10.2 in 2012. As the farm inputs, the parity ratio between paddy and fertilizer has declined tremendously over the past. However, the effect on vegetable farmers is insignificant due to price fluctuations. Government intervention has made some policy measures, granting fixed output price and input subsidy programs. Under the rapid globalization scenario, the issue has become more complicated and thus dropping farm income is not simply a matter related to domestic production factors; it also linked with the global market. It indicates the need for comprehensive sustainable agricultural policy
Relevance of neorealist analysis of foreign policy challenges of a small state with special reference to Sri Lanka’s ethnic crisis
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Gunasena, J.T.S.
The neorealist explanation of systemic influences on foreign policy behavior of a country is argued out to be more relevant in case of a small state‟s responses towards external world in international relations theory. But some scholarly efforts have challenged this notion through empirical evidences. The main research purpose of this paper is to do the niche marketing on the relevance of neorealism in describing Sri Lanka‟s foreign relations. The qualitative content analysis on secondary data which were gathered through data triangulation method has been used for this research purpose. Sri Lanka‟s foreign policy decisions was dominated by the strategic aspirations of the regional power. Driven by the security dilemma of the anarchism prevailing in the structure, equally placed states in the system strived to maintain their relative position in the international power spectrum for their survival. The powerful states made use of their power to defend their positions in the system while the smaller states had to rely on such powerful nations for their protection. Since Sri Lanka did not formally joined the western bloc it is not fully correct to say that it bandwagon. But Sri Lankan behavior in the international relations proved that it informally included itself in that coalition. Neorealism explains that the relative position of the states determined its behaviour, and if the states disregard the power imperatives of the system they had to bear the cost of doing that. This was evident in the Indo-Lanka relations. Sri Lanka had to legitimise the hegemonic role of India. When the balance of power had to be maintained in the system for its stability other regional and extra regional powers did not attempt to upset the status quo by providing any assistance to Sri Lanka as long as India became strategically a more important actor in the regional politics than that of Sri Lanka. The role of the regional and international organizations also proved the neorealist prediction on their minimal role is true, because the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the United Nation‟s Human Rights Council mainly involved in Indo-Lanka relations proved that they are only instrumental in implementing propaganda campaign of the member states. The states‟ power is above the organizations and even these organizations can be used for various political agendas of the member states. It further revealed that South Asia hugely lacks any credible and dynamic regional mechanism to work as a facilitating body in minimizing the regional tensions among the member states. To that end they had to rely on either extra-regional powers or the regional hegemons for the survival. Neorealist analysis concludes that systemic factors are very much influential in determining Sri Lanka‟s foreign policy behavior. The external mediation and intervention by India and Norway with respect to the ethnic crisis were evident in Sri Lankan history which repeatedly proved even under two different regimes that the systemic pressures and persuasions are inevitable. The neorealist school of thought thus provides the necessary theoretical explanation required to justify Sri Lanka‟s foreign policy behavior in accordance with neorealism that emphasized the impact of systemic influences on foreign policy responses of Sri Lanka rather than the domestic political explanation
Ajanta and Sigiriya: A comparative study into mural paintings
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Manatunga, A.
Ajanta paintings have often been compared with that of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. The contemporariness of both paintings, their elegance, excellent preservation and some stylistic similarities are the factors behind this comparison. Accordingly, both sites have been considered as belonging to a same school of paintings which was nourished by Buddhism and spread over South and Southeast Asia during that period. The present paper is meant for examining this popular belief of similarity between Ajanta and Sigiriya by comparing the subject matter, context, style and technique of paintings in both places with casual attention to other paintings and sculptures in India and Sri Lanka. Ajanta is a cave temple complex and its paintings are essentially religious. Sigiriya is a palace complex and its paintings are in a secular context. Moreover, Sigiriya paintings are only female figures which are having a symbolic meaning than that of Ajanta where paintings are part of narrative scenes. The study shows that Ajanta and Sigiriya are examples of two schools of paintings though there are some similarities in style which is common to both paintings and sculptures at Anuradhaura and Polonnaruva in general. Further, it is noted that Ajanta is closer in the subject matter, context and style to paintings in the Tivanka Image House at Polonnaruva than that of Sigiriya. The style and elegance of old sculptures at Dambulla cave indicate some resemblance to Ajanta though early paintings at the cave have been replaced by new paintings of Kandyan style in the 18th century and presently preserved as the largest painted cave of the island. One may surmise that Dambulla caves might be somewhat resemblance to Ajanta if it were preserved with its old paintings
Poverty Reduction in Sri Lanka: Targeting Evidence of Mistargeting in Samurdihi Programme
(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Nadeeka Damayanthi, M.K.
The SamurdhiPrograme has been implementing as a major poverty alleviation programme of the government of Sri Lanka since 1995. This paper examines why targeting errors occur in safety-net and livelihood development components of the Samurdhi program in Sri Lanka and the subsequent effects on the poor as well as on the program. Forty focus groups with all stakeholders in eight districts, four key informant interviews and documentary analysis were utilised to achieve the objectives. Peoples‟ dependency mentality, out-dated cut-off income level and politicisation of the society were identified as major reasons for mistargeting. Major outcomes of the mistargeting include disruptions to social harmony and declining effectiveness of the program. Implications for public policy development are also discussed