University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Journals & Proceedings
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Development of Starch-based Packaging with Corn Starch and Banana Flour (Musa paradisiaca), incorporating Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria ternatea L.) Extract as pH-sensitive Smart Packaging
Get PDFThe accumulation of petrochemical packaging materials has led to environmental pollution. It is vital to address this issue by meeting the high demand for bio-based food packaging materials in the global market, thereby promoting sustainability within the food system. Starch has become an ideal raw material for the manufacturing of biodegradable packaging. The main objective of the study was to develop a pH sensitive intelligent packaging material with banana flour, corn starch, glycerin (10:2.5:2) in to different ratios of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% (v/v) Butterfly pea flower extract and observe any detectable hue alteration in the pH range of one to twelve. According to the colorimeter readings, 0% (v/v), 5% (v/v), and 10% (v/v) showed red and yellow color tone, while 15% (v/v) and 20% (v/v) showed green color and blue color tone with respective a* and b* values. Moisture percentage, density, light transmittance, and water resistance decreased while thickness, light absorbance, and water vapour permeability increased with increasing Butterfly pea flower extract (BPFE) ratio. Films with 15% and 20% BPFE ratio showed visually perceptible color changes with pH range of one to twelve inclusive, and 20% (v/v) film showed high potential to be used as intelligent packaging.Keywords: Intelligent packaging, pH sensitive, Anthocyanin, Butterfly pea flower, Banana flou
A Narrative Review on Antioxidant Potential of Locally Available Rice Varieties in Sri Lanka
Get PDFSri Lanka is a country rich in diverse range of traditional rice varieties known for their functional properties beyond nutrition. This review paper highlights the antioxidant potential of reported grains, showing their bioactive compounds and health benefits. Traditional rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.), such as “Rath Kadha”, “Sudu Heenati”, and “Beheth Heenati”, have shown high total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and free radical scavenging activities in 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. Reported literature showed red rice varieties namely “Kurulu Thuda” and “Pachchaperumal” as grains possessing higher antioxidant potential than that of white rice due to the presence of anthocyanins and other bioactive compounds. The bioactive compounds in reported grains, namely phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, play a vital role in combating oxidative stress and minimizing the risks of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This review summarizes that Sri Lankan rice varieties are important in promoting natural, antioxidant-rich dietary patterns for improving public health and minimizing non-communicable diseases. These research findings emphasize focus on expanding further research into investigating the antioxidant potential of local rice varieties and utilize them in functional food systems.
KEYWORDS: Rice, Antioxidant potential, Bioactive compounds, Health benefits, Functional foods
 
Ensuring Citizen Autonomy through Blockchain: A Single Identity Framework with the Right to Control the Availability of Information
Get PDFCentralized electronic national identity systems have emerged as a popular solution to address the inefficiencies and limitations of traditional, hardcopy-based identity management. However, these centralized systems are prone to significant challenges, including single points of failure, data breaches, and restricted citizen control over personal information. These issues highlight the necessity for a more resilient framework that not only provides unique identification but also empowers citizens with control over their data. This study presents a decentralized citizen identity management and verification system built on Hyperledger Fabric and private blockchain technology. The proposed framework addresses critical issues in current systems, such as gas fees, scalability, and operational costs, while enhancing security, privacy, and user autonomy. The system leverages the privacy-preserving features of a private blockchain to ensure that only authorized entities can access and participate in the network, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access. The research involved constructing a Hyperledger Fabric network, defining transaction logic to control the lifecycle of data objects within the ledger using the Hyperledger Fabric SDK for Node.js, and developing a web-based interface for interaction through the MERN (MongoDB, ExpressJS, ReactJS, Node.js) stack. By empowering users to manage and control the information they share with third parties, we ensure their data remains private, secure, and shared only on their terms. The proposed blockchain-based solution offers a robust alternative texisting identity management systems, addressing their key limitations. A distinguishing feature of the system is its network design, which restricts participation to authorized government organizations, safeguarding citizen data’s integrity and confidentiality
Optimizing Electrode Geometry for Enhanced Cell Separation Using Dielectrophoresis: A Study on Fillet Radius Impact
Get PDFThis paper presents a dielectrophoresis-based device designed for separating platelets from red blood cells (RBCs), utilizing the size difference between the cells to induce negative dielectrophoretic behavior to achieve effective separation. The study employs Alternating Current Dielectrophoresis (AC-DEP) at a frequency of 100 kHz, modelling the cells with defined parameters using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3a simulations. The objective is to investigate the effect of varying electrode geometry, specifically the curvature at the corners of the electrodes, on cell separation performance. By adjusting the curvature of the sidewall electrodes through varying the fillet radius between 0µm and 18µm, the study observes how these changes influence the electric field and, consequently, the separation of RBCs and platelets. Results demonstrate that altering electrode geometry improves separation performance by optimizing electric field distribution and cell trajectories
දේශීය පොදු ජනමතය හා ජනමාධ්ය Public Opinion and Mass Media
No full textThe concept of public opinion has been the subject of extensive academic debate, with its origins and development tracing back through a long and complex historical trajectory. Formal studies and scholarly inquiries into public opinion are predominantly rooted in the intellectual traditions of the Western world. However, even within these traditions, a definitive consensus on its precise definition and scope remains elusive. This lack of agreement may be attributed to the diverse disciplinary approaches that attempt to interpret the nature and function of public opinion. Despite this, it is unequivocally clear that in societies governed by democratic systems, public opinion commands significant attention and recognition. The principal reason for this lies in the potential of public opinion to influence decision-making processes by rulers and governing institutions. Moreover, in modern democratic societies, there exists an inextricable connection between public opinion and mass media. The functional power and capacity of mass media to organize, empower, and manipulate public opinion are particularly salient in this context. Additionally, the influence of technological advancements on mass media, coupled with the commercial transformations within the media industry, has the potential to generate various implications for public opinion. A foundational scholarly understanding of these dynamics is therefore both necessary and expected
Financial Literacy for Effective Financial Planning among Sri Lankan University Students
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of the financial literacy level on the effectiveness of financial planning. Survey among a sample of 100 undergraduates in Sri Lankan university system was used to gather data. Purpose of the study is to identify whether the financial literacy is playing a vital role in financial planning of university students. Financial literacy was measured by Knowledge level on financial concepts, financial risk, financial system components, investments, loans and saving products. Effectiveness of Financial planning was measured through the questions relevant to cash management, saving and investment planning and execution in debt management. Regression Analysis through E-Views has been used to major statistical analysis. Through the analysis, it was founded that financial knowledge about financial risk, financial concepts, savings, investments and loans are leading a person towards a better financial behavior and planning. However, the knowledge about financial system components is not having a significant impact on effectiveness of financial planning. Results of the research study would assist to understand the importance of financial knowledge and literacy on personal financial success which would lead towards a successful nation as well
Impact of Waste Management on Financial Performance with Reference to Listed Firms in Sri Lanka
No full textThe ultimate goals of this research study are to assess the relationship between firms' waste management practices and their financial performance. Further, this analysis provides a framework for evaluating the impact of waste management practices on the sustainability measure index of firms and analysis how these practices affect financial outcomes of the firms. The research is conducted in a deductive approach, utilizing correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis to analyze the collected data. Sample consists of the 100 observations from selected sectors of firms listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange from 2019 to 2023. Correlation analysis shows a significant relationship between effective waste management practices and the financial performance in the selected companies. This study found that both economic and social initiatives related to waste management are significantly associated with return on assets (ROA)in the firms. Environmental initiatives are significantly associated with Tobin’s Q, while other variables have no significant association with ROA or Tobin’s Q. Regression analysis concludes that waste management practices significantly impact the financial performance of the firms in overall view. Specifically, with general waste management initiatives have some notable impact on return on equity (ROE) of the firms, while only environmental and social initiatives significantly have an impact with Tobin’s Q. The findings of this research suggest that improved and well-organized waste management practices can improve the transparency and performance in Sri Lankan listed companies, that encouraging managers and owners and stakeholders to adopt comprehensive waste management reports in their annual reports. Effective waste management is essential for competing in a dynamic business environment nowadays. Future research can study qualitative measurements to further assess the impact and relationship between waste management practices and financial performance.
Keywords: Waste management, Pollution control, Environmental initiatives,
Socioeconomic initiatives, Sustainability index.
 
Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum Causes Foot Rots of Capsicum annum L. of Sri Lanka and Its Control with the Use of Endophytic Fungi
No full textOne of the major diseases of Capsicum annum L. focused on in this study is fungal foot rot which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Because of adverse effects of chemical fungicides, biological management of diseases is suggested for sustainable food production. Within the study, the ability to suppress disease by endophytic fungi was tested with the aim of evaluating the efficacy of endophytic fungi as potential bio-control agents against referred disease. Throughout the methodology, standard procedures were used. Isolation and identification of Fusarium oxysporum were done in different places in Kandy. All samples were washed using running tap water, and about 1cm2 sections, including the edges of lesions, were cut, surface sterilized, placed on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), and incubated at room temperature until colonies appeared. Fungal colonies that emerged from lesions were sub-cultured onto fresh PDA, and pure cultures were prepared. The pathogenicity of the isolated pathogen was confirmed via standard Koch’s Postulate. Fusarium isolates were identified morphologically, and species-level identification was done by extracting genomic DNA and amplifying and sequencing ITS-1 and ITS-4 regions. Endophyte isolation was done similarly to the above procedure of pathogen isolation from roots and aerial parts of the healthy Capsicum plants. After screening endophytic fungi, the antagonistic effect against Fusarium oxysporum was tested with dual plate assay. With the aid of morphological and molecular characteristics, the foot rot pathogen was confirmed and identified as Fusarium oxysporum. As a result of endophyte isolation; five different endophytic fungi were isolated (Talaromyces sp, Purpureocillium sp, Trichoderma sp, Eupenicillium sp, and Trichoderma sp). According to the results of the dual plate assay and Tukey’s pairwise comparison of five different assays with three replicates, Purpureocillium lilacinum. (49.4067%), Talaromyces purpureogenus (2883120) (62.9409%), Trichoderma spp. 1 (58.9422%), Eupenicillium spp. (62.7285%) and Trichoderma spp. 2 (63.043%) showed significantly high (p≤0.05) inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum colony growth. Microscopic observations of inhibition zones between Fusarium oxysporum and effective endophytic fungal colonies showed the presence of haustoria, coils, loops, and knobs, as mycoparasitic structures indicating their potential as biocontrol agents. According to the results, it could be concluded that all tested Endophytic fungi species (Talaromyces sp, Purpureocillium sp, Trichoderma sp 1, Eupenicillium sp, and Trichoderma sp2) can control the Fusarium oxysporum in an in vitro condition. Current study can go forward with further studies such as application method studies, field trials and develop a bio-control fungicide.
Keywords: Endophytic microflora, Fungal foot rot, Fusarium oxysporum, Sri Lank
Evaluating Shoot Performance of Vertical and Horizontal Placement of Insulin (Costus igneus) Stem Cuttings Grown in Soil with Tea Waste and Cattle Manure
No full textCostus igneus (Insulin plant) is a member of the Costaceae family of medicinal herbs which has the ability to help the body produce more insulin. This plant is vegetively propagated by using stem cuttings. An experiment was carried out at Gonawala in Gampaha district, Sri Lanka to study the impact of tea waste and cattle manure on the shoot performance of insulin stem cuttings and also to evaluate their efficiency on vertical and horizontal orientational placement of cuttings. It was arranged in a completely randomized design with eight treatments. Each treatment had three replications, and this experiment was repeated twice. Poly Bags were filled with only soil (T1, T5), soil + tea waste at 1:1 ratio (T2, T6), soil + cattle manure at 1:1 ratio (T3, T7) and soil + tea waste + cattle manure at 2:1:1 ratio (T4, T8) as potting media. Subsequently semi-hard stem cuttings approximately 5 cm in length with single nodes were placed horizontally in T1-T4 and vertically in T5-T8 treatments. Leaf length and width, number of leaves and newly developed shoot length were taken at 8th week after planting of the cuttings. The data collected were analyzed by analysis of variance using SAS software application. The results showed that there were significant variations (P<0.01) in the leaf number and shoot length among the treatments and T4 had significantly higher leaf number (10.3) compared to the other treatments except T8. The highest shoot length was observed in T4 (9.5 cm) and the lowest length was indicated by T1 (6.5 cm). In horizontal placement of cuttings (T1-T4), shoots were developed from cuttings within the first two weeks but in vertical position, (T5-T8), it took nearly four weeks to develop the shoot. According to the marked values, there was a significant variation (P<0.001) in the length of 1st and 2nd leaves among the treatments. The highest and lowest length of 1st and 2nd leaves resulted in T4 and T5 respectively. However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the width of 1st and 2nd leaves. The combination of locally available tea waste and cattle manure had the greatest effect on the formation of shoots from the insulin stem cuttings. In horizontally placed cuttings, shoots were induced quicker than the cuttings placed vertically. This may be due to horizontal cuttings exposing a larger surface area to the soil than the vertical placement of cuttings. The findings showed that stem cuttings can be placed horizontally in a potting medium containing locally available household tea waste and cattle manure for the effective plant propagation of Costus igneus.
Keywords: Costus igneus propagation, Tea waste, Cattle manure, Horizontal and vertical placemen