University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Journals & Proceedings
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Assessment of Social Footprint of RSS Manufacturing using Social Life Cycle Assessment; A Case Study in a RSS Factory in Sri Lanka
No full textSri Lanka is one of the pioneers of producing high quality natural rubber in the world. Being one of the key players in the natural rubber industry, Ribbed Smoked Sheets (RSS) manufacturing has also become one of the rapidly expanding industries in the world and it has a high rate of environmental and social impacts. Although the environmentally sustainable aspect has been addressed through several existing Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) methods, proper social sustainability assessment has yet to be addressed. To address this issue, Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is performed to trace the social footprint of RSS manufacturing by tracing the assessment of potential impacts on six stakeholder groups. Workers, Local Community, Value Chain Actors, Society, Children, and Consumers. SLCA systematically assesses the social impact of a product. Most existing SLCAs only highlight negative impacts and their reductions or rarely trace positive social impacts and their increments. But positive social impacts highlight opportunities to improve human well-being and present a complete picture of a product's overall social impact. To fill this gap, “More Good and Less Bad” method is introduced for impact assessment. The More Good and Less Bad method describes the positive changes in good and bad social states. It introduces two new terms into SLCA which are “more-good” (improvements within the good domain) and “less-bad” (improvements within the bad domain). Good and bad social domains are distinguished using compliance levels (e.g., industry standards), which are referred to as baseline requirements. The evaluation of the social impact level of the organization is performed using a novel social performance index (SPI). The SPI is computed by multiplying social performance levels by worker hours at the factory/company level. Social performance levels are determined using a novel decision tree and a systematically proposed set of indicators representing basic requirements and the good and bad domains of each subcategory. Worker hours were used as an activity variable, enabling the application of the SPI to the entire supply chain of a product; it can be evaluated using a worker hour model. The 'Cradle-to-gate' approach is used, which involves rubber tapping to RSS production.
Keywords: SLCA, Positive social impacts, Negative social impacts, Social performance index, Human well-being, Ribbed smoked sheet
Urban Parks as Catalysts for Sustainable Land Use: Enhancing Climate Resilience in Colombo Urban Area
No full textRapid urbanization in Colombo has intensified environmental challenges, notably the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which results in higher temperatures in urban areas compared to rural surroundings. Through their Park Cool Island (PCI) effect, urban parks serve as critical tools in mitigating UHI by creating cooler micro-climates within cities. This study investigates the role of park characteristics in mitigating the UHI effect across five major urban parks in Colombo: Viharamahadevi Park (VMDP), Diyasaru Park (DP), Diyatha Uyana Park (DUP), Nugegoda Urban Wetland Park (NUWP), and National Sandalwood Garden (NSG), which range in size from 3.66 ha to 29.31 ha. Data was collected between September 2023 and February 2024, incorporating field-based temperature measurements, satellite imagery analysis, and vegetation surveys. PCI intensity, defined as the temperature difference between park interiors and surrounding urban areas, ranged from 0.25°C to 1.46°C, with an average PCI intensity of 0.98±0.21 °C. Larger parks and those with higher canopy density provided greater cooling effects. For instance, Diyasaru Park, spanning 29.31 ha with a canopy density of 88.3%, exhibited the highest PCI intensity of 1.46°C. Conversely, the National Sandalwood Garden, covering 3.66 ha with minimal vegetation, recorded the lowest PCI intensity of 0.25°C. Canopy density exceeding 80% was particularly crucial, enhancing PCI by over 1.0 °C on average. Quantitative analysis revealed significant positive correlations between PCI intensity and other vegetation attributes such as tree basal area (R²=0.868), tree height (R²=0.784), diameter at breast height (R²=0.757), and stem density (R²=0.717). Key Park characteristics such as layout (area and perimeter) and vegetation structure (tree height, DBH, stem density, basal area, and canopy density) significantly influenced PCI intensity. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating robust green infrastructure into urban planning. Parks with larger areas and higher vegetation densities are critical assets for urban climate resilience, mitigating thermal stress and promoting sustainable land use. Policymakers and urban planners should prioritize enhancing vegetation attributes, particularly canopy density and tree characteristics to maximize cooling benefits. Additionally, strategic interventions such as increasing tree diversity and optimizing park layouts can further enhance cooling effects. This study provides actionable insights for developing climate adaptive urban landscapes, reinforcing the pivotal role of urban parks in achieving sustainable development goals and improving urban life quality.
Keywords: Sustainable land use, Park cool island, Climate resilience, Urban planning, Sustainable developmen
A Case Study on the Integration of Organic Farming Practices to Enhance the Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishermen through Wetland Conservation in the Bolgoda Lake Region
Get PDFSince early 2023, a community-based initiative has been implemented in the Bolgoda Lake region, Sri Lanka, focusing on integrating organic farming practices to enhance the livelihoods of local farmers and fishermen while improving the environmental health of wetlands. Wetlands play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, regulating water quality, and supporting the socio-economic resilience of communities. This study evaluates how the adoption of organic farming practices has contributed to sustainable wetland conservation, environmental restoration, and economic growth. The project, conducted between March 2023 and August 2024, involved the training of farmers and fishermen in organic farming methods during the first six months, followed by 12 months of monitoring their progress. Monthly assessments were conducted to measure increases in income from organic product sales, changes in soil health, and the broader ecological impact of organic fertilizer-based farming practices. Historical pre-project data on income levels, soil conditions, and the availability of economically significant crops were also collected to establish a baseline for evaluation. Key findings reveal that organic farming has led to higher incomes for farmers and provided supplementary income opportunities for fishermen through diversified activities. By eliminating the use of chemical fertilizers, this initiative has secured water quality and fostered a flourishing ecosystem with organic vegetation. The wetlands are at a better state at present with improved soil health and a reduction in harmful agricultural runoff. The community has come together through this initiative, forming a collaborative group to ensure the long-term success of these practices. Development in the region spans social, economic, and environmental dimensions, demonstrating how community-driven conservation can synergize livelihood enhancement with ecological preservation. This study concludes that integrating organic farming practices with wetland conservation provides a replicable model for sustainable development, improving biodiversity and strengthening the socio-economic stability of wetland-dependent communities.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Wetlands, Organic farming, Livelihoods, Conservatio
The Thickness of the Shallow-Depth Hardpans on Soil Hydraulic Characteristics
No full textSoil-water relations in terrestrial ecosystems are characterized by the set of attributes collectively referred to as soil hydraulic characteristics. Soil hydraulic characteristics play an important role in determining the capacity of soil to serve the crop growth and ecosystem. Subsurface compaction in soil or shallow depth hardpan development, which can vary from a few millimeters to meters, is one of the crucial factors that determine soil hydraulic characteristics. However, information lacks on how the thickness of the hardpan (THP) influences the soil hydraulic characteristics of the soil. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the effects of THP on the initial infiltration rate (Ii), unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (KUNSAT) and sorptivity (Sw) of soil using moderate thickness levels of 1 (THP1), 3 (THP3) and 5 cm (THP5), prepared using 1.7 gcm-3 bulk density and with 0 cm as the control (without hardpan). The soil used in the study was collected from the field in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna (6° 03 '29"N 80° 34' 13"E). The area is in the low country wet zone (WL2) agro-ecological region. PVC tubes with 10.5 cm inner diameter and 30 cm in height were used to prepare the soil columns used in the experiment. The readings were taken in triplicates, using Mini disk infiltrometer. The depth to the hardpan from the surface was kept at 3 cm. All soil columns with hardpans showed significantly low Ii, KUNSAT and Sw values compared with the control. The highest Ii, KUNSAT and SW showed in the control, and it was about 60 cmh-1, 21 cm h-1 and 0.14 cms-1 respectively. The Ii, KUNSAT and SW in soil columns gradually decreased with the increase of THP. Ii of soil columns with THP5 showed approximately 4.5% reduction than the THP3. The KUNSAT of soil columns with THP3 showed approximately 29.5% reduction and 42% increment than those soil columns with THP1 and THP5 respectively. The results revealed that the presence of soil hardpans has a negative influence on Ii, KUNSAT and SW, even THP1 can significantly reduce the water movements in the soil matrix. Furthermore, it was clear that THP3 and THP5 can reduce water movements to almost negligible levels, which would create subsurface water-logging conditions.
Keywords: Hardpan, Thickness, Subsurface, Infiltration, Hydraulic conductivit
Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics and its Impact on Land Surface Temperature in the Ratnapura Municipal Council Area, Sri Lanka
No full textUnplanned urban growth and land use/land cover (LULC) changes are critical global challenges for towns and cities. Urbanization significantly alters land surfaces, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions like South and Southeast Asia. This study analyzes LULC dynamics in Ratnapura, the capital city of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, from 2006 to 2024, and assesses the impact of these changes on land surface temperature (LST) using time-series Landsat data and geospatial techniques. The study utilizes freely available medium-resolution satellite images, specifically Landsat TM (2006) and Landsat 8, 9 OLI/TIRS (2013, 2018, and 2024). A pixel-oriented supervised classification method was used to monitor LULC changes during this period, while LST was calculated using the same data. Vegetation and built-up areas were evaluated through Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI). Results reveal a 103.3% increase in built-up areas, along with decreases in forest cover (27.19%), agricultural land (24.37%), and other land uses (77.20%). Built-up areas exhibited the highest mean LST, reaching 25.95°C in 2006 to 27.81°C in 2024, despite a temporary drop to 24.97°C in 2013. Meanwhile, the overall mean LST for Ratnapura increased from 25.31°C in 2006 to 27.93°C in 2024, a rise of 2.62°C. Higher temperatures were concentrated in the city center and expanded towards the north, northwest, east, and south of the study area. A strong negative correlation between LST and the NDVI suggests that urbanization and reduced vegetation are driving temperatures increases. Additionally, a positive correlation between LST and the NDBI underscores the heat-retention properties of impervious surfaces in urban areas, further exacerbating temperature increases. The expansion of built-up areas, coupled with the declining forest cover and agricultural land, highlights the need for effective land-use planning and policies to mitigate these impacts and promote sustainable urban Development.
Keywords: Land Use Land Cover, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Built-up Index, Land Surface Temperatur
Comparative Study on Innovative Financing Strategies in Protected Area Network Management; India, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa and Sri Lanka
No full textGlobal biodiversity is threatened due to many reasons and biodiversity hotspots are in the forefront of the risk posed by declining biodiversity. Protected Area which is defined by International Union for Conservation of Nature as a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values, play a significant role in conservation of biodiversity, and the effectiveness of Protected Area management has direct and indirect impact on the overall biodiversity management in the countries and globally. However, limited financial resources for biodiversity conservation through traditional public financing mechanisms has been identified as one of the fundamental challenges of Protected Area management, and its effectiveness. In this context, innovative financing mechanisms become the alternative. Objective of this comparative study was to examine the potentials, challenges and approaches of innovative financing solutions, which increase the volume, efficiency, and effectiveness of financial flows for Protected Area management. Among 36 listed biodiversity hotspots, India, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa and Sri Lanka were selected due to the locational factors, percentage of declared Protected Areas, and availability of literature, including the officially validated reports on the use of innovative financing strategies. Adhering to the qualitative methodology and case study strategy, primary and secondary data were gathered through the reviewed journals, officially validated reports, and having ten Key Informant Interviews with the relevant sector officials and experts. The NVivo 10 version was utilized for the analysis. The percentage of Protected Areas in India is 5.28%, 15% in Indonesia, 17% in Thailand, 9.2% in South Africa and 30% in Sri Lanka. Key findings of the study were the need to adapt Protected Area management strategies to match with the evolving conservation policies which will reduce misalignments between the policies and practices; need to identify a balance of conservation priorities between the intrinsic conservation value and monetization of ecosystem services provided by the Protected Areas; need to consult and involve stakeholders including the communities living in close vicinities to the Protected Areas in developing and implementing innovative financing instruments; and the need to introduce internationally comparable mechanisms and tools such as Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool to improve cross learning between the conservation managers operating in similar contexts.
Keywords: Protected areas, Innovative finance, Management effectivenes
Geospatial and Temporal Changes in Urban Green Space; Case Study in Kandy Four Gravets and Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat Division (1988-2024)
No full textUrban green spaces in Kandy City are experiencing a significant decline due to rapid urbanization and expansion of built-up areas. This reduction threatens the ecological balance, environmental quality, and residents' well-being, calling for an urgent need to assess and understand the extent and rate of these changes. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the geospatial and temporal changes in urban green spaces in Kandy Four Gravets and Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat Division. To achieve this, population density maps for the years 2000, 2003, 2007, 2016, and 2020 were obtained from the "WorldPop" database to assess population density trends. Additional population data were collected from the Department of Census and Statistics. Landsat images for the years 1988, 1994, 2003, 2007, 2016, and 2024 were downloaded from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to analyze the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) based on ArcGIS 10.8 and Erdas-2014. After that, the NDVI maps for each year were classified into three categories: water bodies, built-up areas, and green spaces, using the threshold values. Accordingly, the threshold values for green spaces were 0.3020, 0.3561, 0.3532, 0.3515, 0.3090, and 0.3045 for 1988, 1994, 2003, 2007, 2016, and 2024 respectively. The classification results were validated through accuracy assessments, utilizing 100 random sample points for each map, cross-referenced with Google Earth Pro. The findings suggest that population density is a major factor driving urbanization, with a consistent growth in population from 1988 to 2024. Urban green spaces measured approximately 53.61 km² in 1988, 53.31 km² in 1994, 51.88 km² in 2003, 42.58 km² in 2007, 37.76 km² in 2016, and 35.95 km² in 2024. This demonstrates a continuous decline in urban green spaces over the observed period. A significant decrease in green spaces was observed after 2007, aligning with the country's economic growth, expansion of infrastructure, and the conversion of vacant and forested lands into urban settlements, administrative buildings, and industrial parks in and around Kandy City. This study underscores the alarming reduction of green spaces in Kandy City, driven primarily by urbanization and population growth. If this trend continues, it could have severe environmental and social consequences, including loss of biodiversity, reduced climate resilience, and diminished quality of life for residents. Therefore, it is critical to adopt sustainable urban planning strategies that prioritize the preservation of green spaces to mitigate the adverse effects of rapid urbanization and protect the ecological integrity of Kandy.
Keywords: Normalized difference vegetation Index (NDVI), Remote sensing, Urban green space, Urbanizatio
A Sociological Study on the Impact of Microfinance on Women’s Empowerment on Household Survivals
Get PDFPoverty remains an obstacle to achieving sustainable development and improving people’s well-being worldwide. Currently, “microfinance is the process of delivering a wide range of financial services to poor people who do not have access to a formal financial institution” (Ridhaala,2003). That is, a banking service provided to unemployed or low-income people or groups who otherwise do not have access to financial services. Women currently make a strong contribution to the workforce. Therefore, women’s empowerment is one of the central objectives of the development process in countries around the world. In this context, this study was conducted focusing on the issue of “the impact of microfinance on household survival”. The main objective of this study is to identify the reasons that influence women to resort to microfinance and to study the impact of microfinance on household survival. The mixed research methodology was used with the non-probability sampling method. This study was conducted in the Weliwiti Divithura Divisional Secretariat Area of the Galle District. 50 women who are interested in obtaining microfinance loans were selected as the sample using snowball sampling and data collection was carried out through structured interviews and questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS software and qualitative data was analyzed using the thematic analysis method. According to the findings of this study, women are inclined to obtain loans from microfinance institutions because of the ease of access and are not aware of the high interest rates offered by these institutions. The study also concluded that the money received in this way is not used to raise the economic status. It can be concluded that this situation is a major factor in creating problematic situations in the domestic life of women.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v09irchss2023.a1
Mediating Effect of Energy Management on SME Development amid the Power Crisis in Sri Lanka: Lessons and Public Policy Insights
Get PDFThis study investigates the multifaceted impact of power crises on the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka, focusing on the period from March 2022 to February 2023 and examines how power shortages and load shedding affect SME productivity, employment, competitiveness, sustainability, and growth, by exploring the role of energy management in mitigating these adverse effects. Using quantitative methods, the study analyzes survey data of 143 SMEs selected through convenience sampling in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The findings highlight the significant negative impact of power crises, revealing reduced productivity, diminished employment opportunities, decreased competitiveness, and obstacles to business sustainability and growth. Notably, the study demonstrates the positive effect of energy-efficient practices in mitigating the impact caused by power crises. The study provides further evidence that the negative influence of power-related issues is consistent across different SME sizes and industries. These insights have important policy implications, suggesting the need for collaboration between the government and the private sector to address SME challenges. The study underlines the importance of investing in power infrastructure, promoting economic diversification, and encouraging sustainable business practices. Furthermore, long-term planning, financial literacy initiatives, and targeted support to ensure the resilience and development of SMEs in the face of power crises are suggestive.
Keywords: Energy Crisis, Energy Management, Public Policy Insights, SME Development, Sri Lank
Factors Affecting Glass Ceiling in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service
Get PDFThe glass ceiling represents the invisible barriers preventing women from reaching top leadership positions. In the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) there is a stark gender disparity at higher executive levels. Although women increasingly fill entry-level positions, their representation sharply declines in senior roles. This study examines factors affecting glass ceiling in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. By employing in-depth interviews with 15 female top executive officers, data was collected and Deductive Thematic Analysis was used to analysis the data. This study identified six main barriers women face namely, political, personal, organizational, psychological, social-cultural and stereotyped barriers. These obstacles hinder women’s career advancement despite their qualifications and experience. The research offers policy measures for organizations, individuals, and society to better support the development of women in leadership.
The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted barriers women encounter within the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), highlighting the urgent need for systemic change in a historically male-dominated sector. By focusing on the experiences of female top executive officers, the research provides nuanced insights into how these barriers intersect and create a complex web that stifles women's career progression. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding these barriers not just in isolation but also as part of a broader societal context, thereby enriching the discourse on gender equality in leadership.
Keywords: Career Advancement, Glass Ceiling, Sri Lanka Administrative Servic