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D.S. Senanayake samudra irrigation water Distribution and optimization system using AI
Get PDFPurpose: To design and implement an AI-based irrigation water distribution and
optimization system for the D.S. Senanayake Samudra reservoir, ensuring efficient
water usage, sustainable agriculture, and improved crop yields by utilizing advanced
AI algorithms and real-time analytics.
Design/methodology/approach: The research involves developing a hybrid AI model
combining Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Gated Recurrent Units (GRU).
The system integrates real-time sensor data with weather forecasts to dynamically
optimize irrigation schedules. A mobile application complements the system for real
time monitoring and actionable recommendations. Findings: The system demonstrated
significant reductions in water waste and improved irrigation efficiency. The
CNN+GRU model outperformed other machine learning models, with optimal
performance metrics for predicting water distribution needs.
Practical implications: This AI-driven system empowers farmers with precise
irrigation management tools, enhancing agricultural productivity while conserving
water resources. It also addresses infrastructure vulnerabilities through real-time
monitoring and proactive maintenance.
Originality value: The research pioneers the integration of AI in large-scale irrigation
systems, leveraging hybrid AI models and mobile applications to address real-world
agricultural challenges. This innovation contributes to sustainable farming practices
and efficient water management
Quality assessment of degraded Palmprints using enhancement filters
Get PDFImage enhancement in the pre-processing stage of biometric systems is a crucial task in image analysis. Image
degradation significantly impacts the biometric system’s performance, which occurs during biometric image capturing,
and demands an appropriate enhancement technique. Generally, biometric images are mixed with full of noise and
deformation due to the image capturing process, pressure with sensor surface, and photometric transformations.
Therefore, these systems highly demand pure discriminative features for identification, and the system’s performance
heavily depends on such quality features. Hence, enhancement techniques are typically applied in captured images
before go into the feature extraction stage in any biometrics recognition pipeline. In palmprint biometrics, contact-based
palmprints consist of several ridges, creases, skin wrinkles, and palm lines, leading to several spurious minutiae during
feature extraction. Therefore, selecting an appropriate enhancement technique to make them smooth becomes a
significant task. The feature extraction process necessitates a completely pre-processed image to locate key features,
which significantly influences the identification performance. Thus, the palmprint system’s performance can be
enhanced by exploiting competent enhancement filters. Palmprints have reported a lack of novelty in enhancement
techniques rather than more centering on feature encoding and matching techniques. Some enhancement techniques in
fingerprints were adopted for palmprints in the past. However, there is no clear evidence of their impact on image
quality, and to what extent they affect the quality in specific applications. Further, frequency level filters such as the
Gabor and Fourier transforms exploited in fingerprints would not be practically feasible for palmprints due to the
computational cost for a larger surface area. Thus, it opens an investigation for utilising enhancement techniques in
degraded palmprints in a different direction. This work delves into a preliminary investigation of the usage of existing
enhancement techniques utilised for pre-processing of contact fingerprint images and biomedical images. Several
enhancement filters were experimented on severely degraded palmprints, and the image quality was measured using
image quality metrics. The High-boost filter comparatively performed better peak-signal-to-noise ratio, while other
filters affected the image quality. The experiment is further extended to compare the identification performance of
degraded palmprints in the presence and absence of enhanced images. The results reveal that the enhanced images with
the filter that has the highest peak signal-to-noise ratio (High boost filter) only show an increased genuine accept rate
compared to the ground truth value. The High-boost filter slightly decreases the system’s equal error rate, indicating
the potential of exploiting a pre-enhancement technique on degraded prints with an appropriate filter without
compromising the raw image quality. Optimised enhancement techniques could be another initiative for addressing the
severity of image degradation in contact handprints. Doing so they could be successfully exploited in civilian applications
like access control along with other applications. Further, utilising appropriate enhancement filters for degraded
palmprints can enhance the existing palmprint system’s performance in forensics, and make it more reliable for legal
outcomes
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Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates the nexus between tourism receipts and economic
growth in Sri Lanka in the short and long run. It is also meant to study the impact of
Foreign Direct Investments, economic freedom, and war periods on economic
growth.
Methodology: The paper's annual data ranges from 1978 to 2023, sourced from the
Annual reports of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Central Bank of Sri
Lanka, and the World Bank. In this respect, the methodological section employs the
econometric approach by applying an Augmented Dickey-Fuller test for stationarity,
a cointegration test for the presence of long-run relationships, and a Granger Causality
test to test any causal links between all series analyzed using EViews 12.
Findings: Estimations show that In the long run, tourism receipts and economic
growth are positively and significantly related. This factually means that with a 1%
increase in tourism receipts, GDP increases by 0.601%. The FDI also positively
influences the GDP, but this influence will be significant after three years. While
doing so, the negative and significant coefficient of the economic freedom index
shows that the GDP affects it negatively, thereby signaling a complex relationship
that may require more deliberations. Finally, the war dummy variable assumes
negative significance, indicating a lower GDP growth rate at the time of war since the
government spends much on defense. Results from a Granger causality test showed
that tourist revenue contributed to economic growth via a unidirectional causal
relationship.
Practical Implication: Tourism is a strategic driver for sustainable economic growth
in Sri Lanka. Policymakers are envisaged to provide facilities and incentives to
trigger international tourism demand promotion and development for more
significant inflows of tourists, who will, in turn, create growth in tourism and the
multiplier effect to stimulate other industries' contribution to general economic
growth. Originality/ Value: The worth of this research to the existing literature lies in the fact
that it provides empirical proof for a positive relationship of tourism with economic
growth in Sri Lanka, the lagging effect of FDI, and the puzzling role of economic
freedom. In addition, it tries to highlight that tourism is one-way sustainable growth
can be achieved. Hence, policymakers might draw some valuable insights from this
while chalking out some effective strategies regarding tourism development
Development of frozen yoghurt incorporating mango (mangifera indica) var. alphonso
Get PDFFrozen yogurt is a frozen product containing the same basic ingredients as
ice cream, but contains live bacterial cultures. Mango fruit are rich in
nutrients as carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals as well as nonnutrient compounds including organic acids, dietary fiber, polyphenols and
carotenoids. Pairing frozen yoghurt with mango var. Alphonso, improve tasty
and nutritious qualities, and opens up exciting possibilities. The main
objective of this study was to develop a mango (var. Alphonso) incorporated
frozen yogurt as a healthier substitute for ice cream, with specific focuses on
establishing a preparation methodology, assessing sensory acceptability, and
evaluating storage stability. Three treatments with varying percentage of
mango pulp and yoghurt 50:50(T1), 75:25(T2), 25:75(T3) was used to
prepare the samples. Treatment T3 has selected as the best sample based on
five-point hedonic scale of sensory evaluation. The final product prepared
and stored at -10 ± 10C. Then evaluated frozen yoghurt through physical,
chemical, microbial properties and assessing acceptability and stability
weekly during storage period. After the 5 weeks mean of pH was 4.19 ±
0.029. Longitudinal assessment indicated a progressive decrease in pH over
the storage period, indicative of ongoing fermentation processes. Mean of
brix, overrun percentage and weight were 23.5, 0.20 ± 0.01 and 66.62 ± 0.34
respectively. Sensory evaluation consistently yielded positive scores,
particularly highlighting taste/flavor, appearance/color, and texture/mouth
feel. Microbial analysis confirmed the product's safety, with no detection of
coliform, yeast, or mold. The Alphonso mango frozen yogurt as a promising
and healthy alternative to ice cream, possessing favorable attributes and
considerable market potential
Textural and chemical characteristics of microplastics in coastal sediments along the Southeast Coast of Sri Lanka: implications for possible sources
Get PDFAt present Microplastics (MPs) have been recognized as one of the most critical and emerging sources of marine pollution with a significant impact on marine and coastal biota. The current study aimed to comprehend MP pollution along the Southeastern coast of Sri Lanka by investigating their spatial distribution, morphology, composition and possible sources. For the study, 23 coastal sediment samples were collected from straight beaches and 8 samples were collected from lagoon areas of the Southeast coast extending from Kalmunai to Panama. About 5 kg of surface sediments were collected from the wrack line to the berm zone at each sampling site. The MPs were isolated by density separation using 1.20 g/ml NaCl solutions. The amount, shape, and colour of isolated MPs were analyzed on the petrographic microscope. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscope were employed to investigate their morphology and chemical composition respectively. The results indicated the presence of both mesoscopic- and microscopic-sized plastics in the studied sediments. The MPs occurred in five morphological categories; fibers (86.77%), flakes (6.61%), fragments (3.58%), foams (1.93%), and films (1.10%), and nine various colours. The SEM images demonstrated the presence of different weathering surfaces such as scratches, pores, protrusions, grooves, pits, and scales in these MPs. These weathered surfaces may have been formed due to mechanical abrasion, chemical reactions, photodegradation, and microbial degradation. The FTIR analysis revealed that the main polymer compositions of MPs are polyethylene and polystyrene. The distribution of MPs along the coast varied greatly (from 0 to 45 MPs 500 g-1) and shows the highest amount in lagoon environments (>20 MP 500 g-1) indicating land-derived sources of MPs. An in-depth textural and compositional characterization of MPs, and their spatial distribution investigations will advance the understanding of MP pollution in the Southeastern coast of Sri Lanka
Volatility spillover between equity and cryptocurrency: an empirical study on the Colombo stock exchange
Get PDFCryptocurrency markets have spillover effects on different financial markets.
However, no studies have empirically investigated their spillover impact on the
equity market of Sri Lanka. This study investigates the volatility transmission of
spillover volatility between the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and cryptocurrency
markets considering the daily returns of the All Share Price Index (ASPI) and the
Bitcoin (BTC). The analysis employs univariate Generalized Autoregressive
Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) (1,1) models to capture volatility
dynamics and a multivariate Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC)-GARCH
model to examine the time-varying correlations between ASPI and BTC returns.
The results reveal significant volatility clustering and high persistence in ASPI and
BTC, with immediate shocks to volatility being more pronounced in BTC. Notably,
past volatility has a more substantial impact on current volatility in ASPI compared
to BTC. The DCC-GARCH model indicates a negligible negative correlation between
ASPI and BTC returns, suggesting minimal spillover effects and potential
diversification benefits. The understanding developed in this paper can help
investors devise an appropriate strategy, policymakers design suitable regulations,
and, lastly, guide market participants into designing innovative new financial
products that will take care of the changing needs of the investors within the digital
economy. Future research should investigate spillover effects in other emerging
equity markets and consider additional factors such as regulatory changes and
macroeconomic variables
The effect of fintech on mobile payment and digital wallet services in the retail banking industry
Get PDFPurpose: This research investigates the impact of FinTech on mobile payment (MP)
and digital wallet services within the retail banking industry. It evaluates how these
technologies enhance accessibility, integration, and security, while also addressing the
challenges such as security issues, compliance risks, and additional costs.
Design/methodology/approach: The study utilized a mixed-method approach,
including a literature review and an online survey of 100 participants who are retail
bank customers. The literature review examined significant milestones and challenges
in mobile payment systems and digital wallet implementation. Survey data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to provide insights into user
experiences and practical implications.
Findings: FinTech was found to significantly enhance accessibility and efficiency for
users and improve service delivery for organizations. However, challenges such as
security risks, compliance concerns, and implementation costs remain. The study
highlights the need for strategic measures in these areas to optimize the benefits of
FinTech adoption.
Practical implications: Retail banks can leverage FinTech to streamline services,
improve customer satisfaction, and remain competitive. This requires investments in
robust security measures, customer education, and strategic adoption of emerging
technologies to address existing challenges and anticipate future developments.
Originality value: This research provides a detailed analysis of FinTech's role in
mobile payments and digital wallets, offering actionable insights for the retail banking
industry to enhance its technological infrastructure and customer offerings
Social interactions among undergraduates at State Universities: an analysis of experiences pest-easter Sunday terrorist attacks
Get PDFSri Lanka is a country with diverse religions and ethnicities. Sri Lanka’s Muslim-Buddhist relationship dates back centuries. Its diverse background is due to its long history of religions, cultures, and ethnic groups. Because of tension and enmity between different ethnic groups, ethnic conflict is frequent. Exactly this happened with the Easter Sunday bombings on 21 April 2019. The main objective of this study is to examine whether the criticism and hate speech that occurred after the Eastern Sunday attack affected the social interaction of university students. The researchers used a mixed method of study through an empirical approach. The data for the study were collected by distribution of 268 questionnaires and 25 unstructured interviews. The questionnaire data were analysed with the help of SPSS software (version 26); interview transcriptions underwent a coding analysis method. According to the findings, There was a healthy social interaction between the undergraduates of the two religions. Nevertheless, factors that hinder mutual contact include frequent meetings with the same religious students and being threatened by one's religious friends when developing good relations with a person belonging to another religion. Several parameters need to be met for a healthy social co-existence to be built on mutual understanding, including a lack of understanding of other religious beliefs and a lack of interest in learning other recipes. It is likely that if this situation continues in the future, tensions will arise between Muslims and other students at the University.AL-IKHSAN: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Studie
Impact of social media usage on work life balance of working professionals in Sri Lanka
Get PDFPurpose: This research aims to identify the impact of social media usage on work life
balance of working professionals in Sri Lanka. Specially the study going to analyze
the impact of professional and personal life social media usages on Work Life Balance
of Working professionals separately in Sri Lanka.
Design/ Methodology approach: This study employs a quantitative research design
using a survey method to collect data from working professionals in Sri Lanka. The
research aims to quantify the impact of social media usage on work-life balance. The
population for this study includes all working professionals in Sri Lanka. A stratified
random sampling technique will be used to ensure representation across different
sectors (e.g., IT, education, healthcare, finance, etc.). The sample size of 950 working
professional in Sri Lanka used to collect the data through structured questionnaire to
ensure representativeness and reliability.
Findings: Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter help professionals in
networking, knowledge sharing, and career development, which can enhance job
satisfaction and work-life balance. Excessive use of professional social media during
work hours can lead to distractions and reduced productivity, negatively impacting
work-life balance. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp
facilitate communication and connection with friends and family, contributing to
personal well-being and a better work-life balance. Overuse of personal social media
can lead to procrastination, increased stress, and a blurred boundary between work and
personal life, adversely affecting work-life balance.
Practical implication: Employers should encourage balanced social media use,
providing guidelines and training to enhance productivity and work-life balance.
Employees should be mindful of their social media habits, ensuring professional and
personal use does not interfere with each other, thereby improving overall job
satisfaction and personal well-being.
Originality value: This research uniquely explores the dual impact of professional
and personal social media use on work-life balance among Sri Lankan professionals,
providing actionable insights for better digital habits
Synthesis and characterisation of coconut shell-based activated carbon black through Koh activation
Get PDFCoconut shells (CS) are considered a promising renewable precursor for the synthesis of carbon black (CB). This study explores the potential of 49arboniza coconut shell-based activated carbon black (ACB) as a sustainable solution for black colourant in printing applications, by 49arbonizat 49arbonization parameters for CB synthesis and introducing a low-temperature chemical activation method using KOH. Thirty-six CB samples were prepared as combinations of three variables; particle size of CSs (0.1 mm, 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, and 5.0 mm), 49arbonization temperature (450 °C, 500 °C and 550 °C), and duration of 49arbonization (2 h, 3 h, and 4 h) to analyse and identify the most effective synthesis parameters. The best CB sample (0.1 mm CS particles 49arbonizat at 550 °C for 4 h) was identified based on the results of Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) analysis and was activated using different weight ratios of KOH (the CB to KOH ratio 1:2, 1:4, 1:6 [w/w] ) at 120 °C. FT-IR analysis reveals that reducing particle size, elevating 49arbonization temperature, and duration enhance the removal of unstable volatiles as CO2 in CB samples. Furthermore, the resulted FT-IR spectra confirm the presence of carbonyl groups, carboxylic groups, and C-H bonds as predominant functional groups in ACB, indicating successful activation. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis shows that activation with KOH induces the formation of both amorphous and crystalline phases within CB samples, with an increasing graphitic crystalline nature observed as KOH concentration rises; however, excessive concentrations lead to amorphous carbon formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrate that higher concentrations of KOH result in the formation of well-defined spherical micropores with larger sizes (0.656 μm). However, excessive concentrations (CB to KOH weight ratio 1: 6) lead to smaller or closed pores, due to the potential carbon collapse, suggesting that lower KOH concentrations enhance the surface area while maintaining overall performance. Future research will explore the eligibility of these ACBs as a potential black colourant in printing applications