University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Journals & Proceedings
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The Role of Extensive Reading-Based Activity Approach in Developing Speaking Skills of Second Language (English) Adult Learners
Get PDFAlthough structural rules are taught in a second language (English) classroom, second language learners’ speaking skills cannot be improved until they are exposed to the language and provided opportunities to practice it in a pedagogical environment. Extensive reading may help learners to be exposed to the target language and identify the use and function of structural rules in authentic situations. Additionally, activities based on extensive reading may help learners practice speaking in the pedagogical environment with peers. As a result, this intervention study was conducted to investigate the viability of employing extensive reading and such a reading-based activity approach in developing the speaking skills of second language (English) learners. The study was conducted for 48 hours with 60 second language adult learners in one of the public universities in Sri Lanka. Participants were divided into two groups: experimental and control. Both groups were taught precisely the same material by the same instructor. However, the experimental group (N = 30) participated in extensive reading-based classroom activities, whereas the control group (N = 30) did not. The speaking evaluation was conducted based on a standardized rubric by two evaluators. When the results of the two groups were compared, it was indicated that exposure to the target language through extensive reading and reading-based activities in the classroom has a significant effect on developing the speaking skills of adult second language learners. The results further indicate that when learners are provided more opportunities to be exposed to the target language and participate actively in reading-based activities in pairs or groups in the classroom, they can enhance their speaking skills. Therefore, an extensive reading-based activity approach can be suggested as an effective and useful instrument for developing ESL speaking skills.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v09i02.1
A Medical Anthropological Study on the Use of Medicinal Porridges in Traditional Medicine for Epidemic Prevention and Control
Get PDFPorridge, a well-known meal and medication among Asians, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to promote human health. Porridge that is famous among Sri Lankans is rich in variation, with the region and purpose villagers make different types of porridge. Even though porridge has become a regular meal or breakfast among Sri Lankans, its specifically used as a medicine. By examining the historical, cultural, and socio-economic contexts surrounding the consumption of these porridges, this research aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of their significance in maintaining community health during times of epidemics. Do traditional healers prescribe any porridges for the prevention and control of epidemics? If so, what are they? And what is porridge's contribution to the prevention and control of epidemics? were the research problems of this research. The research aimed to study how porridges, considered medicine and food, are used in traditional medicine for the prevention and control of epidemiological diseases. This research belongs to the field of descriptive research that exists between social science and anthropology research. Primary data was collected through interviews conducted with purposively selected 10 traditional practitioners living in Colombo District and 10 traditional practitioners living in Monaragala District. In addition, observation method and secondary data sources were sued to gather more information. According to the data of the research, porridge has been used as a medicine and immune herb in the traditional medicine of Sri Lanka for diseases such as malaria, dengue, jaundice, and anorexia in epidemic conditions. Most of these porridges are used as a medicinal mix food.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v09irchss2023.a0
විදුදය භාෂා, සාහිත්ය, සංස්කෘතික හා සන්නිවේදන ශාස්ත්රීය සංග්රහය VIDUDAYA Journal of Language, Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies
No full textVIDUDAYA Journal of Language, Literary, Cultural and Communication Studie
EYA DAN BANDALA [SHE’S NOW MARRIED]: SINHALA TELEDRAMA: VIEWER SUCCUMBS TO THE MALE GAZE
Get PDFThis position paper intends to examine the Sinhala teledrama Eya Dan Bandala [She’s now married] (2023) primarily through the lens of Male Gaze theorised by Laura Mulvey (1975): the teledrama was directed by Prasanna Jayakody and telecasted through the Independent Television Network (ITN), Sri Lanka. While contributing to the process of depicting a female sex worker’s post-prostitution life, the teledrama provides material for a close examination of Male Gaze – a feminist theory which posits that women are depicted as objects in narratives and visuals to satisfy the ‘male’ viewers’ desires. Nevertheless, the teledrama is scarcely read through Male Gaze. In this respect, we argue in this paper that despite the Director’s intention as revealed in his interviews (e.g. City FM, 2023), the viewer – both the audience as well as characters within the teledrama – succumbs to Male Gaze and objectifies the female. This is justified in this paper through the (i) character portrayal and plot, (ii) cinematography and visual symbols and (iii) the concept of absence. This analysis adds new vocabulary to the teledrama and contributes to the understanding of the nuances of Male Gaze
PRELIMINARY PAGES
No full textPumithiri Peer Reviewed e-Journal is an online publication that focuses on critical analysis and exploration of gender-related issues. It aims to promote interdisciplinary research on gender issues such as gender inequality, gender-based violence, gender identity, sexuality, women’s rights, and other related topics. The articles on the categories of Economy, Society and Gender,Health, Sexuality and Gender-Based Violence and Education, Aesthetics and Gender on Gender Studies have been published in 1st issue of 1st volume of the journal
Editorial Note
Get PDFThe Editorial Board of the Asian Journal of Marketing Management (AJMM), affiliated with the Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, is pleased to present Volume 3, Issue II of the Journal. This edition showcases six scholarly articles that delve into a range of current marketing challenges, offering critical insights for academics and practitioners alike.
This issue covers a wide spectrum of marketing topics that reflect the growing importance of technology, consumer behaviour, and regulatory changes in the field. From the impact of mobile app ratings on consumer decision-making to the role of emotional connections like brand love in driving loyalty, the contributions illustrate the intersection of psychological factors and digital platforms in shaping modern marketing strategies. Additionally, the discussions on regulatory shifts in the RF spectrum management and insurance marketing underscore the relevance of adapting to evolving market conditions, while the focus on digital tools such as online video ads and social media marketing in the hospitality industry highlights how businesses can effectively engage with a more connected and impulsive consumer base. Together, these papers provide a comprehensive view of the trends and challenges that marketers must navigate in today’s dynamic environment.
The first study examines the influence of mobile app store ratings and reviews on Sri Lankan consumers' download intentions. By employing a scenario-based survey method, the research demonstrates that app ratings and reviews significantly impact consumers' download decisions, although perceived usefulness does not moderate this relationship. The findings emphasize the need for app developers to actively monitor and respond to user feedback to enhance app success in the market.
The second paper explores the moderating and mediating roles of self-esteem and susceptibility to normative influence in the relationship between brand love and brand loyalty within Sri Lanka’s FMCG sector. The study concludes that while self-esteem and susceptibility to normative influence do not significantly moderate this relationship, they do partially mediate it, contributing to a deeper understanding of brand dynamics in the FMCG context.
The third article offers a legal and regulatory perspective on the transition from administrative to market-based Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum management in Sri Lanka. The study provides a comparative analysis of global trends and highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with adopting a market-oriented approach. The authors propose actionable recommendations to guide policymakers as Sri Lanka navigates this complex regulatory transition.
The fourth paper investigates key determinants of motor insurance customer acquisition in Sri Lanka, focusing on the marketing mix. Through a cross-sectional study of policyholders, the research reveals that distribution networks and insurance services have the most significant impact on customer purchase intentions. These findings present a fresh perspective on the Sri Lankan motor insurance industry, urging insurers to prioritize accessibility and personalized service to attract and retain customers.
In the fifth study, the impact of online video advertisements on impulsive buying tendencies is explored, with attitudes acting as a mediating factor. Focusing on young consumers and the popular platform TikTok, the research demonstrates how informativeness, personalization, and credibility of ads influence impulsive purchasing behaviors. This study offers crucial insights for marketers aiming to leverage online platforms to enhance consumer engagement.
The final article assesses the role of digital marketing in enhancing customer engagement in Sri Lanka's hotel industry. Based on data from the Western Province, the study highlights the significant positive effects of social media, content, and mobile marketing on customer engagement. The findings provide valuable guidance for the hospitality sector to optimize digital strategies and better meet the expectations of today’s digitally savvy consumers.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the authors for their valuable contributions and for their patience throughout the review process. We are also immensely grateful to the reviewers for their constructive feedback, which has greatly enhanced the quality of the papers. Additionally, our thanks go to the language editors and the editorial team for their diligent work in ensuring the seamless publication of this issue
Exploring the Synergistic Potential of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Chemistry
Get PDFMachine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have become specialists in different areas of chemistry. These technologies help to change the standard approaches to data analysis and molecular design along with the properties forecast. This review describes the interesting applications and increasing potential of AI and ML, specifically in drug discovery, chemical synthesis, material science, and computational chemistry. Computationally, the focus was on the application of AI algorithms to quantum chemistry simulations to predict properties of elements within a molecule, or possible reactions of molecules at a rate that would not have been possible manually. Moreover, AI-driven robotic synthesis platforms and experimental techniques have become less labor-intensive. The methods used for the identification of new chemical structures have improved in terms of speed. The benefits and the limitations of integrating AI, as well as the opportunities, are discussed in detail. In this review, it is also reiterated that there are risks that come with the integration of ML in chemistry and how interdisciplinary collaboration and data sharing are crucial to advancing in this field. In a single summary, this review demonstrates how the use of AI and ML can and will expand the horizons of chemical science and discovery.Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Drug Discovery, Chemical Synthesis, Materials Science, Computational Chemistry
Gender Health Inequalities in South Asia: A Case for Higher Public Health Expenditure
Get PDFGlobal Gender Gap rankings for the South Asian region have declined between 2018-2023. Furthermore, ranking the four sub-indices in the global gender gap index also shows a deteriorating trend. The lowest gender gap is in the health and survival sub-index, and the highest gender gaps are in economic participation and opportunities. Nevertheless, the highest rank decline is for the sub-index health and survival. Life expectancy and mortality rates are the two indicators included in this subindex, and they have shown substantial improvement over time. On the contrary, malnutrition and anaemia for women in South Asia have been increasing. Despite the low per capita income levels, the out-of-pocket health expenditures range between 50 to 70 per cent of the total health expenditure in these countries. In this context, this paper investigates the impact of public health expenditure on selected health outcomes for women. The panel regression results show that between 1998-2022, public health expenditure significantly reduced the mortality rates. The reduction has been more in the case of male mortality, whereas the impact of public health expenditure on women's malnutrition and anaemia has been low and insignificant. Moreover, private health expenditures have a larger significant impact on all health outcomes. The paper concludes that more decentralised allocation for primary health expenditures is required to improve women’s access to public health provisions and, therefore, health outcomes.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v09irchss2023.a0
පුවත්පත් ආචාරධර්ම සහ ළමා අපයෝජන වාර්තාකරණය Newspaper Ethics and Child Abuse Reporting
No full textAlthough the child, who is considered a wonderful product of the universe and the lifeblood of the entire world, is a living entity that has more legal and social protection compared to other human groups, under the current social situation, child abuse is a strong social problem. This research was done to find out how the reporting of child abuse is portrayed in the press. The analysis of the ethical situation in the entire sample focused on ethical violations in abuse reporting by newspaper, ethical violations in abuse reporting by month, and the nature of ethical violations in newspaper abuse reporting. Through the analysis of these facts, it was recognized that there was a need to present not only the reporting but also the awareness needed to prevent such incidents from happening again, taking care of journalistic ethics in the reporting of child abuse
A STATISTICAL STUDY ON WOMEN'S AWARENESS OF BREAST CANCER AND INFLUENCING FACTORS (FROM MALANGAMA GRAMA NILADARI DIVISION IN RATHNAPURA DISTRICT)
No full textBreast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the third leading cause of cancer deaths. Worldwide, more than one million breast cancer deaths occur annually. The main objective of this study was to analyze the awareness of Sri Lankan women about breast cancer and the factors affecting it. The population of this study was all women aged 20 years or above in the Ratnapura district. A sample of 299 women was selected for this study by stratifying them into age groups in the Malangama Grama Seva Officer Division of the Ratnapura district through stratified random sampling. The required data were collected through a questionnaire prepared in accordance with the objectives of the study and personal interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive data analysis and structural equation modeling: ‹EMEA0 72% of women were unaware that changes in the shape and size of their breasts could be a symptom of breast cancer. Accordingly, the study concluded that opportunities to increase awareness on breast cancer among the public through the media, social media, and government hospitals should be further expanded