scholarly journals Challenges and Opportunities for Sri Lankan Exporters in the German Market: A Specific Reference to the Electrical and Electronic Sector

2021 ◽  
pp. 118-133
Author(s):  
R. T. Vidyaratne ◽  
E. A. G. Sumanasiri
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Foreign Missions ◽  
German Market ◽  
Strategic Relationships ◽  
Trade Promotion

Foreign missions have been the pillars of trade promotion and in particular, of export and export-oriented investment. In Sri Lanka, the potential for export promotion to Germany is immense. However, it is discernible that there has been no coordinated effort by foreign missions to promote trade with Sri Lanka. At present, Sri Lanka maintains 52 High Commissions/Embassies overseas. In Sri Lanka, the Electrical and Electronic (EE) sector is one of the emerging sectors supported by the National Export Strategy (NES), and currently, the sector serves niche markets that have great potential to diversify in the area of Electrical and Electronic Components. The EE sector is also considered to have potential to stimulate innovation, research and development (R&D) and investment in Sri Lanka. Certain challenges are highlighted in the literature when promoting EEC as a major export of Sri Lanka. However, in this process of promoting exports in the EEC sector in the international market, foreign missions are recognized as the responsible stakeholder since they can facilitate the export process through diverse networks. Therefore, this research examines the challenges faced by Sri Lankan exporters when exporting to Germany, focusing especially on the Electrical and Electronic Sector. To achieve this research objective, a qualitative methodology was adopted as it permitted the researchers to understand human behaviour and thoughts to identify preferences in trade promotion activities. Primary data were collected through two main sources, namely, structured interviews and focus group discussions, while secondary sources such as international trade databases and trade maps were used to triangulate the data. The population of the study was Sri Lankan exporters and importers, trade support institutions and diplomats. In total, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted using the convenience sampling method and snowball sampling. Analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews (14) revealed that trade fairs and Business to Business meetings were vital opportunities to increase trade promotional activities of exporters. Major challenges faced by Sri Lanka exporters to the German market include the need for internalizing industries, limited recognition of Sri Lanka’s EEC sector locally and internationally, lack of business intelligence, lack of stakeholder communication, need to build strategic relationships and intergovernmental engagement. The study offers several recommendations to overcome trade barriers and to exploit the available opportunities in the host market.

scholarly journals ISSUES AND CHALLENGES ON DEVELOPING AND PROMOTING RAMAYANA TRAIL TOURISM IN SRI LANKA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (07) ◽  
pp. 1030-1038
Author(s):  
U.A.D. Premarathna ◽  
◽  
R.S.S.W. Arachchi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Cultural Value ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Travel Agents ◽  
Tourism Promotion ◽  
Tourism Product ◽  
Religious Reasons

This study has been conducted related to the Ramayana tourism concept in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has launched the Ramayanaya Trail with the private sector to target the top-ranked Indian market over to Sri Lanka for religious reasons and other travel purposes. With the literature shreds of evidence by Ramayana epic Sri Lanka has significant cultural value on Ramayana trail with more than 50 relevant sites. With the findings of previous studies related to the Ramayana trail in the Sri Lankan context and surveys by local travel agents, there is no considerable popularity for the Ramayana trails sites among Indian tourists who visited Sri Lanka. Thus, the study has focused on developing and promoting issues of Ramayana tourism in the Sri Lankan context. The study was conducted under the qualitative approach to achieve the research objective to identify the issues and challenges of developing and promoting Ramayana trail as a cultural tourism product in Sri Lanka under the case study research design by considering Ramayana tourism in Sri Lanka as a case. The qualitative interview method was conducted by the snowball sampling method among Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and 20 local tour operators and filed observations in 11 Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka were done as the primary data collection. Core issues and challenges have been identified under two categories as site-based and organizational-based.

scholarly journals Foreign Missions’ Role in Promoting International Trade: Empirical Evidence of Sri Lankan Foreign Missions Promoting Electronic Exports in Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
R. T. Vidyaratne ◽  
E.A.G. Sumanasiri
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Foreign Missions ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
Foreign Mission ◽  
Trade Promotion

Foreign missions have been the pillars of trade promotion and in particular, of export and export-oriented investment. In Sri Lanka, the potentiality in export promotion to Germany is immense. However, it is discernible that there is no coordinated effort in promoting trade in Sri Lanka by foreign missions. Therefore, this research examines the role of foreign missions in promoting international trade between Sri Lanka and Germany especially focusing on Electrical and Electronic Sector. The case study is based on the empirical evidence of Sri Lankan foreign missions promoting electrical and electronic exports in Germany. Potential growth-enhancing factors will benefit from increased global economic integration through trade promotion activities undertaken by the host country and the foreign mission. A qualitative methodology was used to understand the stakeholder perspective of the role of foreign missions. Analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews (13) derived the results that trade fairs and Business to Business meetings as the most effective trade promotion activities. Findings of the study confirms six (6) vital roles of a foreign mission which are internalizing industries, promoting, business intelligence, stakeholder communication, building strategic relationships and inter-governmental engagement respectively. The paper points out managerial and policy implications such as pro-activeness of the head of foreign missions and strategic and trustworthy relationships between the countries. The study concludes that the activities carried out by the Sri Lankan Foreign Mission in Germany does not satisfy the exporters’ expectations and requirements. Further this study recommendations are provided to both German and Sri Lankan Governments and foreign missions.

An Investigation of Entrepreneurial Motivation: Boutique Hotels in Northern Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-222
Author(s):  
Sainatee Chernbumroong ◽  
Vlatka Skokic ◽  
Andrew Lockwood
Keyword(s):  
Primary Data ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Socioeconomic Environment ◽  
Entrepreneurial Motivation ◽  
Business Creation ◽  
Entrepreneurial Decision ◽  
Boutique Hotels

Purpose – entrepreneurship scholars have argued extensively that the phenomenon of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial motivation cannot be studied in isolation from their broader socioeconomic environment. This study addresses this gap by examining the entrepreneurial motivation of hotel entrepreneurs in Northern Thailand. The study also investigates how various mediating factors and motivations to start a business shape tourism entrepreneurs' behaviour in relation to growth strategies. Design/ Methodology/ Approach – qualitative research was conducted in Northern Thailand 2012 and the follow-up study in 2019. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used. The primary data collection method was semi-structured interviews. Findings – the study identifies the coexistence of both lifestyle and growth-oriented entrepreneurs. The results show that the entrepreneurial decision to enter the hotel industry was not solely determined by the entrepreneur's own actions, but significantly by the family. The role of family in business creation is directive and not facilitative. Business growth was a desirable strategy for both lifestyle and growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Originality of the research – study shows that entrepreneurial motivation cannot be properly understood if it is studied in isolation from the wider socio-economic context. Moreover, it challenges the prevailing classification of tourism entrepreneurs into lifestyle-oriented and growthoriented.

Significance of operational capabilities of suppliers on the front-end decision making in apparel product innovation in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niromi Seram ◽  
Julian Nanayakkara ◽  
Gamini Lanarolle
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Apparel Manufacturing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Front End ◽  
Operational Capabilities ◽  
Apparel Product

Purpose The suppliers are recognized as important external sources who can significantly contribute by working together with the buyer during the innovation process. Operational capabilities of suppliers can be one of the considerable factors when selecting them to participate in the activities at the front-end of innovation. However, proper understanding of the influence of operational capabilities of suppliers on front-end decision-making in apparel product innovation is still very limited particularly in the context of the Sri Lankan apparel industry. Therefore, this study aims to explore the influence of operational capabilities of suppliers on the front-end decision making in apparel product innovation in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach Both semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey were used as data collection techniques. Six senior managers for the interviews and 60 participants for the questionnaire were randomly selected. All those who participated in interviews and the questionnaire respondents have been involved in the front-end of innovation in different apparel manufacturing organizations in Sri Lanka. Findings The results indicated that the operational capabilities of suppliers had a direct positive influence on front-end decision-making, and the suppliers’ production flexibility was found to be the most influential. Further, the results highlighted that 27.3% of the front-end decisions associated with apparel product innovation in Sri Lanka were influenced by the factors governing operational capabilities of suppliers. Originality/value The findings of the research will be beneficial for both academia and industry. The findings will be useful to extend the current understanding and make a noteworthy contribution to this topic and to provide useful and practical guidance to material suppliers and supporting industries who work with Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing.

Role of Facebook as a disaster communication media

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasadi Kanchana Jayasekara
Keyword(s):  
Primary Data ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disaster Communication ◽  
Data Saturation ◽  
Funding Programs ◽  
The Government ◽  
Media Channels ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the types of contents shared through Facebook during different phases of disaster management. Design/methodology/approach The primary data of this study were collected using the qualitative method. To acquire the necessary data, researcher selected 50 Sri Lankan Facebook users who can read and understand Sinhala with more than 1,000 friends using the snowball sampling method. Selected Facebook users had to collect Facebook posts related to flood during two weeks time period. Data were collected until it reached data saturation point. The collected Facebook posts were transcribed and translated into English. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the Facebook posts. Findings The most prominent use of Facebook for disaster communication can be observed in, during and post-disaster phases. In the during-disaster phase, people used Facebook to share posts related to disaster warning, request for help or rescue, share information about rescue missions, share contact numbers of rescue teams, request donation items, coordinate aid distribution, ask for volunteer work and to provide feedback about the ongoing funding programs. In the post-disaster phase, people used Facebook to request volunteer help for cleaning, to provide feedback about the progress and to ask about donating cleaning products. Originality/value Findings of this study can be used by the government or authorized bodies to develop official social media channels, which would fulfill information requirements during disaster situations.

Dividend policy determinants of Sri Lankan firms: a triangulation approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kent Baker ◽  
N. Jayantha Dewasiri ◽  
Weerakoon Banda Yatiwelle Koralalage ◽  
Athambawa Abdul Azeez
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Free Cash Flow ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Content Type

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.

scholarly journals APPLICABILITY OF POLYMER BUILDING MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT AND COST REDUCTION IN SRI LANKAN BUILDING INDUSTRY

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.D. Wijeratne ◽  
◽  
K.A.K. Devapriya ◽  
S.D. Gallage ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Quantitative Model ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Structured Interviews

Building construction contributes to a substantial consumption of raw materials compared to other sectors in Sri Lanka. Despite the excessive consumption of raw materials, industry is suffering due to low productivity and economic inefficiency. Thus, the circumstance has led to employ alternative building materials to overcome productivity and cost inefficiency with favourable impacts on sustainability. Polymer has become a global phenomenon with increasing demand as sustainable alternative. Polymer facilitates multiple applications in building construction due to its supreme properties and characteristics. Thus, this research focused develop a quantitative model based on factors related to productivity enhancement and cost reduction to measure the applicability of polymer materials in Sri Lankan building construction. A mixed approach consisting of semi structured interviews followed by a questionnaire survey was adapted for conduct this study. 12 experts were selected for the semi structured interviews and 34 respondents participated for the questionnaire survey. The significance of favourable impact to the productivity and cost efficiency of using polymer materials have been identified in the study. The study discussed the applicability of polymer types in building sector in Sri Lanka and derived resulted in a quantitative model to measure applicability of polymer adoption in the terms of productivity and cost related factors. Study concluded that inherent properties of polymers, buildability, ability to prefabricate, life cycle cost, handling would improve the applicability to local context. Further, relationship identified through the regression model would assist practitioners to select polymer materials while enabling researchers to improve the quality of the products.

scholarly journals Critical factors influencing online consumer preference towards cash on delivery method in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-80
Author(s):  
Navodika Karunarathna
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Delivery Method ◽  
Payment Methods ◽  
Foreign Products ◽  
Factors Influencing

With the rapid technological advancements, E-commerce deliveries in Sri Lanka have been flourishing tremendously. However, payments have still been identified as one of the main obstacles to the developments of the E-commerce sector. The Cash on Delivery (COD) method has played a significant role in driving the growth of the E-commerce industry and accounts for more than 60% of all E-commerce transactions in Sri Lanka. Although COD is so important, many companies still waver with its processes as it has become a notoriously problematic area in terms of on-time and successful deliveries. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the critical factors influencing online customers' preference of cash on the delivery method to provide insights into the management of E-commerce and logistics industries on the usage of appropriate payment methods for E-commerce transactions. This empirical study is based on the primary data obtained through a survey conducted among Sri Lankan online customers. The data were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling technique. Consequently, 'Sri Lankan origin of the online seller,' 'Selling specialized products by the online seller,' 'Availability of wide choice of payment methods,' 'Offering a wide assortment of foreign products by the online seller,' 'Lack of trust on online payments' has been identified as the critical factors influencing Sri Lankan online customers' preference of cash on delivery method.

scholarly journals External relationships and entrepreneurial orientation of tea manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-306
Author(s):  
Aruni Wickramaratne ◽  
Akira Kiminami ◽  
Hironori Yagi
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
External Relationships ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of external relationships and entrepreneurial infrastructure on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of tea manufacturing firms. An empirical survey was conducted with tea manufacturing firms located in a low grown area in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected by administering a structured questionnaire at 109 tea factories. The findings indicated the importance of external relationships; specifically, relationships with supply chain partners and relationships with government facilitating institutions enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms. However, relationships with other tea factories and educational and research institutions are not significant influences on firms’ EO in the context of the Sri Lankan tea industry. When considering the dimensions of EO, risk taking is influenced by external relationships and not innovativeness and proactiveness. Further, the entrepreneurial infrastructure provided by related institutions except other tea factories have positive links with EO. Such contributions are important to managers and policy makers to enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms when facing competitiveness in the global market.

scholarly journals APPLICABILITY OF LEED REQUIREMENTS TO ACHIEVE WATER EFFICIENCY IN SRI LANKAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G.U. Damsari ◽  
◽  
P. Sridarran ◽  
F.N. Abdeen ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Hotel Industry ◽  
Asian Country ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Water Efficiency ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Leed Certification ◽  
The Us ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Compare And Contrast

LEED is an universally used green ranking system in the world. Among the six evaluation factors it specifically focuses on water use reduction, water efficient landscaping and innovative wastewater technologies. LEED provides a structure or collection of metrics to determine the water efficiency level that a building can achieve. Most of the hotels worldwide are inclined towards gaining LEED certification which is prompted by the higher volumes of water consumption in the facility. LEED is a US created rating system and the most categories of LEED certification are built according to the US aspects. Being an Asian country, Sri Lankan hoteliers also attempt to obtain LEED certification to their hotels with the motive of becoming in order to be more efficient. However, some of LEED requirements under the water efficiency category does not match the Sri Lankan hotel industry requirements. Therefore, the aim of the study to identify whether the LEED requirements under the water efficiency can be applied to Sri Lankan hotel industry. To accomplish the aim, literature synthesis was conducted to explore the water efficiency practices used by LEED certified hotels in other countries. A qualitative research methodology was subsequently adopted, directing semi-structured interviews with two LEED certified hotels in Sri Lanka to identify the LEED practices used in Sri Lankan hotel industry. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the collected data. Finally, a framework was developed to compare and contrast the water efficiency practices used in LEED certified hotels in other countries and Sri Lanka.

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