ICSS 2018
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/19402
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Item Navigating the International Trade War & Diplomacy: Implications for S&T development in the Caribbean Community(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Arjune, V.; Singh, R.; Desai, P.N.The recent trade wars among the G7 countries may have begun to shift the world trading structure with significant consequences for international cooperation in the areas science and technology. International trade wars not only limit the access, through tariffs, to goods and services but also the technologies that embody those goods. Small developing countries in the Caribbean that has vested interest in the prosperity of the US, given their historical legacy, primary source of collaborative projects and the hub for Caribbean goods are likely to be the most affected. As the WTO agreements prevent the discrimination between trading partners, the surge in tariffs are not exclusive to China and is likely to be applied in developing countries. The ongoing tug-of-war between the US and China could have drastic implications for struggling Caribbean economies that see them as engines of growth and development. In this paper, we look at the relevance of CARICOM in progressing towards an innovative powerhouse for the Caribbean countries in an uncertain environment of post-Trump and post- Brexit. The paper is divided into two sections. The first deals with CARICOM exports and imports as well as their important trading partners. The other section complements by analyzing the different sources of FDI, and international agreements. In the paper, we argue that the trade war can act as a catalyst for Caribbean countries in not just diversifying their exports, but also looking towards emerging markets in the global south. We further propose that widening of regional cooperation by CARICOM with other intergovernmental organizations can cushion the effects of disruptive global problems like the international trade war.Item Role of State Feminism in Elimination of Gender Disparities: Study of Pakistan(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Dr.Nawaz, R.; Murtaza, S.H.Advocates of Neoliberalism contend for minimum state role in economic domains leaving the marginalized strata’s, classes and “second” gender (female) concerned. On the other hand, in tradition oriented societies state efforts to engineer social relations are contested by the custodians of tradition. In Neoliberal age women participation in public sphere is the need of time. Women entery in economic sphere makes them prone to workplace structural violence and multiple roles strain. Hence, an active state role to protect the weak, underdeveloped and deprived “Sex”, and to create equitable gender roles in both private and public aspects of life is required. The paper reflects on vital questions about state role from the perspective of gender. To what extent state can penetrate in lived experience of women beings to protect them in work and family spaces from male beings (Feminist theorists like Charlotte Hooper contest the universal notion of “human” and divides them into male and female beings based on their diverse experience as living beings as well as the conflicting interests they represent in day to day life. (Hooper, 2001)) and influence and transform the most personal levels of gender relations; in context that gender roles are guarded and protected by the custodians of tradition? The study is normative in content and methodology of qualitative analysis is employed to critically evaluate the impact of state legislative (Punjab Women Protection Laws 2014 and 2016 initiated by Punjab Commission on Status of Women (PCSW) reforms initiated by ‘Women Policy Agencies’ (national and provincial) on women lives. The technique of “Gap Analysis” is used to understand the gap between the intended and present scenarios. A core finding of the research is that Pakistani state is acting as custodian of women rights but state reforms are contested in society. State initiated reforms like empowerment bills (Women empowerment packages presented by Punjab government in 2012, 2014 and 2016) and packages have stirred the status quo of tradition and practical steps are taken to remove gender inequality in private as well as public sphere. Though the study concludes that equity between genders is still a perceived utopia but state feminist policies can be considered as first step towards the ideal.Item Liberalizing Abortion Laws in Sri Lanka: Prospects and Challenges(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Thilakarathna, K.A.A.N.; Major Mendis, H.S.D.Abortion is legally defined as the removal of the fetus from the uterus any time before its gestation is completed. The law governing abortions in Sri Lanka is contained in the Penal Code Ordinance No 02 of 1883. According to section 303 of the code, abortion is only permitted when carried out for saving the mother’s life. Sri Lanka is found as one of the countries with the most restrictive laws on abortions in south Asian region along with Afghanistan. However, even with these restrictions it is estimated that, Sri Lanka has one of the highest abortion rates in the world. The penal laws enacted in the colonial times and those relating to abortions were tried to be reformed several times including the most recent initiative taken by the law commission of Sri Lanka in 2013 when they proposed rape and foetal impairment as two further grounds for obtaining a legal abortion. However, no actions have been taken still regarding the liberalization of the provisions pertaining to abortions and this has resulted in women who are living with low income levels being unable access public medical care facilities for obtaining an abortion on permitted grounds due to the restrictiveness of the law. Using a qualitative method this research is formulated to find out the respective prospects and challenges that lie ahead in liberalizing the laws relating to abortions. At the initial inquiry it is found that, the religious and cultural structure of the country has strictly opposed any liberalization and this has negatively affected the political will of the rulers in bringing these changes. The biggest fear has been that, the liberalization will result in a sudden increase in the number of abortions. However, results elsewhere have shown that, liberalization does not increase the abortion rates but helps to reduce the number of fatalities which results from unsafe illegal abortions. The liberalization of the abortion laws has become both a contemporary and a necessary change for the protection and enhancement of the rights of women and their autonomy.Item The Most Influential Factors on Youth Female Unemployment Incidences in a Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Perera, K.B.P.; Kularatne, M.G.; Wehigaldeniya, W.G.D.S.Unemployment is one of the key measures of economic health. The unemployment rate indicates the degree of usage of productive resources available in an economy. Everyone would be employed at some wage to maximize the efficiency of an economy. The Purpose of this study is to identify the most influential factors behind the high rate of youth female unemployment incidences in Sri Lanka. The secondary data, concepts and definitions used in annual report of Labour Force Survey (LFS) in 2015which has conducted by Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) is used for this study. The data analysed most influential factor of the youth female unemployment incidences in Sri Lanka based on the analysis of Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Chi Square test and independent sample T-test.The research revealed that independent variables such as Sector, Province, Ethnicity, Religion, Marital status, Family size, Number of dependents, Relation to the household head, Monthly income level, Educational level, Literacy in English/Tamil and Completion of training relevant to occupation or selfemployment are influential factors of the Youth female unemployment incidences of Sri Lanka. However, among those factors Monthly family income is the most influential factor. Other than the Monthly family income Province, Level of education and Completion of relevant training program are also more influential factors rather than other categorical variables. In addition to categorical variables, Family size and Number of dependents also more influential factors on Youth female unemploymentItem A study on External factors affecting the effectiveness of student Performance of learning environment in university system in Sri Lanka:(With special reference to University of Kelaniya)(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Dompelage, P.T.; Dr.Kularatne, M.G.; Gunawardhana, D.S.R.E.S.This research paper aims to examine external factors on learning environment and student performance in higher education institutes. Therefor, this paper is to analysed the contributing factors in the university learning aiming external factors. Perception of the university Students a perfect learning environment in higher education However there are many reasons are affected to their expectation. Student own characteristics and external environment are two main factors which are attached to effectiveness of student performance. Accommodation facilities, Food and Nutrition, Library facilities, Financial Assistance, Sanitary facilities, Medical facilities, Transport facilities, Extra curriculum activities and reward system are imported. To investigated this issued 220 third year undergraduate students were randomly selected from faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Humanities. Both qualitative and quantitative data collected from third year undergraduate students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya. A questionnaire survey mainly used for primary data collection. Most of time class room are not created stranded way and no enough facilities to the lecture. Students are most likely to enough space, enough comfortable desk and chairs and cleanness of class room.Item A study of modern communication methods and replacing the traditional teaching learning methods in schools in Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Sameera, A.Communication is an interesting subject area from the evolution of human beings. Communication and transmitting data as well as information are became more popular with the rising of technology in the world. Nowadays the most common communication method is the use of internet. Objectives of the study include creating a Smart classroom in Schools in Sri Lanka beyond the traditional methods of teaching learning process. Methodology was done quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Student who are currently learning media as a subject for advanced level of two schools in Gampaha district were selected. Qualitative analysis was done by identifying usage of modern technological instruments and the difficult units in the media subject among students. Further data was analyzed by SPSS software quantitatively. Self-analysis was done by referring books and sources of internet. The usage of modern technological instruments among students in selected schools were high in their leisure time. Main modern instruments were listed as smart phones, tablets computers. Entrainment as well as the knowledge can be given with modern technological instruments was resulted. In addition to the traditional teaching learning methods among students in the schools in Sri Lanka be supposed to practice with new technological methods was suggested.Item Energy Poverty in the transition from a Lower Income to a Middle-Income Country with special reference to Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Musafer, N.; Kularatne, M.G.The Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals of 2015 have clearly identified energy access as a pre-requisite to achieving broader development goals. Sri Lanka, having a per capita GDP of USD 3,835 (2016), and a national poverty headcount ratio of 6.7% (2012/13), is a lower middle-income country, with significant progress in human development, and social indicators. This paper investigates into the shifts in energy consumption behaviour with the transition of Sri Lanka to a lower middle-income country, and the presence of energy poverty in the country using secondary data. Poverty and energy deprivation go hand-in-hand. Energy poverty yet to be clear define with a consensus, it is ill defined, complex and multidimensional concept and not adequately captured or measured in a single quantitative indicator. Energy poverty is hard to compare between two nations due to heterogeneity of the inherent characteristics. In Sri Lanka, per capita consumption of household cooking fuel has increased from 171kg to 252 kg of LPG equivalent from fuelwood, LPG and kerosene from 2003/04 to 2012/13, while per capita domestic electricity consumption has been maintained around 226 kWh and 210 kWh respectively. Using per capita threshold values for cooking fuel as 35kg of LPG or equivalent and 120kWh of electricity to be energy poor. In the meantime, Sri Lanka has maintained lower levels of energy intensity compared to other similar nations. As for electricity consumption by the domestic sector, the per capita household electricity consumption for lighting and other general purposes has also declined from 226kWh to 210kWh per capita from 2003/04 to 2012/13 respectively. One major reason for the reduction could be the use of energy efficient appliances, but this behavior is contrary to some other studies. In conclusion, considering a threshold of 120kWh of electricity per capita to define energy poverty, again Sri Lanka demonstrate that she has not been an energy poverty nation during latter part of it being a low income developing country.Item A Sociological study on the influence of the internet on the increase of child abuse in Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Silva, H.S.N.; Asangika, K.P.S.Children are the most precious wealth of the nation as well as the universal symbol of the naivety and beauty. According to the child rights convention of United Nations, the term “children” is defined as the group below the age of 18 years. Moreover, biologically, a child is introduced as an individual who is physically, mentally and socially immature .child abuse is the process in which children are misused and maltreated. Thus, it can be further defined as misusing children physically, mentally or sexually and bluntly harassing them. Herein there are several ways in which a child is abound. They can be named and neglected harassments. At present the internet is prominent among new technological media. However, children are abused in several ways through the use of the internet .this research focuses on the different ways of child abuses that are caused through the use of the internet. The problem of this research is how that internet use influential on the child abuse. The re-objective is to identify the behavioral changes and deviance occurred among the children due to the internet use. There in data obtained from a semi- structured interviews and questionnaires using an purposive sample of 100 students from 10 schools:05 schools from Padaviya in north central province, 05 schools from Colombo , Dehiwala, Mount laviniya from western province and 20 teachers of the selected 10 schools were qualitatively analyzed by the spss software. Accordingly, it was realized that the internet affected directly and indirectly to the child abuses. The violence activities increase viewing pornographic materials tendency of doing risky things. Here, rural and urban limitations could not be identified in sri Lankan students using the internet. Accordingly, the nature of the use of the internet by school children is not much affected by the condition of their schools or the located area of their school.Item Effectiveness of Communicating Cultural Values of Folk Tales to Children(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Thilakarathne, R.N.D.The objective of this study is to identify the Effectiveness of communicating cultural values through folk tales to children (Storytelling). Folk tales content are rich on cultural values and good lessons. Therefore using Folk tales on storytelling to children can used as a media to communicate and inculcate our cultural value's and good lessons to children. In depth understanding of the the role played by folk tales in cultural communication and their symbolic communication methods will help to use folk tales in developing child hood. In order to achieve the objectives, a qualitative analysis was done on the communicating cultural values through telling folktales (storytelling) to children in Sri Lanka. The Primary data were collected and analyzed from the 5 selected Sri Lankan folktales and number of 50 children below 10 years old. After story telling done to them and folk tales listened by children questionnaire related to the cultural values taught in the folk tales asked and answers recorded. Further they were asked to create and present stories based on presented folk tales and evaluated the effectiveness of the outcome of storytelling. Further Qualitative data were gathered from 20 parents and educators by conducting focused interviews and discussions with them. Results from the first shows that folk tales does visual excitement in mind which cause to change the attitudes and develop the creativity with intrapersonal communication in children. Through the cultural communication, children acquired the cultural values and principles of the Sri Lankan society from storytelling of folk tales and it helps to have sound primary socialization within the child. Except above findings, parents participated on the focus interview revealed that they don't have enough time to tell stories to children and they are not entraining children with folktales and hence tend to give electronic devises(Tabs, Phones, Laptops and Etc.) to surf internet to animated fairy tales and cartoons to substitute with storytelling. Accordingly children watch and listen fairy tales and cartoons developed in other country with the values and beliefs of that country rather than watching or listening Sri Lankan folktales.Item Investigate the issues in applying the Machine Readable Cataloguing Standard for the library automation in University Libraries in Sri Lanka(4th International Conference on Social Sciences 2018, Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Rathnayaka, R.M.D.P.; Ven.Rewatha, P.Machine Readable Catalogue (MARC) is not a kind of catalogue and is a method of cataloguing based on computer or machine. In 1960, Computers had been used for cataloguing purposes. MARC I, MARC II, UNIMARC and MARC 21 are some of the catalogue standards were introduced in later. 15 University Libraries and two other higher Educational Institution libraries used Open Source and Commercial Library software for automation. The objective was to investigate the issues and loopholes in applying MARC standards for automation in university libraries in Sri Lanka. The Survey design was the method of the study and the sample of the study was Simple Random Sample, 5 University Libraries were selected. A structured questionnaire delivered for 5 for University Librarians. 15 for Senior Assistant Librarians, 10 for Assistant Librarians, 5 for those engaged in the catalogue using MARC and 25 Library Assistants for obtaining primary data. In addition, discussions, interviews, observation and searching Online Public Access Catalogues were applied for primary data collection. Three out of 5 University libraries used KOHA. ALICE FOR WINDOWS and LIBSYS were used in other two libraries. Library using KOHA adopt MARC 21 on rudimentary basis while other libraries apply their own inbuilt standard based on the Library Software. According to the study, there is no proper MARC standard followed as well as no proper levels applied seen. The awareness level of staff on MARC and its use were very low. The complexity of MARC and its diversified fields was the main obstacle they face and 55% of staff endorsed the fact. Due to the time, wasting and related problems were evolved. As solutions, training and awareness programs on MARC and its application should be conducted for the staff. They have to be motivated by giving an interest and awareness for them. 80% of the staff endorsed that proper MARC standard system should be introduced for the use of university libraries. It is proposed a Uniform MARC standard system should be established under the National Library and Documentation Service Board, Sri Lanka.