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Water management and agricultural development: the importance of minor tanks in Kinniya DSD
Full text linkWater management plays a crucial role in agricultural sustainability, particularly in regions
dependent on minor tanks for irrigation. Traditionally, minor tanks have been vital sources of
water for farming communities, ensuring a steady supply for irrigation, livestock, and domestic
use. However, climate change, inefficient maintenance, and improper land-use planning have
posed challenges to their sustainability, affecting agricultural output and local livelihoods. The
Kinniya DS Division, located in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, experiences a dry climate with
seasonal variations in rainfall. The region relies heavily on minor tanks for agricultural irrigation,
especially for paddy cultivation, which is the primary economic activity. The degradation of these
tanks has led to water scarcity, affecting farmers and rural communities. Thus, the study aims to
assess the roles of minor tanks on agricultural development, identify challenges faced in water
management, and propose sustainable solutions for improving irrigation practices in the Kinniya
DS Division. For the study, a mixed-method approach was employed, incorporating both
qualitative and quantitative techniques. Structured interviews, 90 questionnaires and hydrological
assessments of minor tanks using Arc Hydro tools were conducted as primary and secondary data
collection methods, respectively. The study reveals that minor tanks significantly contribute to
agricultural productivity by providing a reliable water source for irrigation. However, poor
maintenance, siltation, and erratic rainfall patterns have reduced their effectiveness. Farmers have
adapted by using alternative irrigation methods, yet water shortages remain a persistent issue. The
lack of proper governance and policy intervention has further aggravated the situation. To enhance
the efficiency of minor tanks, the study recommends adopting integrated water management
strategies, strengthening community participation in tank maintenance, implementing desilting
programs, and incorporating modern irrigation technologies. Additionally, improved policies for
sustainable land use and climate adaptation measures should be introduced
Personal values and self regulated behaviour among teachers
Full text linkPersonal values and self-regulated behaviour play a vital role in enhancing teachers’
professionalism, effectiveness, and job satisfaction. Personal values encompass various
domains, including family prestige, religious, social, democratic, aesthetic, economic,
education, self- indulgent, power, and health. Meanwhile, self-regulated behaviour includes
self-esteem, self- monitoring, self-evaluation, self-control, task preparation, goal orientation,
coping with challenges, and problem-solving skills. Together, these factors contribute to
enhance teaching performance, the creation of positive learning environments, and long-term
career success. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between teachers’
personal values and their self-regulated behaviours, and to investigate the influence of gender
in personal values and self-regulated behaviour. A quantitative research method was adopted,
targeting a sample population of 120 teachers from the Kalmunai educational zone. Data were
collected using standardized instruments selected following a comprehensive review of
relevant literature: the Personal Value Questionnaire (PVQ) developed by Sherry &
Verma (1988), and the Self- Regulated Behaviour Scale developed by Kadhiravan (2009). A
pilot study was conducted to ensure the reliability and validity of the scales prior to the final
investigation. The primary method of data collection involved administering questionnaires to
participants individually over a period of two months. Statistical analyses, including the t-test
and Pearson product-moment correlation, were conducted using the SPSS statistical package.
The results indicated a significant positive relationship between personal values and self
regulated behaviour. Additionally, the findings showed that teachers did not differ significantly
in their personal values based on gender; however, they did differ significantly in their self
regulated behaviours according to gender
Increased groundwater consumption and challenges raised In Nanatan Regional Secretariat Division Areas of Sri Lanka
Full text linkWater is currently recognized as the most valuable and significant resource that is necessary
for the world's sustainability and the one that is experiencing the biggest problem on a
worldwide scale. Surface water and Ground water are the two categories of water. Like surface
water, Ground water resources are becoming more and more in demand. Significant amounts
of groundwater are used for a variety of purposes, including industry, agriculture, and drinking
water. The objective of the paper is to describe the current and potential effects of the Nanatan
region's growing freshwater resource usage. Groundwater what is it? What elements have an
impact on groundwater resources? What does ground water get used for? What factors caused
to the current surge in groundwater resource consumption? Questions are discussed here,
among other things. Nanatan area is a location with rich subterranean water resources as is
included in the Miocene limestone bedrock zone, which is based on the coastal zone of Sri
Lanka starting from Puttalm to Mullaithivu in the lithological system of Sri Lanka. Apart from
this, the location of Kattukaraikullam in the irrigated area is another factor for water success
in this area. Every home in this area has tube wells and an agricultural well. During the summer
or rainy season, irrigation is carried out for agriculture on one of the most field lands or more
tube wells. These wells are often up to 120 feet deep, and water is raised through pies that are
four inches in diameter. Using subsurface water resources, rice is grown in a one-way fashion
during the summer. The region's groundwater resource has suffered significant harm because
of farmers cultivating on their own property or under lease without any form of water
management initiatives or guidelines. The demand for groundwater resources has increased
because of the region's exceptionally dry summers during the southwest monsoon season,
which runs from May to September. Agricultural (open) wells see a decrease in water level as
a result, and some wells dry out during the months of August and September. In the most of
the villages there scarcity of drinking water and the intrusion of seawater is increasing the
salinity. In addition, there is a risk of calcium deposition in the soil during irrigation with
calcium rich water. When it is used as drinking water, people are exposed to varies diseases
,ignorance of farmers, proper management practices related to irrigation non-following of
instructions, lack of roots during summer, lack of inclination to engage in other business
ventures, indifference of officials etc. Have been identified as the reasons
Spatial-temporal analysis of land surface temperature and vegetation
Full text linkClimate change and rapid urbanization have significantly altered local microclimates,
particularly in coastal regions such as Nintavur, Sri Lanka. Land Surface Temperature (LST)
and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are crucial indicators in assessing
these environmental transformations. This study aims to investigate the spatial and temporal
variations in LST and NDVI between 2014 and 2024 to understand land cover changes and
their environmental impacts in the Nintavur area. The study utilised Landsat 8 Operational
Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) data for 2014, and Landsat 9 imagery
for 2024, were acquired from the USGS Earth Explorer platform. Standard radiometric and
atmospheric corrections were applied to the imagery using ArcGIS 10.8. Land Surface
Temperature (LST) was calculated by converting thermal band digital numbers (DN) to
radiance, followed by brightness temperature and emissivity correction methods. The
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was derived from the red and near-infrared
(NIR) bands. High and low values of LST and NDVI were extracted from the processed raster
layers. Spatial analysis, including heat mapping and change detection, was performed to
compare the patterns between 2014 and 2024, focusing on urbanizing zones. The analysis
revealed a substantial increase in Land Surface Temperature (LST) over the ten-year period.
In 2014, LST ranged from 22.91°C (low) to 34.78°C (high), whereas in 2024, it escalated to a
range of 27.32°C (low) to 41.72°C (high), indicating an overall temperature rise of
approximately 7°C in maximum LST. Concurrently, NDVI values exhibited slight
improvement in vegetative density at the upper range, increasing from 0.5128 in 2014 to 0.5319
in 2024; however, the minimum NDVI declined from 0.0078 to –0.1166, suggesting localized
vegetation loss and potential soil or built-up surface exposure. Spatial analysis identified a
strong inverse correlation between LST and NDVI, particularly in rapidly urbanizing zones
where vegetative cover loss was most pronounced. The urban fringe areas of Nintavur
exhibited the highest thermal intensification, signalling the emergence of an urban heat island (UHI) effect. These findings demonstrate that vegetation degradation and land cover changes have directly contributed to the spatial amplification of surface temperatures over the study
period. The findings reveal a notable increase in LST and a decline in vegetative health in key
parts of Nintavur over the past decade, primarily due to urban expansion. Urgent
interventions, such as green infrastructure development, reforestation, and integrated urban
planning, are recommended to mitigate UHI effects and restore ecological balance. This study
provides novel insights into micro-regional climate-vegetation interactions in Nintavur using
a decade-long geospatial analysis, reinforcing the importance of satellite-based environmental
monitoring in local climate assessments
The role of Muslim nesan newspaper to the Islamic social renaissance of the 19th century
Full text linkThe late 19th century, under British colonialism, proved to be a time of significant change for
various communities throughout South Asia. Tamil-speaking Muslims in Sri Lanka rapidly
needed social changes and educational development to counteract colonial power together
with Christian missionary outreach as well as homegrown stagnation. M.C. Siddi Lebbe
established Muslim Nesan newspaper in 1882 which became the landmark event of the Muslim
renaissance. This research evaluates how Muslim Nesan operated as an outlet for marginalized
populations while it simultaneously became an intellectual illumination and cultural
revitalization and political awareness force for Muslims. A historical thematic analysis of the
newspaper demonstrates how its publication reshaped Muslim identity in contemporary times.
During the late 19th century Muslim Nesan newspaper provided the essential platform that
led to the social and religious awakening of the Muslim community. As leader M.C. Siddi Lebbe
directed the publication to lead Muslim upliftment through education reform and social
progress combined with religious restoration activities. Between 1882 and 1889 Muslim Nesan
published a total of 48 issues containing articles about educational reforms and the
empowerment of women along with economic development and religious guidance and
antagonism against colonial powers and missionary interferences. Through active
encouragement the newspaper worked to restore the community identity and resist cultural
decay while fostering acceptance of modern knowledge and Islamic values. This study employs
a mixed-methods methodology to evaluate the main objectives. The study primarily relies on
secondary data, including earlier publications of the Muslim Nesan, relevant books and
magazines that offer insights into the historical and cultural context of the time. Using
descriptive analysis, the research examines main themes of study. The study highlights how
the newspaper contributed to muslim community identity and resistance to colonial influence.
The final discussion reflects on these findings an offers suggestions for further research on
media – driven social movements in historical Muslim societies
Road traffic accidents in Akkaraipattu police area: issues and challenges
Full text linkThis study explores the underlying issues contributing to road traffic accidents in Akkaraipattu
and identifies the challenges faced by local authorities and police in addressing these issues and
seek solutions for the prevention. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used for
collecting information through surveys and in-depth interview in this study. The researcher
has used random sampling method for data collection such as interviews with 10 pedestrians,
10 vendors, 10 religious leaders, 10 drivers and passengers totalling to 40 respondents. The
Quantitative data were collected from records, reports, statistics, available in Police station,
hospitals and magistrate court in Akkariapattu. Data were analysed using statistical tools
(Excel) for quantitative data analysis and presented in form of narrative. Thematic analysis was
applied to qualitative responses. This study aims to identify specific patterns of accidents, such
as high-risk locations, peak accidents hours and road users. The finding emphasises the need
for better infrastructure, strict law enforcement, public awareness to reduce incidents. Finally,
it recommends that, religious leaders, Police Officer, schools and public institutions should
provide counselling, guidance and awareness to community on safety travelling and driving to
build healthy life of people in this community
A study on the development of the Sinhala language through contact with Tamil, Sanscrit, Pali and European languages
Full text linkThe history of the Sinhala language extends far into the past, with written records dating back
to the 4th century BC, as evidenced by inscriptions and other ancient documents. Following
the arrival of Prince Vijaya, Sri Lanka became inhabited, though there is little concrete
information to suggest that writing was in use at that time. It is assumed that Kuveni and the
indigenous people communicated using a form of language, although there is no direct
evidence to support this. In the 3rd century BC-236 years after the Buddha’s ParinirvanaVenerable Mahinda arrived from Magadha and introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Since then,
elements of Indian cultural traditions have gradually merged with the island’s language and
culture. The translation of Pali texts into Sinhala contributed to the increased complexity of
the language and its literature. Inscriptions in caves inhabited by Buddhist monks reveal the
use of early Sinhala, also known as Prakrit (Prakrutha) Sinhala, particularly in recording
monastic precepts. The central research question of this study is whether contact with closely
related languages is an inevitable factor in the evolution of a language. The aim is to explore
how external linguistic influences have contributed to the development of Sinhala.It is well
established that Sinhala has absorbed words categorized as Tatsama and Tatbhava. The
influence of Indian Emperor Ashoka’s inscriptions is evident in the similarities found in the
Sinhala alphabet. The spread of Buddhismand the adoption of the Brahmi script further
expanded the Sinhala writing system, under the influence of Pali and Sanskrit. Numerous
words from Pali and Sanskrit can be identified in Sinhala today, showing how these languages
have nourished its vocabulary. This study examine Sinhala vocabulary in both written and
spoken forms, while also reviewing related research. There is substantial evidence to conclude
that Sinhala has evolved through extensive contact with other languages. During the colonial
era, European languages further influenced Sinhala. Prior to that, the Tamil language had also
played a significant role, particularly due to geographic and cultural proximity. Additionally,
the influence of Pali and Sanskrit—closely related languages from the same linguistic family—
has been considerable. This study places particular emphasis on the Polonnaruwa period and
the colonial era. It ultimately concludes that the Sinhala language has been enriched through a
diverse and fascinating array of borrowed linguistic elements
Exploring the seasonal variability and nexus between urban air pollution and urban heat Islands in Lahore, Pakistan
Full text linkIn urban settings, the interplay between air pollution and the effects of urban heat islands (UHIs) has a substantial impact on the health of residents as well as the delicate equilibrium of urban ecology and climate. Lahore faces severe environmental issues, notably high levels of urban air pollution stemming from industrial, vehicle, and agricultural practices emissions and urban warming due to urbanization, land use, and local climate change. This study aimed to use remotely sensed data to analyze the seasonal variations in nighttime surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) as extracted from the MODIS satellite. Furthermore, the study examined the potential use of Sentinel-5 satellite imagery for pollution analysis through the seasonal distribution of significant air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). These pollutants were extracted from the European TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) from March 2019 to February 2023. In comparison with rural areas, the study found that the concentration of pollutants in urban areas is substantially higher. The findings of the research also reveal the presence of a pronounced nocturnal surface urban heat island over Lahore, particularly in the downtown region, which is mostly composed of urban land use, densely populated areas, high vehicle emissions, and industrial and power generation locations. Summertime is when the SUHII is highest. However, the chosen pollutants also serve as an urban pollution island (UPI) that limits the areas that have higher SUHII. The UHI indicator exhibits a significant positive correlation with pollutants such as CO and NO2 and a weak positive correlation with SO2 in urban environments. Urban heat and air pollution have detrimental effects on human health as well as ecology, so this study is crucial for determining the ecological state of the fastest-growing megacity Lahore. This study is noteworthy because, without a regular network of monitoring points, it creatively uses Sentinel-5 satellite data to analyze pollution and air quality over wide areas. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of UHI-pollution dynamics and implications, which in turn informs urban planning and policies for urban air quality adaptation and urban environment management
Sustainable tourism development and management: case study Barberyn Island, Beruwala region, Sri Lanka
Full text linkTourism is a vital sector in Sri Lanka, contributing approximately 12% to the country's GDP. It
attracts local and international visitors annually, playing a critical role in economic growth through
foreign exchange earnings, employment generation, and support for various industries such as
agriculture, transport, and construction. The economic development of the Beruwala region
mainly depends on income generated from tourism. This paper aims to assess the current state of
Barberyn Island, identifying the challenges and opportunities for establishing it as a premier tourist
destination in the Beruwala region, all while promoting sustainable tourism and infrastructure
development. Additionally, alternative ideas will be identified to enhance tourism management and
development in Barbican Island, along with strategies to boost the local economy in the Beruwala
Region. The study utilized both primary and secondary data sources. The data used included
primary sources, such as stakeholder interviews, field surveys, observations, and secondary data.
The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were analyzed using a SWOT analysis.
Analysis indicates the importance of tourism development in Barberyn Island, establishing it as a
premier tourist destination in the Beruwala region, and the lack of awareness of tourism
management and development among people .so this study highlighted the ideas and strategies for
sustainable tourism and infrastructure development management in Barberyn Island
Impact of block chain technology on financial transparency in Sri Lankan banks: a concept paper
Full text linkThis concept paper examines the impact of blockchain technology on financial
transparency in the banking sector in Sri Lanka. It is worth noting that
transparency has been a primary means to enhance credibility and responsibility
among financial institutions, especially the global emerging countries such as Sri
Lanka. Hence, technology like Blockchain can effectively intervene in the
enhancement of transparency. This study uses a mixed research approach
including a regression analysis on the transaction database and a series of
interviews with practitioners, regulatory authorities and bank personnel to
identify the extent to which the blockchain could improve transparency standards
in Sri Lankan banks. The enduring implications of the study are likely to reveal
how blockchain can benefit financial reporting by increasing accuracy,
minimizing fraud, refining regulations, and increasing customer satisfaction by
making processes more transparent. Further, the paper examines major issues on
technology constraints, regulatory issues, and implications of the adoption of
blockchain in a developing economy setting. Further, a set of policy implications
based on the findings can be presented to suggest further steps to launch a
systemic integration of blockchain into the banking industry of Sri Lanka.
Overall, this research adds to the currently scant literature on blockchain
implementation in the banking sector, but it prescribes general solutions for
implementation in the Sri Lankan context. By so, this can offer recommendations
for other new emergent economies on how to apply blockchain technology for
improved credibility and openness of the financial sector