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No full textIn today’s era of exploding data volume, Big Data
and its analytical tools are increasingly being
embraced by organizations across various sectors
to
extract actionable insights for informed
decision-making. This research paper investigates
the critical role played by Big Data and analytics
in driving strategic decisions across diverse
domains. The multifaceted applications of Big
Data analysis are examined in this paper, with a
focus on customer behaviour analysis, marketing
trend analysis, fraud detection and prevention,
operational efficiency optimization, and risk
management
in
decision-making.
By
organizations, deeper insights are gained into
customer preferences, purchasing patterns, and
consumer perceptions through the harnessing of
Big Data, ultimately leading to an increase in
customer loyalty. Big Data facilitates the
identification of emerging market trends, enabling
businesses to swiftly adapt their strategies,
capitalize on new opportunities, and remain ahead
of the competition. Anomalous patterns and
suspicious activities are helped to be detected
through advanced analytics techniques employed
with Big Data, thereby fortifying organizations
against fraud and minimizing financial losses.
Additionally, operational processes are optimized
through Big Data analytics, ultimately leading to
cost
savings
and
improved productivity.
Furthermore, proactive risk identification,
assessment, and mitigation strategies are enabled
by Big Data analysis, empowering organizations
to navigate uncertainties effectively and safeguard
against potential threats. This paper sheds light on
how valuable insights are provided for leaders
seeking to leverage data for strategic decision
making and achieving sustainable success, with
Big Data analytics transcending industries
Evaluation of root and shoot morphology of four rice crosses of f₃ generation in lower catena soil conditions
Get PDFRice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of over 21 million people of Sri
Lanka and it is mainly cultivated as a wetland crop in Sri Lanka. Regarding
grain yield in rice, more attention is paid to traits of above-ground plants.
However, without well well-grown fully functional underground portion,
plants cannot perform well. This study attempted to evaluate the root and
shoot morphology of the F₃ generation of four rice crosses under lower catena
soil conditions, and to identify better root characteristics of root
improvement in future breeding programs. In this study, progeny lines, which
include 320 lines derived from four rice crosses, along with their respective
parent plants and standard checks were tested in Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) with 02 replicates. SAS and SPSS statistical software
used to compare the tested crosses data were analysed. Cross 2 (Ld 20-14-12
x Ld 20-15-14) and cross 4 (Ld 20-15-14 x Ld 20-22-04) were recorded
better morphological mean performance in root volume, root width, number
of roots, root dry weight, number of tillers, flag leaf length and width, number
of panicles, total panicle weight and seeds per panicle when compared with
their respective parents under lower catena soil conditions. So, cross 2 and
cross 4 have more potential to develop rice lines with better root structure in
future rice breeding programs. Overall comparison between the four crosses
recorded a higher Genotypic Coefficient of Variance (GCV%) and
phenotypic Coefficient of Variance (PCV%) for root morphology. Cross 1,
cross 2, cross 3 and cross 4 recorded significant positive correlations for
important root-related characteristics and other morphological
characteristics
Screening of 37 rice varieties for submergence tolerance ability under artificial condition
Get PDFRice cultivation in Sri Lanka faces significant challenges due to
susceptibility to flooding and wet conditions, affecting crop yield. To address
this issue, a comprehensive study was conducted with the primary focus was
to assess the survival and recovery capacities of 37 rice varieties, including
30 IRRI entries and 7 global check varieties (2 susceptible and 5 tolerant),
under controlled artificial field conditions simulating submergence. The
methodology involved the collection and preparation of seeds, followed by
nursery cultivation in nursery trays with Randomized Complete Block
Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The submerged conditions were
carefully regulated for 14 days, mimicking flooding scenarios in the Lowland
Wet Zone under Control Conditions. The data obtained were analyzed using
the Standard Evaluation System for Rice by IRRI (2002), categorizing
entries based on survival rates. The experimental design followed a
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. This
research offers valuable insights into identifying potential rice varieties
(Local Test Entry, Local Check, IRRI156, IR19A7712, IR19A8982, Local
Test Entry, IRRI123, IR19A7886, Local Check, IR19A7994, Local Check,
IR19A7963, IR19A7974, IR19A8596, IR19A7710, IR19A7798, Local Test
Entry, Local Test Entry, Local Test Entry, Local Test Entry, Local Check,
Local Test Entry, Local Check, Local Test Entry, IR19A9000,Local Test
Entry, Local Test Entry, Local Check, Local Test Entry, Bg 364, Bg 372, NP
14-7-5,Bg 360, Bg 379/2, IR19A8767, IR19A7983, IR42) with enhanced
flood tolerance, providing crucial information for further breeding and
development programs. The findings contribute significantly to addressing
the challenges of unpredictable flooding in rice cultivation, offering
pathways for improved resilience and sustainable production in flood-prone
regions
issn
No full textPurpose: Michael Hitchcock (2004) had explained that tourism and culture have a
deep relation. Culture is based on originality, authority, authenticity and many more.
Tourists are attracted by such types of factors; he says that invest and reinvest is not
modernization and it’s the human culture that remain there for a long time. Tradition
is invested and process goes on its known as constructivist. Cultural transmission is
not an authentic option, reproduction is not renewed it have its own originality. This
study investigated the influence of tourism development to Sri Lankan economic
Growth.
Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative research data were collected from
Articles books and online resource.The study was entirely based on the secondary
sources information that published by the Central Bank Of Sri Lanka, Department of
Census d Statistics, and Srilanka Tourism Development Authority(SLTDA)
Findings: According to Pizam’s article (1982), the tourism and hospitality industry
has been applauded by industrialized and developing countries for the number of jobs
created. A large amount of position vacancy is generated within the tourism industry
and the supported industries. As a labor-intensive industry, its contribution to
employment is not only restricted to the area or country but it also provides those jobs
to women, youngsters, unskilled, minorities and the socially disadvantaged who find
it very hard to get any jobs (Pizam, 1982). However, the unskilled and semi-skilled
workers who are directly employed in the industry are usually considered to be the
uneducated, unmotivated, untrained, unskilled, and unproductive employees (British
Tourist Authority, 1974).
Practical implications/ Originality value: it is quite evident from the foregoing
that tourism can play a major role in the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka
and its people. At the same time, tourism can lead the way to help preserve, nurture,
and develop the pristine environment, and rich culture of Sri Lanka, to ensure proper
and sustainable growth, which will benefit the entire country and its people
issn
No full textPurpose: The purpose of the research is to identify the impact of Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) on financial performance and capital structure decision making
of listed companies in Colombo Stock Exchange of Sri Lanka (CSE).
Design / Methodology / Approach: Quantitative data analysis techniques used in
this study to explain how the CSR activities affect financial performance and capital
structure decision measures within listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange
from 2018/2019 to 2023/2024. The study focuses on three key dependent variables:
Return on Assets (ROA), Tobin's Q, and Capital Structure. Independent variables
include CSR activities tailored towards the community, customers, employees, and
environment, benchmarked against the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework.
Findings: The findings reveal a positive relationship between CSR activities and
financial performance indicators, indicating that companies practicing CSR tend to
achieve better financial performance. Moreover, the analysis uncovers insights into
how CSR practices influence capital structure decisions.
Implications and Limitations: This study highlights the strategic importance of
integrating CSR into corporate strategies to enhance both financial performance and
decision-making processes. However, it acknowledges limitations such as potential
endogeneity issues, data availability constraints, and the need for further longitudinal
research to capture the full impact of CSR on listed companies in the CSE.
Originality value: The empirical evidence on the relationship between CSR, firm
performance, and capital structure decisions within the context of the CSE, this study
contributes to the existing literature and offers valuable insights for practitioners,
policymakers, and scholars. and offer practical implications for stakeholders,
policymakers, and corporate practitioners seeking to integrate CSR into their business
strategies for sustainable growth and value creation
isbn
Get PDFPurpose: Students need to use sentences with proper subject–verb agreement for
better English language communication. The objective of this research is to identify
the difficulties in constructing correct present simple sentences in English through
usage of appropriate subject-verb agreement rules of HNDE first year students. This
action research examines how mind map activities can help the students on avoiding
making errors in subject-verb agreement of English language communication.
Design/methodology/approach: The study collected data through various methods,
including tests (pre-test, mid-test, and post-test), activities, observations, reflective
journals, interviews with lecturers and students’ written and spoken assignments.
Focused attention was given to 20 selected participants based on their pre-test marks.
Findings: The average marks of the selected samples at the pre-test level were 36%.
However when the post-test had been held it was 83%. Hence, this research finds that
the mind map activities help students avoid making errors in subject-verb agreement
of English language communication.
Practical implications: This study is essential in carrying the plans that permit all to
concentrate on fine tuning the presentation of subject-verb agreement and functions as
an important section to the management of the institute on the best practices. other
tenses by using mind map activities. Furthermore, researches can be done on Subject
verb agreement of other tenses by using mind map activities.
Originality value: The study highlights the importance of implementing language
policies to enhance student performance. Its findings are valuable for helping lecturers
improve teaching methods and support students in avoiding subject-verb agreement
errors
Impacting factors and degree of influence on the selection of ICT subject in GCE Advanced Level
Get PDFEducation in Sri Lankan education focuses on
accelerating the country’s knowledge economy by producing
skilled and knowledgeable people who suit present-day needs.
Moreover, society wants universities to produce graduates, and
of course, those graduates must be employable. Meanwhile, job
opportunity is guaranteed for job seekers skilled in Information
and Communication Technologies (ICT) nowadays. Thus, the
Sri Lankan government introduced a new stream “Technology”
in the year 2015 as an educational reform. The success level of
this government initiative should be measured in an acceptable
form for further improvements. The most productive way to
measure success measuring the interest of students in ICT
on GCE A/L, and the factors that influence it. This study
was conducted to examine the factors fluencing ICT subject
selection by GCE Advanced Level students and to find out
the degree of influence of each factor. The coastal region
area of Ampara district of Sri Lanka was covered as a sample
population for our study. Data to find out the influencing
factors were collected by having One-on-One interviews with
four categories of stakeholder groups, namely principals or
deputy principals, teachers, students, and parents, and prepared
a questionnaire with these factors and distributed among the
A/L students from different schools to gather their opinions
from 266 respondents to find out the degree of influence of
factors using the convenience sampling technique. Later, the
answers to the questionnaire were analyzed by a statistical data
analysis tool which shows that the family income, awareness
programme, other main subjects in A/L, and the results of
mathematics, English, and ICT subjects in O/L are affecting
the ICT subject selection in A/L, meanwhile the results says
that gender, parents’ education, and previously followed ICT
related courses are not having relations in A/L ICT subject
selection, and it revealed the degree of top encouraging factors
such job market, opportunities in higher education, and getting
high z-score and discouraging factors such lack of resources
available in the medium, having no relevancy with other main
subjects, and lack of interest in IT
Evaluating the relationship between egg weight and village chicken egg quality in Sri Lanka
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate how egg weight affects the
internal and external quality of the eggs in village
chickens. A total of 335 eggs were obtained from 28-
week-old Naked Neck and Central Poultry Research
Station (CPRS) crossbreed village chickens. The eggs
were weighed and categorized into four weight groups:
large (56-65g), medium (49-56g), small (42-49g), and
peewee (30-42g). Data pertaining to external egg quality
characteristics (including egg weight, egg length, egg
width, shape index, shell weight, and shell thickness) and
internal egg quality characteristics (comprising egg
internal weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, albumen
pH, yolk length, albumen height, yolk height, and Haugh
unit) were gathered. These data were subjected to analysis
using SPSS version 25. The results showed that egg
weight significantly (p<0.05) influenced egg length, egg
width, shell weight, shell thickness, egg internal weight,
yolk weight, albumen weight, albumen pH, yolk length,
yolk color, albumen height, yolk height, and Haugh unit.
However, specific gravity and shape index were not
significantly (p<0.05) affected by egg weight. The
analysis revealed positive correlations (p<0.05) between
egg weight and egg length, egg width, shape index, shell
weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, yolk length,
albumen height, and yolk height. In conclusion, this study
underscores the pivotal role of egg weight in determining
the quality of both external and internal characteristics of
village chicken egg
An analysis of five picked therapeutic herbs' toxicity profiles against rice weevil
Get PDFThe importation of several synthetic fertilizers and pesticides into Sri Lanka has been outright
forbidden due to their adverse consequences. Consequently, there was a decline in yield and a
nationwide increase in food costs. This transition to organic farming had a severe impact on Sri
Lanka's economy in the second half of 2021, compounded by other existing issues such as the
COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate the undesirable effects associated with artificial substances,
researchers have focused on isolating prescribed drugs from botanical sources. In addressing the
issue of stored grain pests, particularly, Sitophilus oryzae, herbal insecticides have emerged as a
more reliable, affordable, sustainable, and environmentally benign alternative to synthetic
pesticides. In an effort to determine the plant with the most potent insecticidal capacity against
the rice weevil, alcohol-based extracts of Lantana camara (leaves), Carica papaya (seeds),
Ricinus communis (leaves), Calotropis gigantea (flowers), and Gliricidia sepium (leaves) were
used in mortality tests with four replications in a laboratory bioassay. The culturing of rice
weevil was performed by using laboratory conditions at 25±1°C and 50-60% RH, allowing for
classification based on morphological features, including the wider and longer rostrum of males
compared to females. The comparative efficacy of botanicals against the rice weevil mortality
was determined through an analysis of survival statistics. A control test using methanol as the
solvent was also conducted. The effectiveness of botanicals can be ranked as follows: G. sepium
> C. gigantea > R. communis > C. papaya > L. camara. The results led to the conclusion that
Gliricidia sepium exhibited the highest mortality, suggesting its potential for further study in the
future
How the milk chemical composition and fatty acid profile are influenced by physiological factors in Najdi dairy sheep
Get PDFSheep milk production is a complex process that is influenced by various factors. This study aims to investigate how the litter size (single vs. twins), birth type (male vs. female), age of the ewes and body weight affect the milk
composition and fatty acid profile of milk fat. Milk samples were collected from 119 Najdi ewes that were the subject
of this study. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MASS) was used to quantify the fatty acids (FAs). The
results showed that the twins birth type (female/female) has a significant influence (P < 0.05) on the concentration
of linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), behenic acid (C22:0) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). On the
other hand, saturated fatty acids (SFA), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:4; DHA), and odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA), such
as C15:0-antiso and C19:1-cis 10, increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the increasing age and body weight of the
ewes, while the ALA and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The principal component
analysis (PCA) revealed a positive association between the age and the OCFA, ALA and small-chain fatty acids (C6:0
and C8:0). In addition, the type of birth showed a positive association with the fat, lactose and palmitoleic acid C16:1
cis9. Conversely, there is a negative association between the UFA, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and PUFA.
In addition, the body weight (BW) and litter size were negatively associated with the protein, SFA and medium-chain
fatty acids (C10:0, C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0). The physiological factors generally suggested that the milk quality and
essential FA, such as ALA, were influenced by the type of the lamb’s birth and the age of the ewes