scholarly journals Perceived Readiness of Educated Youth towards Ethnic Integration in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-44
Author(s):  
M.S. Dimuthu Kumari

Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic society hence the ethnic integration has been a hot topic for decades.   By 2021, it has been 73 years after the independence from British empires, however, natives still struggle for the reconciliation among themselves. Often occurred ethnic clashes usually account for a huge social and economic cost.  Various scholars have highlighted that youth is highly active in initiating ethnic clashes. And, it is quoted specifically for the ‘Educated youth’ in Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this study explores the perceptions of ‘multi-ethnic, educated youth’ in heightening ethnic integration in Sri Lanka. This study utilized quantitative research approach and survey method. Primary data was mainly used for the study and collected through an online questionnaire. 100 multi-ethnic youth who are studying in higher education institutions in Sri Lanka selected as the sample using random sampling technique.  The readiness of respondents was basically measured through their perceptions with respect to the social integration model proposed by Awang et al (2019). Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing data. The results showed that the overall readiness of educated youth in promoting ethnic integration is high in Sri Lankan context. The respondents are almost ready for the social acceptance and cultural appreciation levels of the model. However, they have showed, relatively a slight attraction towards compromisation and adaptation levels for which a high degree of ethnic tolerance is required. Therefore, it can be concluded that the majority of educated youth are social extroverts and are aware the importance of integration. However, since they showed a little attraction towards the upper layers of integration pyramid, there is a need of re-evaluating existing social integration policies. So that, some policy recommendations are suggested to enhance more operational activities in reconciliation process to reach the upper levels of ethnic integration (compromization and adaptation) in Sri Lankan context.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Iruka Glapaththi ◽  
Ravindi Dissanayake ◽  
Thilina Welgama ◽  
Udara Somachandara ◽  
Ranitha Sachinthana Weerarathna ◽  
...  

Student engagement has become a dynamically engaging subject within the educational field. Higher student engagement has been a driving force behind extending student accomplishments in academics. This study focuses on student engagement in state (ABC) and non-state (XYZ) universities in Sri Lanka. The purpose of conducting this study is to identify whether a relationship exists between student engagement and academic achievement. The findings of the study will be of significance to the universities as well as the current undergraduates, since it provides an understanding on which measurements of student engagement is to be focused on, in order to achieve superior academic accomplishments. Additionally, the study will be of importance to Sri Lanka as a whole, for despite this subject being investigated in numerous other nations, it was identified that significant consideration was not given to the Sri Lankan context, when investigating the relationship between students’ engagement and their scholarly accomplishments. However, there can be unpublished researches in existence. The research was conducted using numerous scientific research tools. A deductive research approach was utilized in the current study. Data collection was based on primary data and a mixed strategy was utilized, as both quantitative and qualitative approaches were taken in collecting data. As per the findings of the study, it was identified that there is a positive relationship between student engagement and their academic achievements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 684-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Solesvik ◽  
Tatiana Iakovleva ◽  
Anna Trifilova

Purpose This paper focuses on the motivation of females to start businesses in developed and emerging economies. Although the issues related to the motivation of entrepreneurs have been widely studied, there are a few studies focusing on the differences in women’s entrepreneurial motivation in countries with different levels of market economy development. Furthermore, existing studies on female founders mainly adapt the concepts that have often been developed in male-dominated paradigm. The purpose of this paper is to explore in depth motivations of female entrepreneurs in different contexts and discover the dissimilarities in women’s entrepreneurial motivations in countries with different levels of economic development. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative research approach is applied in this study to explore the social-driven and profit-driven motives of female entrepreneurs. The authors have employed purposeful sampling to select cases. The authors investigated the motivations of 45 female entrepreneurs in Norway (12), Russia (21) and Ukraine (12). Semi-structured interviews were used to collect primary data. The authors have also triangulated the data collected from interviews with the data available on the internet, company reports and newspaper publications. Findings The findings indicate that women often pursuit business opportunities to satisfy social needs, rather than focusing on traditional business outcomes such as growth or profit. However, different contexts – the emerging economies context of Russia and Ukraine and the developed one of Norway – seem to influence the motivation to establish new ventures differently. The study found a stronger desire to contribute to a society’s needs among female founders in Norway compared to their counterparts in Russia and Ukraine. This indicates that cultural and social context in developed countries, such as in Norway, probably provides more possibilities for female entrepreneurs for self-realisation elsewhere leaving more room for focusing on societal issues in business in comparison with emerging countries contexts. Originality/value A novel conceptual contribution is the exploration of links between the social-driven and profit-driven motives of female entrepreneurs in emerging and developed economises. The study also adds to debates relating to context embeddedness of smaller firms.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandros Koulouris ◽  
Eftichia Vraimaki ◽  
Maria Koloniari

Purpose The study aims to explore Greek libraries’ social media presence and library operation and social media use during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were collected via an online questionnaire that was distributed to the Greek libraries. The final sample comprised 189 libraries of all types with the exception of school libraries. Findings Results indicated that Facebook is the most widely used platform, while social media are mainly used for sharing announcements about library operations and for the promotion of events. During the COVID-19 lockdown, libraries responded quickly to the new circumstances by taking many of their services online. However, they did not fully use social media for service provision but rather used social media as a static communication channel. Only a few of the libraries grasped the opportunity to highlight their role in the promotion of public health by providing timely and reliable information. Practical implications Library leaders who are looking to harness the power of social media for service promotion and outreach should build a strategy that takes platform popularity, current social media trends, patron preferences and the specific promotional objectives of their library into consideration. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current research is the first which attempts to explore the social media presence of Greek libraries of all types and changes made to library operations and social media use in response to the COVID-19 lockdown.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 350
Author(s):  
Sabina Yasmin ◽  
Tahmina Ferdous Tanny ◽  
Md. Rahmat Ullah

The creative education system is introduced in different stream of Bangladesh education towards developing the ingenious capability of students. The study is an endeavour that tries to know the possibilities and difficulties in the creative education system at the secondary level in Bangladesh from the teachers’ and students’ perceptions. It is an exploratory type of research that used primary and secondary sources of information to look for the problems, underlying the system. To collect primary data, Ambarkhana Girls’ High School & College; and Osmani Medical High School of Sylhet Sadar have been chosen as the study area. From the second tier of the chosen institutions; 60 students and 20 teachers are selected using a systematic random sampling method. The social survey method has been implied in this research and data collected through face to face interview method; along with a few well responded and informed respondents’ in-depth interview. Collected data from the respondents are then analyzed through a mixed research approach. The study findings reveal that most of the students signify the system enjoyable to study, memorizing reduced for textbooks learning, and appearance in examination turned easier. While others find the system confusing, difficult to understand questions and answer in examination hall within limited time. Besides, the system reciprocally encourages students to enrol in coaching centres for a vague idea about question pattern; lack of linkage between book and exam questions; and also, to get good marks. Findings from teachers' evaluation depict that though they welcome the system they are not well prepared to assimilate the system because of inadequate training facilities, absence of inquisitive seeking awareness program, dependence on the readymade question paper, challenges exerted on them to give students attention and proper guidance. The study recommends introducing well-researched textbooks avoiding mistakes, improving integrative classroom learning, controlling coaching business, increasing training facilities for teachers, providing awareness programs to make effective the creative education system in a competitive world of education.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kent Baker ◽  
N. Jayantha Dewasiri ◽  
Weerakoon Banda Yatiwelle Koralalage ◽  
Athambawa Abdul Azeez

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the dividend policy determinants of Sri Lankan firms and why they pay dividends.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses several quantitative approaches to investigate dividend determinants using market (secondary) data of 190 Sri Lankan firms and 1,330 firm-year observations. Dividend determinants are also identified using survey (primary) data from 141 of the 190 firms. Triangulation is then used to facilitate validation of the data through cross-verification from two data sources.FindingsAnalysis of the market data reveals that firm size, industry impact, corporate governance, free cash flow, earnings, past dividends, profitability, investment opportunities, net working capital, concentrated ownership structure and investor preference represent the most important dividend determinants. Survey data confirm these findings. The evidence supports the pecking order, signaling, free cash flow, catering and outcome theories using both secondary and primary data and the bird-in-the-hand theory using survey data.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are useful not only for corporate decision makers in establishing an appropriate dividend policy but also for shareholders in making investment decisions. Because the current study is limited to Sri Lanka, future researchers should study the same phenomenon in other countries using the triangulation approach.Originality/valueThis study provides a hybrid approach to dividend policy research by using both primary and secondary data in a single study. It is the first dividend study in Sri Lanka to use a triangulation approach.


2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 437-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laksiri Jayasuriya

Following the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010, the Sri Lankan political system has seen the rise of a ‘one-party dominant state’ and a ‘hybrid regime’. This new political order consists of a mix of democratic and authoritarian elements largely seen in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. This essay examines the social and political changes introduced by the highly militarized regime led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, which has slanted towards a Kautilyan ideology and authoritarian constitutionalism. It is argued that Sri Lanka needs a glasnost, marking a new political and social ethos based on the principles of accountability, openness, transparency, freedom and justice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-103
Author(s):  
Massoud Moslehpour ◽  
Taufiq Ismail ◽  
Bey Purba ◽  
Wing-Keung Wong

This research examines the relationship between social media marketing activities and purchase intention mediated by trust and brand image to confirm the constructs with practical applicability, specifically in a growing online ride-hailing service company. This study employs a quantitative approach with a causal research design to test the proposed hypotheses to identify interrelationships between each pair of constructs. Data collection was performed through a survey of 350 respondents via an online questionnaire as the primary data source distributed to social media users in Indonesia who had experienced using GO-JEK services. In addition, EFA, CFA, SEM, and bootstrapping methods were run to analyze these research data. Social media marketing, trust, and brand image affect consumers’ purchase intention significantly. Among the five dimensions of social media marketing, the findings show that two dimensions—namely, entertainment and word of mouth, bring the most significant direct effect on purchase intention. Trust and brand image mediate the relationship between social media marketing and purchase intention. This study suggests practical directions for organizations. First, it reveals the social media dimensions that directly encourage purchase intention among consumers. Second, it explains that trust and brand image can amplify each variable’s influence on the purchase intention among consumers. GO-JEK is an example of the online ride-hailing industry that causes the generalizability issue in different business contexts. Based on our findings, there are some practical directions for GO-JEK. First, it reveals the social media marketing dimensions that directly encourage purchase intention among consumers to use GO-JEK. Second, it explains that trust and brand image can amplify the influence of each variable on consumers’ purchase intention. Very few studies investigated social media marketing’s role in a GO-JEK business model in the Indonesian context. This research delivers in-depth insights into the significant factors that affect Indonesian consumers to decide which product they intend to buy through the influence of social media activities.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.G.A.S Waidyasekara ◽  
◽  
K.I. Ridmika ◽  
N.M.G.H. Sandagomika ◽  
A.N Konara ◽  
...  

The construction industry, which is a labour intensive and skill development of the industry would yield both economic and social returns to the national economy. Among other occupational categories, there is a significant demand for the plant and equipment (P&E) operators in the construction industry. Nevertheless, limited numbers of research are available on the said area. Hence, the aim of this paper is to investigate the status of P&E operators in Sri Lankan building construction projects. Accordingly, this study encompassed a qualitative research approach, and six semi-structured expert interviews were conducted as the data collection tool. The study revealed that mainly two categories of P&E as moveable and immovable and further identified subcategories under each. Based on the results, occupational map was developed for the P&E operators in building construction projects in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the study revealed that technical and mechanical skills as an essential input for an efficient P& E operator. Moreover, the paper discussed issues with P & E operators. Accordingly, inconsistency, taking long leave, poor health conditions, less experience, and less motivation were identified as prominent issues.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-41
Author(s):  
Bhagya Hithaishi Jayawardana ◽  
K Nanayakkara

Ethical practice is fundamental to any practiced based profession including social work. The social work profession is a diverse one with a mission to promote wellbeing and quality of life for vulnerable people. Despite serving the society it’s also central to promoting social work Ethics to maintain the professional standards and lessen the ethical issues and dilemma’s faced in day today practice. Ethics are really important to any profession, yet a necessity for those rooted in and human services. In the Sri Lankan context, it is disheartening to see how social workers have lost their professional identity with the absence of a professional code of ethics in place. A qualitative research approach was followed to explore and describe the key ethical challenges faced by the social workers in Sri Lanka. Survey method, in-depth interviews and key informants interviews were utilized and analyzed based on purposive sampling method. The data were categorized based on different themes. The finding proves that there is no proper guideline to be followed for the practitioners, particularly in situations of ethical dilemmas and conflicts. Most of the Human Service Organizations have their own set of rules with lesser focus on the code of ethical conduct. The unethical practice unintentionally promotes the malpractice leading to scenarios where organizational set of rules violates the client’s self determination and confidentiality. Although most of the upcoming social work graduates are made aware of the importance of maintaining an ethical conduct, when they join the work force as social workers they face many constraints due to absence of a formal code of ethics. This has resulted most of the social workers not having any obligations to continue an ethical practice  hence their practice is inevitably not much embedded in ethics. Thus the study provides an outlook on the ethical challenges faced by the social workers specially working in different sectors in Sri Lanka.


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