International Conference on the Humanities (ICH)

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Sound without Fury: The Decline of an Isolated Community of Drum-Makers in Central Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Alawathukotuwa, M.
Kuragala is identified a‘low caste’ village situated in the UdunuwaraDivisional Secretariat of the Kandy distract. All the residents of this village belong to theRodi caste which is recognized as the lowest caste group according to the Sinhalese caste hierarchy.Currently 16 families are engaged in manufacturing traditional local drums such as Getabera, Daul, Tammattam, low country drum, Udakki, and Bummadi, as well as internationally-used classical and popular drums such as Tabla, Mridangam, Maddala, and various other kinds of instruments at present. Initially these drums were entirely hand-crafted, but soon the villagers were granted electronically powered lathe machines by the government to facilitate the faster carving of drum logs.Apart from this occupation they have become involved in different types of “traveling businesses” such as selling mats, carpets and mattresses since they are unable to make ends meet by selling drums. Three men and one woman have obtained employment in the government sector such as hospital attendants. The objectives of this study are to analyze the changes of these people, their traditional craftsmanship and other social and cultural practices pertaining to this community. Viewing them as a Discourse Community, I shall focus on how they are able to sustain a specific cultural identity, even though the Sinhala Buddhist mainstream have classed them as “Rodiyas” at the same time assimilated into the society of Upcountry Kandyan Buddhists of Kuragala.This study will be framed as a development of John Swales’ pioneering work on discourse communities through incorporating Arjuna Parakrama’s insights on subalternity to better understand the survival, coping and resistance strategies of marginalized caste-based artisan communities that are fighting mechanization and the capitalization of such specialized niche markets.
Current developments in dance in China: The inheritance and development of traditional dance in contemporary times
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Nini, D.
As the continuous development of global economies, the progress of science and technology and cultural communication, distances in the world have been reduced, The developments in science and technology have affected our appreciation of traditional culture and art. In such a background, the development of traditional art is facing a severe test. The dance disciplines in China include the following: (1) contemporary classical dance, which takes western ballet training as the main mode, combined with Chinese drama and martial arts and modern aesthetic views. (2) classical dance of the Han and Tang Dynasties, or Chinese Hantang dance, which was formally established in the Beijing Dance Academy in 2001, and has now gained praise and recognition locally and internationally. While the former abandons classical dance influence of a modern aesthetic, the latter focuses on traditional culture as a creative premise, respecting the spirit of the times and preserving the traditional spiritual civilization. Four factors need to be considered in order to develop these traditions: Preventing external cultural influences, in-depth study to promote the understanding of cultural characteristics of every age, remaining faithful to the traditional aesthetic values of the times, and safeguarding traditional culture even while taking modern aesthetic standards into consideration.
The Apotheosis of Seethawaka Rajasinghe I: The God Ganegoda
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayasundara, M.B.B.
The tales related to the origin of the ethereal phenomena is one important aspect of folklore. Most of these stories expose the elevation of a famous person in society to divinity through his potent abilities and persona. According to religious concepts and widespread social belief, as a consequence of a person engaged in meritorious deeds will be reborn as a god; a sublime being. However some mortals were turned into gods not because of the good qualities they have possessed or displayed during their life span, but because of their ferociousness. The god Ganegoda who is popular in the regions of Seethawake could be considered a god who demonstrated the latter quality. According to folklore Ganegoda is the incarnation of RajasingheI, who was the greatest ruler of the kingdom of Seethawake. RajasingheI, a war-hero who had massacred thousands of Portuguese was fondly remembered by people as a ruler who fought vehemently for the sovereignty of the motherland. Yet, he has a low estimation as a power hungry son who committed patricide. Further it is a well known fact that he had engaged in sacrilegious acts and later converted into Saivasim. The historical facts and existing folklore prove that RajasingheI was elevated into divinity mainly because of his warrior skills, which the general public fears, and thus honours him.This study aims to examine the concept of the god Ganegoda by analyzing the historical as well as the folkloric sources and data collected during field expeditions.
The Globalization of Hindi
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Chaturvedi, M.
Hindi is spoken by 800-900 million people at present, making it one of the three most spoken languages in the world. In India alone, where more than 400 dialects and languages are spoken, Hindi is spoken by more than 26 crore of population. With global interaction, communication in trade and business, commerce, science and technology, art and culture, andeducation, the Hindi has spread all over the world. Today, the speakers of Hindi are found worldwide, in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Guyana, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, New Zealna, the Philippines, Singapore, Italy, France, Russia, Korea and Hungary. Mauritius,Surinam, Fiji, and Trinidad deserve special mention because the language was established through the settlements of Indian labourers during the British Raj, who continue to preserved their language, religion and customs in these countries. Hindi is accepted as a formal language of UNESCO, while there are constant efforts to make Hindi one of the languages of the United Nations Organisation, along with English Spanish, Chinese, Russian, French and Arabic Hindi is taught at various levels in over 70 countries and in 175 universities. This paper examines various aspects of the growth and spread of Hindi including its effect on contemporary culture, cinema, advertising, its role as a language of the internet, and the developments in teaching Hindi.
The Influence of Indian Diaspora on the Politics of the Host Country: the United States
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Sakunthala, H.M.M.
The term ‘diaspora' originally associates with the dispersion of Jews living amongst Gentiles. In the modern context, the definition of the term has expanded to give meaning to people living outside their homelands, but nevertheless, maintaining a relationship with them.Diasporas may either blend well with the host country or attempt to keep their distinctive cultures alive.Among the many diasporas in the world, the Indian diaspora by far has become a powerful community regardless of the host country they live in.The first Indians arrived in the United States in the beginning of the twentieth century. They experienced many racial hardships. At one point, Asians were banned from entering the United States with the Asian Exclusion League and later were prohibited to own lands with the Alien Land Law in 1913. Yet, in the modern times, the Indian diaspora stands as one of the strongest, most influential groups that create an impact in the ‘mutlicultural melting pot’ of America. They have risen from the grassroot level workers such as labourers to an academically, professionally, and economically powerful, well established group of people who are influential ethically and politically. There are more than one and a half million Indians living in the United States today, transforming the politics of their host country as time passes. This research attempts to find out whether the Indian diaspora has actually transformed from an insignificant group to a powerful group in the host country they live in, and how strongly their influence is felt in the host country. The research may pave the way to understanding the Sri Lankan diaspora’s role in the homeland and the host country in the future.
The influence of magical realism in the novels of Mohan Raj Madavala
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Lasika, S.R.
A major propensity that could be seen in the field of universal novels during the decades of 1960's and 70's was a mere exploration of alternative remodeling configurations which transgress the remodeling forms of realism. In particular, the objective and psychogenic convolutions of the existing social-political realities that could be comprehended better and a popular form of reconstruction which emerged as an approach of remodeling them in a complex form was magical realism. Magical realism was introduced as a concept by the German Literary critic Frank Rove, and was popularized in world literature particularly through Latin American writers. Western writers developed their creations incorporating the concept of magical realism generating it as an effective intersection between illusion and realism. When investigating into how Sinhala novels were influenced by magical realism, it becomes apparent from interviews with critics that their attention has been drawn to novels compiled by Mohan Raj Madawala who entered the field of writing recently. The impression of most literary critics is that novelists in our country experiment with magical realism in their creations without understanding the exact meaning of the genre. Their view is that they use illusion or magic divorced from realism without any base. However, it becomes clear that this opinion is incorrect while conducting this study on novels namely Magam Soliya, Loveena and Adaraneeya Victoria written by Mohan Raj Madawala. This study examines the features of magical realism in these three novels. In this research, it became evident that certain illusory phenomena subjected to the supposition of Madawala are completely divorced from socio-political realities. It is expected to associate the novels of Mohan Raj Madawala and the other works enabling to identify magical realism as a concept.
Re-Building American Self-identity through the “Muslim Other”:A Study of Positioning the Muslim as the “Terrorist” in Post 9/11 American Cinema
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Pathberiya, P.A.N.
September 11 2001 was the date that the United States of America was plunged into a state of cataclysm. Given the magnitude of the September 11 attacks, a noticeable emergence of a distinctive cinematic category, centered on this attack and its consequences and affiliations, is discernible in the post September 11 era. In this particular context, a considerable number of post–September eleven American films are observed to bedepicting the Muslim as a “violent other”. This study focuses on three such films from American cinema; The Kingdom (2007) by Peter Berg, Body of Lies (2008) by Ridley Scott and Traitor (2008) by Jeffrey Nachmanoff. The intended outcome of the study, through a meticulous analysis of the above cinematic works, is to discover the socio-political reasons and rationales behind the ideological distortions of the image of the Muslims in the abovementioned cinematic works. While this discourse is mainly substantiated by Edward Said’s theoretical study of Orientalism, it highlights how the previous ethno-religious identity of “the Muslim” is now re-structured through a political identity; the “terrorist other”. In the global political arena, having the United States’ identity of “supremacy and authority” jeopardized after September 11, these cinematic works stand – even though they are fantasies – as a “fictional remedy” or a “ideological foundation” of re-building the globally lost self-identity of America. Thus, the new ideology perceives the Muslim through cultural and religious components, which are a blend with a negative undertone. In contrast to the “vehement Muslim other”, America is depicted as the “savior” nation with the overarching idea that the humanity, peace and order are the “American’s Burden”. Further observations through a theoretical scope reveal how America subtly engages in a task of politically re-mapping and re-defining the world in relation to the “terrorist others”.
The Bewitchment of the Humanities
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Gunasekera, M.
The Keynote Address of the International Conference of the Humanities 2015 deals with the dynamics and pitfalls of research in the vast area of the Humanities. Beginning with its origin in Philosophy, the study of language, in Wittgenstein’s terms, has led to a form of bewitchment of our intelligence. This research paper traces the links of language study with the Social Sciences, Humanities and Cognitive Sciences and concludes with the dilemmas of research in the 21st century.
A comparative study of the modern and Buddhist time management systems (with reference to the Buddha’s Daily Routine)
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Pathirana, R.M.
Time Management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity. The Buddha is an ideal ensample for leaders who are in the management field. Buddha’s time management is useful for modern aspects of management and for every person in the society to manage their lives. This research paper reveals those facts with reference to Buddha’s daily routine. The Buddha performed his duties systematically in accordance with a prearranged plan. His whole day was divided into five parts which were namely; the forenoon session, the afternoon session, the first watch, the middle watch and the last watch. The Buddha slept only for one hour at night. For two solid hours at noon and at dawn he pervaded the whole world with thoughts of Metta – loving kindness. The Buddha tirelessly worked in this manner till his eightieth year. He displayed that time is very important to the success of people and taught us to save time. We can include it to modern management theories. If a person wants to achieve his goals, he must work on time without being sluggish. Most researchers do not focus attention on Buddhist time management. The main focus of this research is heavily based on selected literary sources that include the Tripitaka: Sanyutthanikāya, Deeghanikāya, Dhammapadapāli etc.).
Present Tense in Jaffna Tamil and Sinhala: A Contrastive Study
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Senthuran, S.
While Tamil and Sinhala are the major linguistic groups in SriLanka society, they belong to the Dravidian and Indo-Aryan language families respectively. Contrastive studies in linguistics, particularly in the areas of morphology and syntax in grammatical studies, are of importance. While morphology consists of both noun and verb morphology, the latter is the focus of this study. Verb morphology expresses the internal structure of the verbs, with tenses playing a main role. Although tenses express the time distinctions in all languages through verb forms, the structures of verbs differ from language to language. Morphologically there are three different tenses in Jaffna Tamil, the present tense, the past tense, and the future tense. The perfect tense and progressive forms are mostly found in Literary Tamil. Jaffna spoken Tamil does not have a one to one correlation with different tenses. The present tense is often used instead of the future tense in spoken Tamil. In spoken Sinhala there are two main tenses, the past and the non-past. The non-past tense includes present and future tenses. There are also perfect, progressive, past and present emphatic forms. The Tamil data represent the researcher’s own dialect, the Jaffna spoken Tamil, and the Sinhala data represent standard Spoken Sinhala. The main objective of this paper is to highlight the similarities and the dissimilarities of the past tense in the spoken form of these two languages. This study employs contrastive and descriptive methodology.
Social Background of Hindi Short Stories of the Malwanchal province
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Qureshi, S.
The advent of Hindi short stories in the Indian society can be traced back to before 20th century. During the 1980’s many writers contributed creative writings for short stories but they were confused between long and short stories. The tradition of Hindi short stories can be seen from century’s process and have now come to a very powerful stage. During 1980s different type of short story writings came in to society such as Hithoperdesh and Panchathanthra these short stories were carrying quotes and messages with imaginative descriptions. At the end of the 20th century many changes came in to Hindi short story literature and the keen interest of short stories slowly went down and also not many writers kept continue writing short stories, however writers were born in every decade to precede the interest of short stories among our people.In today’s machinery busy life is full of stories and story literature brings the area that explains the feelings, emotions, problems of modern culture and the similarities and differentiations of Indian society and nation.Short story plays a very vital role in explaining problems in our society and the writers try to point out the causes of problems very efficiently. Short stories have its own power to shake the minds of people and force them in to a deep thinking of the consequence of problems in our society. By each and every word these writers ask to lead people’s mind with thoughtful ideas.Among all different types of literature short story plays a vital role in society and it has power to explain people’s tendency with thoughtful ideas and limited words which provide a greater meaning to the society.This particular research will be conducted as a study of the social background of Hindi short stories of Malwanchal province.
An overview on the Writing Test Performance of ESL Learners at the University Test for English language-UTEL
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Ravindran, S.
The University Test on English language (UTEL) is an annual English Language test conducted simultaneously in all the universities in Sri Lanka to test the undergraduates’ proficiency levels in the four language skills. The test is conducted both through face to face and online modes. The purpose of the test is to enable the target group to know their proficiency levels in all four skills and to motivate them to improve their levels of English in order to uplift their employability. This paper discusses the performance at the University Test on English Language (UTEL) in writing skills, conducted in 2014 by the universities in Sri Lanka. A common writing test was administered to the target group to gauge the proficiency level in writing skill. The objective of the study is to find the common mistakes found in the performance in writing tests and to present an overviewon the writing test performance of ESL learners’ performances in two writing tasks.Sixty answer scripts from threedifferent universities were utilized asdata for the study. The answer scripts were corrected based on UTEL bench marking scales or descriptors and graded. Quantitative methodology was utilized to analyze the data. Thegeneral mistakes in their performances in writing test were analyzed. The findings show that the participants have made similar mistakes in writing the two tasks irrespective of their universities.The study has an implication of applying the suggestions in making better performance in writing skills at the UTELin order to enable the target group to obtain proficiency in writing skills.
Theatre or anti-theatre: An analysis of characteristics in absurd theatre and its classification as theatre
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Rajapaksha, U.D.
Absurdism or Absurd theory is a prominent offspring of the Second World War. The genre explores the futile and existentialist nature of human life, the breaking down of all logic and communication in a godless universe. Many European authors were influenced by this experimental movement during the post war era, thus resulting in an absurdist fiction. Eugene Ionesco and Samuel Beckettbrought this movement into the limelight. All these authorstook great care to distance themselves from all conventional forms of theatre.The characteristics of absurd theatre differ from conventional theatre to such an extent, that the playwrights themselves referred to their works as “anti-theatre”. These works are considered to be anti-thematic, anti-ideologic and anti-realist. Thus, the focus of the research is to explore the anti-theatrical characteristics in Ionesco’s “Cantatrice Chauve” (The Bold Soprano) in comparison to conventional theatre, and the possibility of it being justified as an actualform of theatre. This study seeks to answer three major questions; What defines conventional theatre? What defines absurd theatre? Can absurd theatre be considered as “theatre”?Thus the research intends to identify the characteristics of the conventional theatre and those of the absurd theatre in order to make a comparison. Furthermore, the research will ascertain the possibility of absurd theatre being categorized as real theatre. Hypothetically speaking, absurd theatre, with its anti-theatrical characteristics, cannot be considered as “theatre”.Initially, in a qualitative approach, the researcher will identify the characteristics of both conventional and absurd theatre. The title, theme, characters, events, action, stage settings, stage directions and structure of the two forms will be closely observed and analyzed. Secondly, the research will include a detailed analysis of Eugene Ionesco’s “Bold Soprano” (La Cantatrice Chauve). Absurdist literature has appealed to the researcher’s interest due to its novel and refreshing nature. This new school of thought represents a shift in the European ideologies. Thus the research would be an exploration of the collision between these old and new ideologies.
The importance of the "Daha Ata Sanniya" Android application for the local and international community
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayasinghe, R.A.N.
Folklore is one of the main elements to understand culture, traditions and rituals of a community. Sri Lanka had a close relationship with India in the past. As a result of that many traditions have been transmitted to the Sri Lankan community. The "Daha Ata Sanniya" is a traditional dance ritual held to exorcise eighteen types of diseases from the human body. Most Sri Lankan and the international community do not get the opportunity to witness it due to high performance cost and its long duration. The advancement of the technology, mobile phones and tablets has become a part of human life. Android applications have helped people to experience and share anything under the sun. Google has deployed a mission to develop Android applications for education, gaming, entertainment and so on. This will help people to gather more information all around the world. This paper discusses a newly created "Daha Ata Sanniya" Android application and how it helps to disseminate knowledge among local and international community. The paper will also discusses the importance of this application in the field of tourism.
Drama Translation: the problems and Solutions
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayasinghe, D.G.T.A.
Translating drama falls into the field of Literary Translation and it is considered quite complex as this deals with an audience of different types. At the same time a drama is to be enjoyed, understood and felt by the audience in the very place where it is staged. It is evident that educated people tend to read scripts of dramas, but the focus of this study is to find the difficulties in translating a drama not for the readers but for a live audience. The fact that an audience is not of equal understanding is the most felt difficulty. Translating taboos and slang, similes and metaphors, using language according to the context and characters, understanding the background of the original story and its setting and translating feelings can be cited as the other difficulties. The study was carried out using qualitative analysis with comparative methodology. However, a drama translator could overcome them by using matching similes, metaphors to the target audience. Moreover, slang and taboos can be used when necessary while not causing undue distress to the target audience. He should be familiar with both Source and Target Languages and their cultures.
Eco Friendly Approach of Ancient Monastic Architectural Landscape with Special Reference to the Construction Measures of Vessagiriya
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Sampath, D.S.; Malsiri, W.I.
In the ancient monastic architectural landscape of Sri Lanka, an environmentally friendly approach has been the key to the sustainability of the ancient construction. Broad strategies were adopted to synergize the built environment with the rest of the landscape, including rock formations, land, soil, flora, and fauna. Vessagiriya which belongs to the period from the 3rd century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. in the southern division of ancient Anuradhapura, is examined in this study as it is a paradigmatic example of converting the natural landscape into a cultural landscape in an eco-friendly manner. Numerous technologies adopted in Vessagiriya monastic construction across distinct archeological periods can be identified. Basically there are two types of monastic sites can be classified under two main folds; “open sites” and “caves”. Caves can be further sub divided into many different types such as natural caves, manmade caves, caves with walls, caves without walls, enlarged caves, non-enlarged caves, caves with paintings, caves without paintings, isolated caves and cave clusters. Open site monastic constructions had been practiced on flat lands, filled lands, rocky landscapes and top of rocks with filled soil. Staircases for different monastic constructions are also identical. The three main types of staircases are steps on natural rock, steps that are storied, and artificial steps. In addition, the plumbing system of Vessagiriya is also perfectly engineered. Most of the technical specifications observed in Vessagiriya bear a close resemblance to the construction measures of Sigiriya, which belongs to the period from the 5th century to 8th century A.D. Further, the Mahāvaṃsa proclaims that King Kasyapa the First who founded Sigiriya also renovated and developed Isurumuniya (presently known as Vessagiriya). The technical measures adopted at Vessagiriya display the sustainability of ancient construction technologies. The impressive relationship that existed between the environment, i. e. natural environment, built environment and cultural environment, and the ancient technological measures are worth noting.
A Study on the Awareness of Scholars regarding the Components of the Stupa with reference to University of Kelaniya
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayawardane, J.T.K.
The Stupa could be identified as a supreme symbol representing the Lord Buddha the most revered and venerated religious leader of Buddhists throughout the world. The Stupa commands a prominent place in the field of Buddhist architecture. The Stupa is also known as Seya, Chaitya, Thupaya, Vehera and Dagaba of which the primary meaning is relic chamber. The Stupa consists of six main components. They are the ‘Pesa Valalu’ (berms or terraces), ‘Dhattu Garbhaya’ (relic chamber), ‘Sathares Kotuwa’ (tee cube), ‘Devatha Kotuwa’ (cylindrical neck), ‘Koth Kerella’ (conical spire) or the ‘Kotha’. There is an identical meaning for each of these components. It is essential to recollect the meanings of these components when worshiping the Stupa. It creates a religious sentiment and acts as a cathartic agent in the mind of the devotee. Ascertaining the degree of awareness and reverence of Stupas within the present day Buddhists is the research problem of this study. The objective of this study is to ascertain the extent of knowledge of the different components of the Stupa and their meanings by scholars and to ascertain as to whether they indulge in worshipping Stupas as a means of catharsis. A sample of fifteen Buddhist Scholars from each of the faculties namely Social Sciences, Humanities, Management and Science in the University of Kelaniya was selected for this study. The questionnaire method was adapted as the instrument to collect data. The data analysis indicated that university scholars who are a well informed group do not possess a considerable knowledge regarding the Stupa, and that they merely worship the Stupas as an instrument of catharsis. As the final conclusion, the significance of the awareness of people regarding Stupas could be identified as a means of permanence of Buddhism in the future.
Awareness of the Domestic Tourists on Historical Paintings at Dambulla Cave Temple
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Weerasingha, G.B.I.; Rathnayake, M.V.R.M.S.
The Dambulla Cave Temple is in existence since 300 B.C. and has been occupied continuously until the present. The paintings at the site are considered the largest collection of ancient paintings in Sri Lanka. The site has attracted international tourists due to it being named a UNESCO World Heritage site while it has attracted domestic tourists due to its religious significance. Domestic tourists are not entirely aware of the historical and heritage value of the site or the paintings. This study focuses on the extent to which domestic visitors have been aware of the paintings of Dambulla Cave Temple. The main objective of the study was to identify the awareness, knowledge, and perception of the domestic visitors on the paintings. Another objective wasto identify the effectiveness of the information provided at the site for the domestic visitors. The research was based on field survey methodology where 50 domestic visitors were interviewed using structured questionnaires. The sample was randomly selected at the site and represented both the younger generation and senior citizens. Most of the domestic visitors lack knowledge of the historical value and they are not provided basic information on the paintings. The younger generation has acquired basic knowledge on the paintings unlike the senior citizens who have been attracted to the site only due to its religious value. Though the site management has implemented an adequate approach to information dissemination, most of the domestic visitors do not access this information. Domestic tourists needs to be provided with the services of local guidesin order to understand the value of the paintings.
The Impact of Communication on Attitudes of Rural Women in Gemidiriya Microfinance Operations: A Case Study Based in the Hattellegoda GS Division (Rathnapura District)
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Karunadasa, K.L.E.
Gemidiriya as a major community development program in Sri Lanka has introduced Microfinance (MF) operationsas a key poverty reduction strategy. In the context of introducing MF operations to women, communication can play a significant role to motivate women, because, the application of appropriate communication methods and strategies can directly influence in the success or failure of development programs. Somehow application of communication as a tool to strengthen MF in Sri Lanka has gained scant attention and evaluation. The objective of this study was to examine the communication strategies used and also their impact on women’s attitude towards MF operations to achieve its target. The secondary objectives are to examine the traditional communication methods used and explore whether the microfinance information can change the attitudes of rural women.This study was conducted in Hattellegoda Gemidiriya village organizationin Rathnapura. To carry out the study, qualitative methods were used, namely, case studies, in-depth interviews and field observations. The study found that several communication strategies applied in MF operationshave helped to motivate changing attitudesof women positively at different stages of the project.Interpersonal oral communication is most powerful in all project stagesas it has been used toclarify MF related matters conveniently. HoweverICT as a main communication strategy has not made a major impactto encourage women to engage in MF operations. Yet, it has played a supportive role in conducting administrative functions. Gemidiriya field officers have played a strategic and interactive role in changing attitudes of women at the project’s introductory and implementation stages using communication strategies and methods for their consultation. After the completion of the project, women were familiar with the MF system and had confidencein conducting MF activities. All rural women in the sample had benefited from MF operations. This study concludes that appropriate communication strategies in MF activities at different stages can change attitudes positively in women to achieve the MF tasks. It proves that communication is a powerful tool to influence rural women to change attitudes and promote MF activities in community development operations.
Singing Tradition among the Bawa Community of the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Azhar, J.M.
The oral tradition of the Bawa community of the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka began 200 years ago when the first Bawas arrived from Nagoor (India) and settled down in Beruwala, Batticaloa and Akkaraipattu. At present, members of the community live in coastal areas including Jaffna. A unique feature of this community is their tradition of singing Islamic Devotional songs referred to as “Bawa Paatu”. It is believed that in the 1980s over 5000 Bawas were engaged singing, but today the number has dwindled to 80 or 100. This unique style of singing was adopted and popularized by Mohideen Beig. Although mainstream Islam in Sri Lanka today does not accept devotional singing, BawaPaatu is not forbidden by Moulavis. Bawas maintain their own mosques in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka where devotional songs are sung. During the flag hoisting ceremony (KoḍiEṭṭam) in the Sufi Mosques of for example, The practice of mosque trustees inviting Bawas to perform at flag hoisting ceremonies in Sufi mosques, such as Kecchimalai in Beruwala, Jailani in Katharagama, and Kadakara in Kalmunai). Bawas also visit homes to collect alms, or “Kaanikai” from those who have taken vows (“Nercchai”). They organize pilgrimages to the tombs of Sufi Saints. In the Eastern Province, at special events such as “Kanthoori” which is held to evoke rains, Bawas are invited to sing at mosques maintained by the Sufi Community. Bawas are also known to sing the famous song “Sahar, Sahar” to wake up the community for early morning “Sahar Meal” during Ramazan fasting. Accompanying on the Rabana called “Dahara”, Bawas are known to sing “Moulooth” at Sufi Mosques when the congregation of Sufis join in the group song. This study seeks to describe, analyse and document the cultural role the Bawas play in contemporary Sri Lanka within the Muslim Community. Interviews were conducted with members of the Bawa community in Akkaraipattu and Thampalagamam in the Eastern Province. Participants also included the oldest member of the community who provided valuable information. This presentation focuses on the different singing Traditions of the Bawa communities centered around two families. In addition to in-depth interviews, audio and video recordings were also made in order to documentthe participants of the study singing devotional songs. Documentation of this discourse community is important as the tradition of singing among the Bawas is dying, with many members of the community seeking other occupations. Today they move into other occupations, and the singing tradition is fast dying. The overall objective is to document this tradition which was once popular among the Muslims of Sri Lanka.