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Sector-Specific Frameworks
No full textPurpose: This research explores the simultaneous relationship between major
financial decisions of financing, dividend and investment decisions.
Design, methodology/approach: The sample data for this study includes 198 non
financial companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange over five years period
after excluding the financial sector companies listed from 2018 to 2022.This study
employs the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to estimate the regression
models on the panel data.
Findings: The results show that simultaneity in financial decisions only occurs in
financing and investment. Investment and dividend payment are not simultaneously
decided, whereas only dividend is affecting financing but not the other way around.
Practical implication: It supports firms find the greatest balance between investing
in growth, financing those investments, and paying shareholders with dividends,
which can improve long-term profitability. By seeing these decisions together,
companies can bring into line their policies to meet shareholder expectations,
balancing between investment and dividends.
Originality value: The uniqueness lies in integrating these key financial decisions
together rather than analyzing them in isolation. This approach could offer deeper
understandings into how firms make trade-offs and regulate their policies across
diverse financial areas
A survey on external parasitic mites on asian honey bees (APIS cerana) in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka
Get PDFHoney bees are the most ecologically important insects engaged with the pollination of
plants. The bee population has been decreasing over the last decade in the world due to
many reasons such as the use of agrochemicals, pests and diseases and habitat
destruction. Ectoparasites that live on honey bees have been identified as one of the
major threats to honey bees and studies on these parasites in Sri Lanka is limited.
Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the ectoparasitic mite abundance and
their identification associated with the Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) in the
Anuradhapura district. Mites were collected from the bottom boards of selected
domesticated bee hives located in the Anuradhapura district. The collected mite species
were mounted on permanent slides for identification. Shannon-Wiener Index and
Simpson’s Index were used to assess the species diversity. There were six mite species
and three bee lice and one unidentified parasitic species associated with the studied bee
colonies. The mites are still in the process of identification up to the species level.
However, one of the mite species reported from Seeppukulama area was the dominant
species where the bee hives were maintained under poor hygienic conditions. The
highest abundance of mites was also reported from Seeppukulama area. The highest
mite diversity was reported from Kabaragollawa area, while the lowest was recorded
from Seeppukulama area. It was noted that hygienic practices are important to keep the
bee colonies in healthy condition while lowering the mite population. It is recommended
to continue this study expanding geographically and using both man-made and natural
bee hives
Effective usage of adverbs for improving speaking skills in English language among grade 07 students
Get PDFPurpose: Effective usage of adverbs demonstrates higher level of language
proficiency and improvement in the speaking skills in ESL context. The purpose of
the research is to enhance the correct usage of adverbs to improve speaking skills.
Design/methodology/approach: The study involved 40 Grade 7 students from Al
Manar National School to assess the impact of adverb instruction on spoken English.
Using a quantitative approach, pre- and post-tests were conducted to measure
students' proficiency in adverb usage. The results showed significant improvement in
students' adverb usage after the intervention.
Findings: The findings highlight the importance of varied teaching methods, with an
emphasis on teacher engagement and regular instruction. The study highlights the
pivotal role of adverbs in enhancing the speaking skills of Grade 7 students.
Practical implications: The recommendations provided aim to build upon the study's
findings, offering practical strategies for educators and policymakers to improve
English language teaching, with a particular focus on the effective use of adverbs.
Originality value: The overarching goal is to equip students with the linguistic tools
they need to express themselves more precisely and confidently in English
Effective strategies for improving vocabulary proficiency among upper secondary level students
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of the study is to enhance upper secondary students'
vocabulary proficiency through the use of literature in English language teaching,
highlighting its role in improving language skills and knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach: The study used a mixed-methods approach,
combining quantitative analysis from tests and qualitative insights from
questionnaires and observations. Initially involving 35 GCE (O/L) students, 20 were
selected for the final sample. Data analysis was conducted using MS Excel.
Findings: The research found significant improvement in students' vocabulary skills
through strategies like song-based learning, vocabulary games, and language boards
in English literature. Pre- and post-test comparisons confirmed the effectiveness,
while questionnaires and observations revealed positive student feedback and
valuable qualitative insights.
Practical implications: The researcher recommends incorporating literature-based
instruction, interactive activities, and selected literary works into the curriculum to
enhance students' vocabulary proficiency.
Originality value: Educators should consider instructional strategies to individual
needs and include interactive, engaging elements to support language development
Age of marriage
Get PDFMarriage holds immense significance in human life, representing one of the
foundational institutions of society. The initiation of marriage necessitates certain
prerequisites such as reaching the minimum age of adulthood, physical maturity,
and mental development. Many legal systems globally recognize the importance of
setting a minimum age for marriage, ensuring the well-being of both parties
involved. This legal age serves as a benchmark for boys and girls alike, ensuring
that they enter into marriage with the requisite maturity and understanding. In
unfortunate scenarios where girls under the age of sixteen are married and
subsequently face divorce, they encounter challenges in providing financial support
for themselves and their children. The Employment of Women, Young People, and
Children Law No. 1956 specifies the minimum age for employment as sixteen, with
hazardous work restricted until the age of eighteen. Consequently, these young girls
are unable to secure livelihoods due to legal restrictions on employment until they
reach the age of sixteen. This predicament often leads to a lack of education and
suitable employment opportunities for these girls. Additionally, Section 363(n) of
the Penal Code addresses the issue of sexual intercourse with minors. It deems any
sexual activity with a girl under the age of sixteen, and especially with a girl under
twelve, as statutory rape, regardless of consent. However, under the provisions of
the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (AMU), marital relations with a wife above
the age of twelve are not considered unlawful. This creates a contradiction between
the two laws, raising questions about the legal framework's coherence and
effectiveness. It is imperative for lawmakers to review and reconcile these
conflicting provisions within both legal frameworks. Addressing this incongruity is
essential to uphold the rights and well-being of minors and to ensure consistency
and fairness within the legal system
issn
No full textAt present there is a significant demand for
environmentally sustainable agriculture to
produce high-quality, nutritious food for the
growing global population. Research efforts are
currently focused on sustainable crop production
methods, utilizing organic fertilizers and
botanical compounds derived from natural
resources to enhance the yield of commercially
valuable crops. A field study was conducted to
investigate the effects of foliar application of
seaweed (Ulva lactuca) liquid extracts (SLE) on
the growth and yield of the 'Indi' cultivar. The
foliar application of SLE was applied to the plant
at one-week interval. As treatment, the seed
extract was applied at different concentrations
10% SLE (T2), 20% SLE (T3), 50% SLE (T4), and
100% SLE (T5) (v/v). Control treatment consisted
of foliar application of distilled water (T1). The
results showed that there were significant
differences(p<0.05) among the tested parameters
of the ‘Indi’ cultivar.Foliar application of
seaweed extract at concentrations of 20% (T3)
increased the ground nut plant height (49.44 cm),
number of nodules (144) and pods (27), air dry
pod weight (36.38 g), air dry seed weight seed
yield (24.28 g), biological yield (2898.12 kg/ha),
and harvest index (41.96 %). Seaweed extract with
100% foliar application reduced the above
mentioned parameters significantly compared to
the control. Therefore, it could be concluded that
the seaweed extract at a 20% concentration level
can be used to enhance the growth and yield of
‘Indi’ groundnut cultivar
Study on the variations in characteristics of cassava starch during the chemical and physical modification process within selected locally grown varieties
Get PDFThe study was carried out to improve functional properties of native starch
by hydrothermal modification and cross-linking modifications. The starch
was extracted from different varieties of cassava (Swarna, Kirikawadi,
MU51, Shani, JS1, 565) and extracted cassava was dried at 55℃. The
physical characteristics were analyzed of both native starch and modified
starch. The highest starch yield was observed in MU51 variety (15.25%) and
had more export potential. The hydrothermal modification was carried out
for MU51 and Shani varieties. The modified starch had a significant
reduction in solubility with native starch (0.22±0.65%, 0.83±0.08%)
(p<0.05). The swelling power (253.83±0.014%, 214.08±0.26%) and water
absorption capacity (113.77±0.67%, 100.09±0.75%) of the modified starch
was significantly higher than the native starch. the dual-modified starches
had the highest Gelatinization Temperature (68.00±0.00℃, 70.00±0.00℃)
than native starches (P<0.05. The hydrothermal modified starches had a
significant reduction in viscosity with native starch. The crosslinking
modification was carried out for the MU51 variety with different
concentrations of cross-linking agents (STMP/STPP) (0%, 6%, and 12%).
The solubility of cross-linked cassava starch with 12% concentration
(4.37±0.28%) was higher than native starch (p<0.05). the swelling power of
cross-linked cassava starch with 12% concentration (222.94±0.54%) was
higher than other samples (p<0.05). the native starch had the lowest GT value
(67.00±0.00℃) than cross-linked cassava starch (p<0.05). The cross-linked
starch with 12% concentration had the highest FC value (1.96%) (p<0.05)
and a notable decrease in viscosity when compared to native starch. The
hydrothermal and cross-linked modified starch suitable for the harsh
conditions in food processing technology than native starch
Formulation of fry to fingerling feed for catla catla using sea cucumber gut waste as alternative protein source
Get PDFCatla catla, a popular freshwater fish in South Asia, confronts escalating feed
costs, primarily from imported fishmeal. Local fishmeal, sourced from fish
waste, presents a cheaper but inferior alternative. To tackle this issue, the
study investigates utilizing gut wastes from sea cucumber processing in Sri
Lanka as feed for Catla catla farming. Sea cucumber waste, rich in protein,
offers a promising alternative while addressing environmental concerns
related to waste disposal. This study attempted to replace the fish meal with
dried powder prepared from Holothuria scabra gut waste in different ratios,
such as fish meal: dried sea cucumber gut powder 1:0, 1:1 and 0:1. Fish feed
was prepared using fishmeal and sea cucumber gut waste for feeding Catla
catla fry to the fingerling stage over 45 days in triplicate experiments.
Growth and survival rates were estimated at the end of the experiment. The
proximate composition of ingredients and the feeds was analyzed.
Differences in parameters were compared using ANOVA at a 5%
significance level. The survival rate was 100% for all treatments. The growth
parameters such as standard length, total length and body weight were
significantly higher (ANOVA, p<0.05) in the feed prepared with fishmeal
and sea cucumber gut waste powder at a 1:1 ratio and were selected as the
best feed ration Fry to juvenile stage of Catla catla. This study demonstrated
that unused intestinal wastes of sea cucumbers have added value as a fish
feed ingredient and can subsequently help manage waste disposal during sea
cucumber processing
The role of ESG reporting, artificial intelligence, stakeholders and innovation performance in fostering sustainability culture and climate resilience
No full textPurpose
This study aims to investigate the causal relationships among environmental, social and governance reporting (ESGR), stakeholder sustainability awareness, use of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability culture, innovation performance and climate resilience of organizations across diverse sectors in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted among 327 respondents, including senior accounting professionals, operations managers and functional heads to gather company-level data in various industries in Sri Lanka. A disjoint two-stage approach validated the measurement model, and the partial least squares structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The analysis evidences the mediating role of stakeholders' sustainability awareness on the relationship between ESGR and sustainability culture. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of sustainability culture in driving climate resilience. Innovation performance acts as a moderator, strengthening the relationship between the use of AI and sustainability culture.
Practical implications
The study suggests that organizations should strategically use ESGR, integrate AI and prioritize stakeholder engagement to strengthen their commitment to sustainability. These provide insight for decision-making in organizations seeking to align with sustainable business practices.
Originality/value
It explores the use of AI to enhance ESGR and sustainability culture, providing a broader understanding of how organizations manage AI and stakeholders in sustainability issues
Evaluation of suitable local nutrient mixtures for micro propagation of potato (solanum tuberosum)
Get PDFMicropropagation is widely used for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) as a
viable option for propagation. This research investigates alternative media
for in vitro methods to propagate potatoes. Three treatments were
investigated. The MS medium, serving as the control, was composed of 1
mg/l BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine), 0.1 mg/l NAA (Naphthalene acetic acid),
30 g/l sugar, 0.1 g/l Myo-inositol, and 1 g/l charcoal, while the other two
treatments, Albert’s solution and a novel media (Kodi mix, KM), were
supplemented at the rates of 2 g/l to the above media. All three treatments
were replicated five times, employing a completely randomized block design
(CRD). Surface-sterilized potato shoots with one node were introduced into
different types of media for regeneration. Growth and developmental data
were collected at 3, 4, and 5 weeks of in vitro culture. Subsequently, sterilized
sand and coir dust in a 1:1 ratio were utilized for plant acclimatization, and
the health of the plants was assessed. Our results indicated that Albert’s
solution (28/plant) improved root development (number + length), while KM
displayed the lowest numbers (13/plant). However, shoot length, number of
roots, leaves, and internode showed significant differences among treatments
in the MS treatment, while KM promoted marginally. Moreover, treatment
with Albert’s solution produced the highest number of healthy plants at
83.6%, followed by MS at 79.6%, and KM at 51.1%, respectively, at the postacclimatization stage. Hence, we conclude that both Albert’s and MS media
promote the overall performance of potato tissue-cultured plantlets, while the
novel Kodi mix medium promotes the shoot growth and development
marginally and minimal root development in potato tissue-cultured plantlets