SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Sciences and Humanities [SICASH] 2024
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Publication Open Access Token Economies and Behavioural Change: An Evaluati on of Their Eff ecti veness on Male Children in Sri Lankan Child Development Centers(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Ponnamperuma, L; Godamunne, P; Hegoda Arachchi, RChildren residing in Sri Lankan Child Development Centers oft en confront a multi tude of emoti onal and behavioural challenges, due to traumati c experiences such as abuse, neglect, and loss and the socioeconomic problems such as poverty. These diffi culti es are exacerbated by the insti tuti onalized environment, leading to heightened vulnerability and an increased risk of developing long-term mental health issues. This study investi gated the impact of a token economy interventi on (star-chart) on conduct problems, emoti onal diffi culti es, and prosocial behaviours among male children residing in two Sri Lankan Child Development Centers. Employing a repeated measures design, 27 children aged 6-14 years were assessed using the Sinhala version of the Strengths and Diffi culti es Questi onnaire (SDQ) before and aft er one-month token economy implementati on. Results demonstrated the effi cacy of the token economy system in reducing behavioural issues and fostering prosocial behaviours. The fi ndings underscore the potenti al of this interventi on within childcare setti ngs and advocate for longitudinal research to evaluate long-term eff ects.Publication Open Access Analysis of Functi onal Properti es of Jackfruit Seed Flour and Formulati on of a Jackfruit Seed Flour-Based Snack(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Gunarathna, R. W. M. M.; Samarakoon, E. R. J.; Janith, R.M.L.Most deep-fried snacks, which are currently in high demand, contain high calories and fat. Contrarily, Jackfruit seeds are rich in carbohydrates, and proteins but low in fat. Therefore, it is observed that jackfruit seed fl our can be used as an alternati ve ingredient to make deep-fried snacks. This study explored the functi onal properti es of jackfruit seed fl our and its potenti al in snack producti on. The fl our was prepared by roasti ng, oven drying, and boiling. Boiled jackfruit seed fl our exhibited the highest moisture content (7.04%), water-holding capacity (2.08 g/g), bulk density (0.81 g/cm³), oil-holding capacity (2.04 cm³/g), swelling power (6.91%), and the lowest solubility (7.69%). Accordingly, the lowest oil-holding capacity (1.84 cm3/g) was found in roasted jackfruit seed fl our. Snacks were prepared using the extrusion technique with a composite fl our mixture of 4:1:1 (jackfruit seed fl our: rice fl our: wheat fl our). The frying ti mes for snacks made with roasted, boiled, and oven-dried fl ours were 15, 17, and 10 sec, respecti vely. A proximate analysis showed that the boiled jackfruit seed fl our-based snack contained, 83.61% carbohydrate, 4.74% moisture, 6.46% fat, 2.90% ash, 1.70% fi bre, and 0.59% protein. It was found that snacks made from boiled jackfruit seed fl our received the highest consumer acceptance. This study demonstrated that jackfruit seed fl our is a promising ingredient for creati ng nutriti ous and lowfat snacks.Publication Open Access MedArb and beyond: Exploring the Possibilities of Expanding the Canvas of Commercial Dispute Resolution in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Vithanage, p.The ADR landscape is evolving at a rapid level across the world and one of the latest trends in such is transferring disputes into ArbMedArb and MedArb. Arbitration and Mediation are recognised as two favourable dispute resolution methods, especially in commercial dispute resolution. When considered in isolation, both mediation and arbitration have unique features. Despite a few substantive and procedural drawbacks in both methods, mediation, and arbitration have gained popularity recently. Moving beyond, the ADR landscape has transformed into a mixed approach of MedArb and ArbMedArb as a modern trend. While this is still in its infancy, this paper examines the possibility of utilising MedArb and ArbMedArb within the existing landscape of Sri Lanka. Arbitration practice in Sri Lanka has a long history and the Arbitration Act No. 11 of 1995 and there are amendments suggested which are to be in force in the future. Notably, the background for Meditation in Sri Lanka started with community mediation and now it has reached a significant milestone in commercial mediation as the enabling legislation for the Singapore convention was enacted recently. This paper uses a doctrinal approach in dealing with primary resources as well as secondary resources when conducting the research. This paper uses an exploratory analytical method. In its findings, the paper highlights that the MedArb practice is adaptable in Sri Lanka within the existing statutory framework and the institutional setup. However, the professionals as well as the commercial community should pay attention to the points discussed in the recommendations for the successful functioning of the MedArb practice.Publication Open Access Assessment of Judgmental Validity of the Sinhala Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Selvaratnam, N.D; Selvaratnam, N.CSri Lanka lacks a suitable psychometric tool to assess water insecurity eff ecti vely. To address this issue, in the present study, the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) scale was translated into Sinhala language and tested for its face and content validity. Using established guidelines, fi rst, face validity was evaluated with the parti cipati on of two subject matt er experts (SMEs). Then, Cohen’s Kappa stati sti c (CKS) was calculated to obtain the interrater reliability to establish face validity. Second, the Delphi process was conducted with fi ve SMEs to assess the content validity of the Sinhala HWISE scale. Subsequently, the Content Validity Index (CVI) for individual items (I-CVI), the overall scale (S-CVI), and S-CVI/UA (Universal Agreement) were uti lized to quanti fy the output of the Delphi process. The results indicated that the HWISE scale was content valid based on the results of Delphi and S-CVI, while the I-CVI and S-CVI/UA indicated some departure from the expected thresholds. Fleiss Kappa Stati sti c (FKS) revealed minor inconsistencies in the quanti fi ed opinions of the SMEs in the Delphi process, which indirectly impacted I-CVI and S-CVI/UA. Overall, the HWISE scale has met sati sfactory face and content validity.Publication Open Access Writing Assessment Literacy: A Study of Formative Assessment Practice Among Wattala International School English Teachers(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Hafsa, S. F.; Rathnasena, UResearch into the technicaliti es of Writi ng Assessment Literacy (WAL) is an expanding domain, with many scholars stressing that its complex nature has not been fully developed in both pre- and in-service teachers due to oversights in teacher educati on and professional development. This study used survey data (N=20) and interviews (N=5) to investi gate the practi ces of English language teachers related to formati ve assessment of writi ng in internati onal schools in the Watt ala Divisional Secretariat. The results complement existi ng fi ndings that a majority of teachers mirror summati ve assessments in the practi ce of formati ve writi ng assessment, misrepresent their understanding of rubrics and feedback, and face limitati ons in the eff ecti ve use of assessment results. The study concludes that specialized training in theory and practi ce related to WAL is needed to broaden the scope of classroom assessment methods used by internati onal schoolteachers with focus on alternati ve assessment, transparent feedback practi ces, and purposeful collaborati on between educators.Publication Open Access Forecasting the Monthly Real Wage Rate of the Public Sector in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Gamage, S.K.A.; Gunasekara, K.L.R.K.; Gamage, P.S.H.; Ariyarathna, H.B.M.S.; De Mel, W.N.R.; Peiris, T.S.G.This study assesses the monthly real wage rate of the public sector of Sri Lanka by elaborati ng a suitable ti me series model to identi fy the future trends associated with the real wage rates of Sri Lanka. The sample data set consists of monthly real wage rate data from January 2018 to March 2024 from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). The real wage rate has been calculated selecti ng 2016 as the base year. Suitable parsimonious models were identi fi ed through the patt erns of the sample parti al autocorrelati on functi on (PACF) and sample auto-correlati on functi on (ACF) of the stati onary series. Based on the indicati ons such as Akaike informati on criterion (AIC), Schwarz Criterion (SC) and log likelihood an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model of the type (0,1,2) was disti nguished as the best fi tt ed model. The residuals of the best fi tt ed model were ascertained to be white noise. The model has been validated for the fi rst three months of 2024. The Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) for the validati on data is 9.59%. The forecasted wage rate values from April 2024 to September 2024 are 54.562, 54.096, 53.631, 53.165, 52.7 and 52.234 respecti vely. The study’s fi ndings can be uti lized by policymakers, economists, and government workers to improve their fi nancial planning.Publication Open Access Enhancing Higher Order Thinking Skills in a Sri Lankan English Medium Instructi on Science Classroom: An Acti on Research(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Hameed, R; Wijesekera, H.DThis interventi onist acti on research aimed to enhance Higher-Order-Thinking Skills (HOTs) which are essenti al for the 21st- century to face unprecedented challenges. The parti cipants were Grade eight students who learn Science through English Medium Instructi on (EMI) in a Sri Lankan public school. The study also aimed to address the examinati on-oriented mindset that prioriti zes memorizati on over criti cal thinking, and scaff olding language gaps. The pre-interventi on questi onnaires and pre-tests revealed that students grapple with higher-order questi ons and primarily rely on lowerorder thinking. To address this, “What If” questi oning and “Noti ce and Wonder” techniques were adopted in collaborati ve group work over fi ve 40-minute lessons to sti mulate curiosity and encourage deeper cogniti ve engagement necessitati ng peer feedback, consciousness-raising, and co-constructi on of knowledge. The study combined quanti tati ve stati sti cal analysis of test scores with qualitati ve themati c analysis of student percepti ons about their experiences elicited through questi onnaire responses and corroborated through teacher refl ecti on. Results demonstrated a signifi cant improvement in students’ use of HOTs, also evidenced by increased post-test scores and student self-refl ecti ve feedback. Students reported enhanced engagement, moti vati on, and confi dence in tackling complex problems, showing the eff ecti veness of the interventi on in initi ati ng, and developing a more analyti cal/curious mindset. The fi ndings suggest that incorporati ng these pedagogical strategies into the curriculum can eff ecti vely shift focus from rote memorizati on to criti cal thinking, bett er preparing students for 21stcentury challenges. This study contributes valuable insights into eff ecti ve pedagogical approaches for developing HOTs in secondary science educati on, with potenti al implicati ons for curriculum development and teaching practi ces in similar educati onal contexts.Publication Open Access Green Synthesis, Characterizati on of Cu Nano Units and Evaluati on of Anti bacterial Properti es towards the Bacterial Blight Control in Anthurium andraeanum Lind under In-vitro and In-vivo Conditions(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Wanaguru, S; Peiris, C.N; Peiris, S.E; Jayasinghe, SMost types of metal nanoparti cles exhibit anti bacterial properti es. Copper nanoparti cles can generate reacti ve oxygen species (ROS) within bacterial cells, initi ati ng a cascade of events that lead to bacterial cell death. In this study, copper nano units (Cu NUs) were synthesized through green synthesis method using anthurium leaf extract toward the control of bacterial blight disease in Anthurium andraeanum cv ‘Rainbow’ plants. Synthesized Cu NUs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diff racti on (XRD) techniques. Anti bacterial properti es of 30, 50 and 100 ppm of Cu NUs against Xanthomonas sp. which cause bacterial blight in anthurium plants were studied under invitro conditi ons using well diff usion test. Moreover, anti bacterial properti es of said NUs were studied at in-vivo levels by spraying Cu NUs at concentrati ons of 50, 100 and 200 ppm on bacterial blight infected anthurium cv ‘Rainbow. According to SEM and TEM analysis, synthesized NUs remained within size of 25.36 ± 12.55 nm length and 16.18 ± 3.75 nm width exhibiti ng a polygonal shape. In well diff usion test, opti mized 30 ppm concentrati on of Cu NUs formed an inhibiti on zone with a diameter of 20.6 ± 0.94 mm. In comparison, the anti bioti c sulfamethoxazole (positi ve control) formed an inhibiti on zone with a diameter of 26.3 ± 0.47 mm. At in-vivo level, 200, 100 and 50 ppm all three concentrati ons were able to control disease in 90% of treated plants within 5, 6 and 7 weeks respecti vely. Overall, this research highlights the potenti al of Cu NUs as an eff ecti ve alternati ve for controlling bacterial blight disease in anthurium cv ‘Rainbow’.Publication Open Access Physicochemical Properti es of a Brick Made from Clay Brick Waste/Cement/Rice Husk Ash – Insights from the Microstructure and FTIR Analyses(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Wijerathne, W.D.C.C.; Samaraweera, R.L.; Rajapaksha, R.P.T.N.Masonry units (i.e., bricks or earth blocks) made from agro and demoliti on waste have become popular day-by-day as a sustainable soluti on for environmental polluti on. At the same ti me, such developments are also proposed as “adsorpti ve units” to treat heavy metals and organic dyes in industrial effl uent streams. In this regard, a brick made from rice husk ash/cement/clay brick waste has been proposed to serve as both a masonry and adsorpti ve unit with a compressive strength of 3.61 MPa and 51% water absorpti on, which is suitable for non-load-bearing applicati ons and can eff ecti vely adsorb common pollutants in wastewater (i.e. Pb(II), Hg(II), As(V)). However, the reported adsorpti on and mechanical properti es have not been linked with the brick’s microstructure and surface characteristi cs. Thus, an in-depth understanding of the brick’s performance is unclear. In this regard, the present study uti lizes Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transformati on Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques to investi gate the above. As per study outcomes, a pozzolanic reacti on is evident in the brick through SEM and FTIR analyses. The phases portlandite, ett ringite and calcium hydroxide phases are visible in the brick aft er 28 days of development, and the brick’s physical properti es (water absorbency and compressive strength) can be correlated with C-S-H and C-A-H phases. Based on FTIR studies, it is evident that acti ve groups (O-H and C-S-H) exist on the brick’s surface to assist the adsorpti on of Hg (II), Pb(II) and As(V) adsorbates.Publication Open Access Determinant Factors of Hospital Food Waste in Surgical and Medical Wards at the Teaching Hospital, Kuliyapitiya(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Nawarathna, N.M.J.K.; Bodhirathne, B.A.K.; Iddamalgoda, I.G.C.J.; Jayamaha, J.H.N.P.; Jayathilake, S; Priyanthi, W.N.Food waste is a global health issue challenging sustainable development. The Ministry of Health has reported that the monthly wasted food amount in Teaching Hospital Kuliyapiti ya as six thousand kilograms per month and 30% of that food is provided by the hospital. Hospital food waste has significant social, economic, and nutritional impacts. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting g hospital-supplied food waste among in-patients of medical and surgical wards at Teaching Hospital Kuliyapiti ya (THK). This was a quanti tati ve descripti ve study. The patients of age in between 20 to 60 years admitted to medical and surgical wards at THK who were having hospital diet as the meal, was selected as the sample for this study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive stati sti cs were computed to analyse data using SPSS version 23. The results showed that 48.5% of the participants were dissatisfied with Lunch and 57.8% of the participants were dissatisfied with chewing status of the food. The findings of the study concluded that the most common factors for hospital food waste as; timing of dinner serving, courtesy of the staff who serve food, dissatisfaction with the dining places, poor venti lati on of dining places and the dissati sfacti on of the hygienic condition of serving food. Moreover, inappropriate temperature of serving food and dissatisfied taste of the food were also reported as the most common factors for food waste.Publication Open Access Knowledge and Its Associated Factors Related Venti lator Associated Pneumonia Among Intensive Care Nurses: Cross-secti onal Study in Southern Province of Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Gunasekara, P.A.D. K; Gunawardhana, K.G.I.S; Akalanki, K.G.I; De Silva, P.H.R.V.I.S; Sriyani, K.AThis study aimed to assess knowledge and its associated factors on venti lator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among intensive care nurses. This descripti ve cross-secti onal study included 164 nurses who worked in intensive care units. Data were collected through a content-validated, pretested selfadministered questi onnaire. It included parti cipants’ socio-demographic informati on and knowledgeassessing questi ons. Descripti ve stati sti cs, the Mann–Whitney U-test, and the Kruskal–Wallis test were performed. Signifi cance was accepted at alpha < 0.05. The sample was female predominant and included more undergraduate and graduate nurses than diploma nurses. The overall knowledge of VAP among nurses ranged from 82.92 to 14.86, with 75% of them achieving a score above 80%. Nurses’ knowledge of VAP was associated with their age, professional qualifi cati ons, and experiences in nursing service and intensive care units (p < 0.05). Nurses had sati sfactory knowledge of VAP. However, gaps exist. Nurses’ knowledge is associated with their on-the-job training and professional qualifi cati ons.Publication Open Access The Use of Substi tute ‘One’ in the Two Selected Sri Lankan English Novels; The Jam Fruit Tree and Theravada Man(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Subhasingha, S. A. K. M.This study aims to identi fy the use of substi tute ‘one’ in two selected Sri Lankan English novels: The Jam Fruit Tree and Theravada Man. The primary objecti ves of the study are to examine the types of ‘one’ used in the two selected Sri Lankan English novels and discover the most used type of ‘one’. Essenti ally, two Sri Lankan novels that incorporate Sri Lankan English vocabulary were chosen as the samples for the study. The data collecti on involved reading the selected two novels, documenti ng signifi cant use of the substi tute ‘one’, and analysing the types of ‘one’. A qualitati ve analysis method was employed to identi fy the substi tute ‘one’ within the selected Sri Lankan English novels. A quanti tati ve data analysis approach was implemented to identi fy the most used type of ‘one’ within the selected Sri Lankan English novels. The theoreti cal framework of Halliday and Hasan (1976) was used as a guiding model for the study to analyse the collected data. The analysis of the obtained results revealed that there are two types of substi tutes ‘one’ within the two selected Sri Lankan English novels, and those are the modifi ed ‘one’ and the unmodifi ed ‘one’. Ulti mately, unmodifi ed ‘one’ emerged as the most used type of substi tute ‘one’. In conclusion, this study highlights the signifi cant presence of two main types of substi tutes ‘one’ within the context of Sri Lankan English novels.Publication Open Access Exploring the Effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s Language Proficiency Support for Bilingual Education Teachers(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Pakeerathy, S.This research investigates the effectiveness of Language Proficiency Support Systems (LPSS) in Bilingual Education (BE) in Sri Lanka. The Bilingual Education Program, initiated in 2001, aims to improve teachers’ cognitive skills and academic language proficiency in English. However, BE faces challenges due to varying levels of language proficiency among teachers. The study aims to identify linguistic challenges for teachers, explore existing support mechanisms, and propose strategies to enhance language proficiency and pedagogical skills. The research targets teachers of BE and teacher educators, with a sample size of thirty across the country. The research design is survey- based, and the instruments are questionnaires and interviews. The study reveals gaps in current LPSS and suggests the need for targeted interventions to improve bilingual education and teacher training. Effective bilingual teachers require fluency in their first language (L1) and English (L2), with robust pedagogical skills to navigate bilingual classrooms effectively. The proposed plan includes revising teacher education curricula, providing specialized language proficiency training, organizing workshops on bilingual pedagogy, and integrating technology into teaching practices. Enhanced community engagement and professional development opportunities are crucial for continuous improvement. The proposed interventions aim to foster improved student outcomes and contribute to the broader discourse on bilingual education.Publication Open Access A Study on Anti bacterial Properti es of Costus speciosus(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Wijesekara, A; Lanka Kumari, S.R. M. M.; Kasturiarachchi, JAnti bioti c resistant bacteria have posed a serious threat to world health in recent years, forcing the investi gati on of alternate sources for anti bacterials. Higher plants are a key source of medicinal compounds. The objecti ve of this study was to evaluate the anti bacterial properti es of C. speciosus against gram-negati ve E. coli and gram-positi ve Staphylococcus aureus, to explore its potenti al as a natural alternati ve to conventi onal anti bioti cs. Leaves, stems, and rhizomes of C. speciosus were extracted using hexane, methanol, and water as solvents with refl ux, sonicati on and macerati o. Anti bacterial acti vity was assessed using the disk diff usion assay, with gentamycin as a positi ve control. The stemmethanolic extract showed greater inhibiti on against both organisms compared to hexane extracts. Stemwater extracts were eff ecti ve only against S. aureus. The rhizome-methanolic extract inhibited E. coli more than S. aureus, while the hexane extract was more eff ecti ve against S. aureus. The rhizome-water extract inhibited the growth of both bacterial strains. Leaf extracts demonstrated signifi cant inhibiti on against E. coli but no acti vity against S. aureus. This study shows that C. speciosus has signifi cant anti bacterial properti es, varying with plant part, solvent, and organism. Given the rise in anti bioti cresistant bacteria, C. speciosus is a promising natural source of anti bacterial agents.Publication Open Access Awareness, Atti tudes, and Behavior toward Breast Cancer Screening Measures Among Female Teachers(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Athukorala, A.D.M; Wijesinghe, W.A.S.M; Hatanarachchi, H.A.W.S; Wickramasinghe, P.C; De Silva, D.K.M; Sriyani, K.ABreast cancer (BC), the most common cancer in women globally, signifi cantly impacts on health. Early detecti on through breast self-examinati on (BSE), clinical breast examinati on (CBE), and mammography is crucial for reducing mortality. This study examines awareness, atti tudes, and behavior toward BC screening among female schoolteachers in Giriulla Educati onal Zone, Sri Lanka. A descripti ve cross-secti onal study was conducted with 240 female teachers, aged 22-55, using convenience sampling. Data were collected through a self-administered questi onnaire and analyzed descripti vely. With a response rate of 93.7% (225 teachers), most parti cipants were aged 41-50 (38.2%), and 81.3% were married. About 45% held bachelor’s degrees. Awareness was notable: 53.1% knew about CBE, and 23.8% knew about mammography, but 65.5% were unaware of recommended examinati on start ages. Although 97.3% recognized the importance of screening, 68% hesitated toward BSE. Behavioral engagement varied, with 53.8% practi cing BSE monthly, but CBE and mammography were underuti lized (78.2% and 98.2%, respecti vely). The study highlights the need for enhanced awareness and educati on initi ati ves among female schoolteachers to address knowledge gaps and promote practi cal engagement in screening measures, crucial for early detecti on and reducing BC mortality rates.Publication Open Access Development of Time Series Model to Predict Daily Gold Price(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Gayashan, W. A. K.; Dayarathna, A. K. G.; Rajakaruna, R. W. M. A. P.; Perera, T. J. N.; Peiris, T. S. G.Gold is ancient and one of the most precious and popular commoditi es in the world. Gold price forecasti ng is criti cal in fi nancial decision-making, providing valuable informati on for investors in the gold market, sellers of gold items and stakeholders. Not much studies have been carried out in to forecast daily gold prices of Sri Lanka. The aim of this paper is to forecast the daily gold price rate (Rupees/troy ounce) using data from 2nd January 2018 to 14th June 2024 published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The best fi tt ed model was identi fi ed as ARIMA (1,1,1) + ARCH (2). The model was trained using data from 2nd January 2018 to 31st May 2024 and validated using data from the 3rd of June 2024 to 14th of June 2024. The model was stati sti cally tested using standard stati sti cal procedure and errors were found as white noise. The Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) for the training data set and validati on data set were 0.748% and 1.002% respecti vely. The validati on confi rmed that the ARIMA (1,1,1) + ARCH (2) model eff ecti vely captures the dynamics of gold price movements, off ering robust predicti ve power. These results indicate that the model is highly accurate and reliable for forecasti ng, making it a valuable tool for fi nancial insti tuti ons and investors aiming to predict market trends and make informed investment decisions.Publication Open Access Women’s Resistance to Subjecti fi cati on in The Guide by Narayan (1958) and “Sunset Coast” by Sakkarawarthi (2022)(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Marasinghe, M. M. S. N.; Ehelapitiya, E. H. D. S. B.The bind between women and the nati on they belong to has historically revealed a dynamic and contenti ous nexus. Bound within a dialecti cal relati onship, women are deemed the nati on embodied and subjected to its att endant suff erings, whilst simultaneously being burdened with the task of reproducing the nati onalist rhetoric that they themselves have no hand in penning. In such a context, this study undertakes a discussion on the confi gurati on of female subjecti vity through The Guide by R.K. Narayan and “Sunset Coast ‘’ by Sakkarawarthi, situated in postcolonial India and Tamil separati st war era Sri Lanka, respecti vely. Moreover, it examines and evinces the diff ering ways in which women overtly and covertly assert agency within the circumscripti ve bounds of patriarchal nati onalism. In elucidati ng the narrati ves of women striving for autonomy, this essay contends that these two texts functi on as discourses of resistance to androcentric nati onalism.Publication Open Access Exploration of Gender Identity as Experienced by the Transgender Community of Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Edirisooriya, C; De Silva, R; De Silva, RaneeshaAmidst the socioeconomic advancements, the transgender community continues to endure marginalization, stigma, and discrimination. This persistent social reality underscores the urgent need to delve into the coping strategies employed by transgenders in navigating identity-related challenges and to assess the available psychosocial support systems. This study investigates perceptions of gender identity within the community and broader society, and the lived experiences of transgender individuals and their coping mechanisms. Employing a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten transgender individuals, analyzing the data through thematic analysis. The data was obtained from a larger study that explored the Post-COVID Minority Distress and Resilience in Sri Lanka’s LGBTQIA+ Community. Findings illuminate the challenges faced, ranging from familial rejection to societal discrimination, including encounters with legal authorities. The perception of gender identity among transgender individuals is influenced by factors, including individual personality traits, available support networks, cultural context, awareness levels, and interactions within the community. While there has been a positive shift in societal attitudes in recent years, significant barriers persist, hindering full acceptance and integration of transgender identities. Despite the lack of formalized psychosocial support mechanisms, transgender individuals employ diverse coping strategies, including engagement with music, relaxation techniques, following religious practices, and withdrawing from social interactions to manage distress. In conclusion, while the existing community organizations offer vital support, the study findings underscore the need for comprehensive interventions spanning individual-level psychological support and systemic changes at the policy and legal levels. By addressing these multifaceted challenges and bolstering support structures, a more inclusive society can be fostered that affirms and supports the diverse identities within the transgender community.Publication Open Access Enhancing Analyti c Writi ng Skills in the Context of English Literature through Guided Writi ng Strategies: Addressing Challenges Faced by HNDE Students in Craft ing Literature Responses(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Sivasankar, S; Pathmaperuma, P.A.S.G.The purpose of this study was to investi gate the impact of Guided Writi ng Techniques (GWT) on enhancing Analyti cal Writi ng Skills (AWS) among Higher Nati onal Diploma English students, focusing on their ability to respond eff ecti vely to English literature questi ons. From a populati on of 50 fi rstyear students, 25 parti cipants were selected through purposive sampling. This study employed a mixedmethods approach, combining quanti tati ve pretests and post-tests with qualitati ve structured interviews to gain insights into students’ challenges and progress in Analyti cal writi ng. The study commenced with pretests, which, along with structured interviews, highlighted specifi c diffi culti es students faced in craft ing responses to English literature questi ons and in AWS within this context. The interventi on acti viti es guided parti cipants through three stages, each designed to build essenti al skills for producing eff ecti ve literary responses: Literary Analysis Skill (LAS), Higher-Order Thinking Skill (HOT skill), and AWS, structured around GWT. Short stories, a form within the prose genre, were exclusively selected as the primary material for these acti viti es. Following each stage of the interventi on, individual post-tests were conducted to assess the development of core competencies. The fi ndings revealed a signifi cant improvement in students’ AWS, evidenced by a correlati on coeffi cient of 0.8914, underscoring the eff ecti veness of GWT. These techniques, mediated by LAS and HOT Skills, enabled students to craft focused, well-structured responses that thoroughly engage with literature questi ons. The study concludes that GWT, when integrated with LAS and HOT skills, is highly eff ecti ve in enhancing AWS in English literature, highlighti ng their potenti al as a valuable instructi onal approach in similar educati onal contexts.Publication Open Access Novel Nanotechnologies for New Medicines(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Williams, GIn this study, we will first introduce the electrospinning technology, and then discuss a number of recent studies exploring its applications for drug delivery. We will further consider issues of translation from bench to bedside, and the likely patient acceptability of electrospun formulations.