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Significant financial and economic risk factors in coastal land reclamation projects
No full textThe demand for land required for construction and development has been rapidly increasing over the past 30 years in the global context because of population growth, especially in coastal cities. Therefore, coastal land reclamation (CLR) has drawn attention both internationally and regionally. However, CLR projects are complex and costly and, therefore, are often associated with numerous risks. Although risk management in CLR projects has been the focus of few past studies, they have not specifically focused on financial and economic risks. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the most significant financial and economic risk factors present in CLR projects to enable the management of those risks. The required empirical data were collected by conducting a two-round Delphi survey, comprising expert interviews and a questionnaire survey. The collected data were analysed using content and descriptive statistics. The results revealed 13 significant financial and economic risk factors of CLR projects. Quality of sand and soil was identified as the most important risk factor of CLR projects. Delayed payment, unpredictable safety and security conditions of the country, dredging volume and defaulting contractors and subcontractors were identified in the next top four ranking in this study
Enhancing the power of understanding
No full textPower of understanding is a rewarding cognitive capacity required for all of us from early childhood to the highest level of intellectual settings. Among other things, the concept of understanding plays a vital role in education
Impact of colour on depression, anxiety and stress levels of physically disabled patients in health care facilities
No full textPhysically disabled community in Sri Lanka is not receiving sufficient attention with reference to the conduciveness of their living environments. The patients who are harrowed with mobility impairments should be supported to overcome challenges which hinder the smooth functioning of day today physical activities while maintaining their psychological health by incorporating disabled-friendly, optimum healing design interventions. In view of this, an attempt was made to determine the impact of interior colours to reduce depression, anxiety and stress levels of disabled individuals. The investigation was executed with reference to wall colour of patient’s (n=15) bedrooms of a selected rehabilitation centre, at Ragama. The impact of three selected hues (blue, yellow and green) were tested by installing colour panels on the sidewall of the beds, allowing the participants to be exposed to each colour for three consecutive days. Depression, anxiety and stress levels of participants were measured using DASS-21. Impact of green colour was found to be more favourable to reduce depression, anxiety and stress levels of participants over blue and yellow. It is recommended to extend this study further to test different hues, shades and intensities of green colour with long-term exposure, to enhance psychological health and well-being of disabled patients in health care facilities
The Impact of macroeconomic determinants on stock market development in asian region: panel data analysis
No full textThis study aims to investigate the role of macroeconomic determinants in stock market development in the Asian region. The empirical research was conducted using balanced panel data of eighteen Asian countries from 2009 to 2018. The econometric models used are Pooled OLS, Fixed Effects, and Random Effects. The study's findings include economic growth measured by per capita income, stock market liquidity measured by liquidity ratio, financial intermediaries' development measured by monetization ratio, and saving rate positively impacting stock market development. Furthermore, inflation measured by GDP Deflator is not an adequate indicator in measuring economic stability. Implications of the study are that policymakers and administrators can promote stock market development through enhancing stock market liquidity, developing financial intermediaries, and overall economic growth. Most of the economies in the Asian region are emerging economies; therefore, the economic environment and institutional environment of these economies are very different from that of developed economies. Further, equity markets in Asia have gone through many structural reforms in the past decade, and they account for 40% of the global equity market volume. Hence this study tries to identify the impact of macroeconomic determinants on stock market development specific to the Asian region
A Study on regaining ABC authority after trade union activities
No full textTrade Union is any group or combination of employees, whether temporary or permanent, having one or more goals that can have a positive or negative effect on organizational efficiency. In ABC Authority, more than 60 Trade Unions were actively involved. Since 2016, six strikes and picketing cases were reported among ABC Authority. The major incident was, that in 2020 ABC Authority East Terminal was to be sold to a foreign Indian company. The purpose of this study was to identify how ABC Authority was regained after trade union activities. The study adopted a qualitative method, conducted semi-structured interview, using thematic analysis and NVIVO software, responded by eight Managers of separate division in ABC authority. The semi-structured interview findings concluded that ABC Authority is positively regained after trade union activities and ABC Authority has highly progressed from trade union activities. This research indicated various trade unions in ABC Authority and there were reasons to conduct the trade union activities in the authority. The semi-structured interview findings conclude that ABC Authority has positively regained after trade union activities and ABC Authority has highly progressed from trade union activities. The respondents also have stated that ABC Authority has made huge progress as a result of trade union activities. The trade union has consistently advocated for the ABC Authority's best interests. The rapid growth of the ABC Authority will be facilitated by several trade union activities. The significance of the study is to look at how ABC Authority regained after trade union activities. Given the numerous roles that unions play in policing their employers in the public sector, this research was absolutely necessary
Factors affecting the level of stress among undergraduates in Sri Lanka with special reference to covid-19
No full textTo combat the rapid spread of COVID-19 infections universities and higher educational institutes in Sri Lanka had to suspend all on campus activities and had to tranfer into online learning. This resulted in a swift change in undergraduates’ life style and they had to face many new challenges in their academics which created severe mental pressure. Therefore, the objective of the research is ‘to assess the factors influencing the level of stress among undergraduates in Sri Lanka’. The study looks into this mental pressure in terms of the stress levels of undergraduates which is considered to be the dependent variable whereas their online learning experience and university workload are the independent variables. The study takes a quantitative research approach as its primary data is collected through an online questionnaire created from Google Forms and answered by 384 undergraduates. The questionnaire provided data on the online experience and university workload variables and it included the DASS-21 scale (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale) which measured the stress level of the undergraduates. Descriptive statistics was conducted on the data through the Microsoft Excel. Based on the data analysis, it was found that the stress levels of undergraduates were; 3% normal, 20% mild, 36% moderate, 21% severe and 20% extremely severe. Therefore, it could be said that 41% of undergraduates faced high stress levels that were beyond what is regular and it negatively affected to the way how they could face challenges and carry out their day to day lives. It should be noted that undergraduates appeared to have much higher stress levels as a result of the pandemic
Decolourization of textile dyes and textile industry effluent in a fixed bed biofilm reactor using native microorganisms
No full textTextile and apparel industry plays a huge role in the Sri Lankan industrial sector, accounting more than 40% of export earnings in the country. Textile wet processing produces large volumes of coloured effluents which have potential to cause negative impacts on environment and various adverse health effects if not properly treated
The SiTa Trilingual translation system
No full textThe National Languages Processing Center (NLPC), at the University of Moratuwa has been developing the SiTa Computer-Assisted Translation System since 2018
Design of battery supplemented micro - STATCOM and development of associated control algorithms to mitigate power quality issues in low voltage networks
No full textPower Distribution Networks are evolving with the rapid penetration of distributed generators and introduction of concepts such as micro grid based Smart Girds. Distribution automation devices and solar PV generators in the present-day power systems makes power distribution networks more and more active. Assurance of a power supply with better power quality for a distribution customer is becoming a challenging task with the penetration of various loads inspired by power electronic concepts. And also, with the enormous penetration of solar PV generators to power distribution networks, bi-directional power flow makes it more challenging. As most of the planning studies carried out to improve Medium Voltage (MV) Networks to address these challenges, less attention has paid for the monitoring of power qualities at Low Voltage (LV) Distribution Networks.
This research identifies a vital requirement to improve power quality at the leaf level of LV distribution network and presents a combined solution for most predominant power quality issues exist in LV distribution network. This thesis presents a Micro-STATCOM based solution to address power quality issues by under voltage regulation, over voltage regulation, harmonic mitigation and improving system power factor in LV distribution system. Development of Micro-STATCOM based model with DC power source is presented in order to mitigate major power quality issues exists in the modern LV distribution systems. Performance of the Micro-STATCOM model has evaluated with response time for voltage regulation, resolution of voltage regulation and level of reduction in Total Harmonic Distortion (THD%).
Developed Micro-STATCOM was then integrated into modified IEEE 13 Distribution Bus System in order to observe the mitigation of power quality issues. Results obtained by mitigation of each power quality issues in the distribution network are discussed in this thesis. Potential applicability of developed Micro-STATCOM in the practical low voltage distribution networks and other areas are discussed and recommendations are made for the selection criteria to integrate Micro-STATCOMs in LV distribution Systems
An evaluation of stakeholder satisfaction in post-conflict resettlement housing projects in Sri Lanka
No full textThe three decade long major internal displacement in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in Sri Lanka caused by conflict came to an end in 2009. This has led to a massive housing reconstruction project drive to recover the affected people. Stakeholder satisfaction is an important criterion for measuring project success. Disaster reconstruction housing projects are of no exception in this regard.
This study aims to evaluate the project stakeholders’ satisfaction of post-conflict resettlement housing projects in the Northern Province in Sri Lanka. In order to achieve the aim, the study initially conducted a literature review on the disaster phenomenon, damages and displacements together with a detailed study on post-disaster resettlement housing projects. For empirical investigation, the research employed a mixed method research approach in two stages. In Stage 1, an investigation of stakeholder’s expectations and present situation was carried out using a qualitative approach, in where, interviews with stakeholders in 3 projects were conducted. In Stage 2, a quantitative approach through the structured questionnaire survey was carried out with 102 stakeholders to evaluate their level of satisfaction. Gathered data in Stage 1 was analyzed using manual content analysis and Stage 2 was analyzed by using Box Plot technique and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test.
Success of the housing project was determined though fulfilling the Stakeholders’ expectation and requirements and this creates an impact on the satisfaction level of the housing project. Especially, previous housing experiences had influence in expectation and satisfaction of the current housing project. Both owner-driven and donor-driven housing project’s stakeholders’ satisfaction levels were mainly dependent on size of the previous house, materials used in previous houses, quality of construction, and design of the house. The research further revealed that all stakeholders are satisfied with most of the factors of satisfaction in both owner-driven and donor-driven housing projects, especially with the physical condition of the project. Meanwhile, the research also identified that there have been less satisfaction levels with regard to location selection and water and sanitary requirements, as the coordinators have failed to view other elements that are expected by the beneficiaries, which include cultural and social elements in donor driven housing projects