School of Business
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Publication Embargo The digital bridge: how digital transformation mediates the innovative culture-resilience nexus in IT firms(Emerald Publishing, 2025) Kodithuwakku, T; Samaraweera, I; Mathew, M; Samarakkody, T; Thelijjagoda, S; Gamage, SPurpose – This study aims to identify the impact of innovative culture on organizational resilience in the Sri Lankan information technology (IT) sector, with a specific focus on the mediation role of digital transformation. Design/methodology/approach – Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from over 274 participants who were managerial or above-level employees in the IT industry via surveys. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and test the hypothesized relationships between variables. Findings – The findings of this study revealed that innovative culture has a significant positive impact on the adoption of digital transformation, as the innovative mindset that is ingrained encourages continuous growth, creativity and risk-taking, thereby strengthening digital transformation initiatives. Both innovative culture and digital transformation have a significant positive impact on organizational resilience. Digital transformation significantly mediates the effect of innovative culture on organizational resilience. Practical implications – The findings offer valuable guidance to industry leaders and policymakers for the strategic utilization of technology and the design of appropriate business models. Originality/value – This study emphasizes the importance of developing innovative culture and digital transformation in the IT industry to ensure sustainable business processes.Publication Embargo Exploring deceptive behavior in intra-organizational activities of teleworkers in the IT sector in Sri Lanka(Springer Science and Business, 2025-07-04) Rajapakshe, W; Bangsajayah B.S.AThis study aims to explore and validate a conceptual framework based on socio-technical systems and information manipulation theories to understand how deficiencies in IT infrastructure and interpersonal distrust lead to communication breakdowns and foster deceptive behavior. The research examines this phenomenon, which became particularly pronounced as companies shifted to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employs moderated regression analysis (MRA) utilizing the PROCESS macro model 7 to assess hypotheses concerning the mediated moderation effect of deception. Data was collected from a judgmental sample comprising 200 remote IT workers to probe their motivations for deceptive practices within virtual work environments. Research findings demonstrate that the moderated mediation index (the interpersonal trust index) is −.1894. Moderated mediation is statistically significant, not including zero, as indicated by the 95% confidence interval (−.2380 to −.1385). Interpersonal trust moderates the indirect effect of IT infrastructure on communication deception. These findings imply that teleworkers can effectively communicate information if companies provide the infrastructure. Interpersonal trust can increase communication even in inappropriate household environments. Employers should prioritize managing trust and maximizing human capital to create a win–win situation for the company and teleworkers. This study sheds light on the role of interpersonal trust in shaping the relationship between communication and deception, filling a gap in the empirical literature on virtual work environments in the post-pandemic landscape. It provides novel insights by demonstrating how organizational trust moderates communication dynamics and mediates the influence of both deceit and IT infrastructure provision.Publication Embargo Focus on Middle East and Central Asia: rationale of IMF assistance seeking(Springer Science and Business, 2025-11-08) Wisenthige, K; Pathiranage, H.S.K; Jayathilaka, RThis study delves into the rationale behind the tendency of nations in the Middle East and Central Asia (MECA) to seek aid from the IMF. The IMF supports global financial stability, aiming to foster economic growth and prosperity across its member countries by promoting policies that encourage monetary cooperation and financial resilience. The study employs a conditional fixed-effects logit model, the analysis spans 22 years of data from twenty-five MECA countries to identify the factors driving these nations to seek IMF assistance. It focuses on six determinants: Current Account Balance (CAB), Inflation (INF), Corruption (CORR), General Government Net Lending and Borrowing (GGNLB), General Government Gross Debt (GGGD), and Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDPG). The fixed-effects logit shows that slower GDP growth raises the odds of an IMF programme, while short-run changes in corruption control and public debt ratios are not significant once country and year effects are absorbed. Inflation is weakly positive; the current account balance is still insignificant. A post-GFC and an income-group robustness check confirm the pattern. Furthermore, the study identifies Lebanon, a lower-middle-income country, as a leading example of seeking IMF assistance during the study period. Overall, this research highlights the importance of policymakers understanding the dynamics and rankings within the MECA region to effectively address economic challenges, provide financial support, and foster a more sustainable economic structure.Publication Open Access Simple Switch between Single Trip Vehicle Routing Problem and Multiple Trip Vehicle Routing Problem(Sciendo, 2025-01-01) Samarakkody, Tomplexity of the mathematical model development for vehicle routing problems increases with the addition of more variables, constraints, and instances to single trip vehicle routing models. In this study, mathematical model was developed for the single trip vehicle routing problem in the initial phase and then it was converted to a multiple trip vehicle routing model using a simple approach. Novelty is brought to the study through simple three index formulation developed for the multiple trip vehicle routing problem, with a fewer constraint. Both the models were developed with Mixed integer linear programing techniques and were tested with the real-world data set using Cplex optimizer. Output of the experimental analysis showed a clear reduction in distance travel and the number of vehicles used. It implies that the optimization algorithm proposed in the study is applicable to real world cases to enjoy cost benefits and easiness in scheduling and optimizations. This study contributes to the existing knowledge gap through the development of novel and simple mathematical model, and the model’s testing and validation serve to the industrial applications as well.Publication Open Access The role of platform interactivity in enhancing trust: unlocking purchase intentions for skincare products on Facebook(Cogent OA, 2025-10-07) Jayasingha, N; Kavindiya, W; Ranjith, D.P; Pathiranage, S.N; Wisenthige, K; Dayapathirana, NSocial commerce, which integrates social media with e-commerce, has transformed how consumers engage with brands and make purchasing decisions. In Sri Lanka, the skincare product market on Facebook has seen significant growth, emphasizing the need to understand the factors influencing consumer purchase intention. This study explores how social media, perceived usefulness and platform interactivity influence trust in the seller and, in turn, affect social commerce purchase intention. Using purposive sampling, the study targeted active Facebook users who purchase skincare products. An online questionnaire was administered to 384 such users. Using structural equation modelling, the study found that perceived usefulness and platform interactivity significantly enhance trust in sellers. Additionally, trust in the seller plays a mediating role between these factors and purchase intention. The study offers theoretical contributions by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) into a high-involvement product context. The findings highlight that a more interactive and engaging platform experience increases consumer confidence in online sellers, ultimately encouraging purchase behavior. Social media platforms like Facebook not only provide a space for product promotion but also serve as trust-building environments through user engagement and perceived usefulness. This study finds that useful and interactive Facebook posts build trust and lead to more skincare product purchases. Brands should post better content to earn trust and boost sales. For businesses, especially skincare brands operating in social commerce environments, this study offers practical insights into developing strategies focused on enhancing platform interactivity and trust to drive consumer engagement and intention to purchase.Publication Open Access Alcohol Consumption and Stroke Mortality: Global Patterns, Risks and Public Health Implications(Springer, 2025-05-07) Kolonne, T; Mudalige, K; Dissanayaka, G; Rathnayake, K; Jayathilaka, R; Rajamanthri, L; Wickramaarachchi, CGlobally, stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability, while alcohol consumption continues to vary widely across regions, prompting concern over its health impacts. This study examines the association between different alcoholic beverages and stroke mortality, using secondary data from 1990 to 2020. Alcohol consumption and stroke death rates across 189 countries were categorized into five levels, from very high to very low, and averaged over two periods (1990–1999 and 2011–2020). Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was applied to assess relationships among four categorical variables. The findings indicate a significant association between very high alcohol consumption and increased stroke mortality, with eight countries showing elevated death rates. Conversely, moderate beer consumption was linked to reduced stroke mortality, suggesting nuanced effects based on beverage type and quantity. These insights offer a foundation for targeted public health policies and emphasize the need for further investigation into the mechanisms driving alcohol-related stroke risks.Publication Embargo Addressing Child Labour in SAARC: The Synergy of Education, Health and Economic Growth Towards SDGs(John Wiley and Sons, 2025-11-09) Muthugala, H; Magammana, T; Perera, A; Bandara, A; Jayathilaka, RChild labour remains a critical socio-economic challenge in the SAARC region, closely linked to sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study investigates the determinants of child labour by examining the roles of education, health and economic growth using a robust methodological framework. The analysis captures the non-linear country-specific relationships between these variables and child labour, employing advanced methodological approaches, including multiple polynomials, stepwise and simple polynomial regression. The findings reveal a complex interplay of factors, with each variable showing positive and negative effects on child labour in country-specific contexts. Improved access to education generally reduces child labour, but disparities in quality and affordability can have the opposite effect. Health improvements significantly lower child labour rates, yet unequal healthcare access perpetuates exploitation among vulnerable groups. Economic growth shows dual effects: it promotes adult employment and alleviates poverty, yet unregulated expansion in specific sectors can heighten the demand for child labour. This study makes a novel contribution by integrating socio-economic determinants with child labour within a regional framework, providing actionable insights while aligning with SDGs 3, 4, 8 and 8.7. Key policy recommendations include fostering regional collaboration, ensuring access to free education, enacting and enforcing new laws, improving healthcare infrastructure and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth. These measures align with global SDG commitments but aim to secure a brighter future for the region's children by achieving these goals by 2030.Publication Embargo Determinants of Firm Value in Frontier Markets: Evidence from a Panel Oprobit Analysis in Sri Lanka(Springer, 2025-09-01) Hettiarachchi, S; Kasthuriarachchi, U; Kokilakumar, S; Himaanthri, S; Jayathilaka, R; Peiris, SThis study explores the firm-level determinants of firm value in the context of a frontier market, using a panel dataset of 222 companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2024. Employing panel probit and ordered probit models, the analysis examines how capital structure, investment decisions, profitability, firm size, and sector classification influence firm value, measured across three distinct valuation tiers. The results reveal that the debt-to-equity ratio positively impacts firm value, especially during transitions from low to medium categories, supporting the relevance of the Trade-Off Theory. Profitability and firm size are also found to significantly increase the probability of achieving higher firm valuations. However, the price-to-earnings ratio displays negligible predictive power in this context. Sectoral analysis indicates that non-financial firms demonstrate stronger valuation potential than financial firms, likely due to reduced regulatory constraints and greater strategic flexibility. These findings contribute to the limited empirical literature on frontier markets by highlighting key drivers of corporate value and providing comparative insights. The study offers practical implications for policymakers, investors, and corporate managers aiming to enhance firm value through financial structure optimisation, strategic growth initiatives, and regulatory improvements that promote market confidence and transparency.Publication Embargo Decrypting the Digital Vault by Understanding Cryptocurrency Adoption Challenges Among Gen Z: Case of Sri Lanka(University of Nigeria Department of Mass Communication, 2025-01-01) Mallawaarachchi, S; Hemachandra, U; Jayakody, D; Wickramarathne, U; Lokeshwara, A.A; Bandara, G.CBackground: As digital natives, Gen Zs are at the forefront of embracing cryptocurrencies for technological innovation and financial empowerment. This study is part of a larger effort to understand the evolving trends in the world of cryptocurrency, highlighting the need for more research in this area. Objective: This study sought to explore the diverse challenges faced by Gen Zs while adapting to the usage of cryptocurrencies within the Sri Lankan context. Methodology: The researchers conducted this study using an inductive qualitative approach. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 24 participants, employing snowball sampling to recruit participants. The collected data were then analysed using thematic analysis, and the findings were presented in prose form. Results: The results of this study revealed three key themes that significantly impact the usage of cryptocurrency as a digital asset among Gen Zs in Sri Lanka: (i) Trust and security concerns, (ii) Market volatility and investment risks, (iii) Regulatory approach and cryptocurrency transactions. Conclusion: Although cryptocurrency has gained acceptance among Gen Zs, its usage is determined by factors that ensure that users harness its full benefits. Contribution: This study has revealed the diverse challenges that Gen Zs embraced when adopting cryptocurrencies. © 2025, University of Nigeria Department of Mass Communication. All rights reserved.Publication Open Access Critical risk factors influencing the management of disruptions in construction projects: Insights from recent challenges in Sri Lanka(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-01) Rajapakshe, WThe construction industry has a significantly contribute to the economy of Sri Lanka. However, in recent years, its overall share of the national output has declined, primarily due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, political instability, and ongoing economic challenges. Many construction firms halted projects and laid off employees, highlighting the critical need for effective risk management during crises to predict and mitigate risks. This study explores emerging risk factors in Sri Lanka's construction sector post-crisis. Using a three-phase linear decision-making model, the research combines a literature review, a survey of 290 construction professionals, and structural equation modelling (SEM) to identify major risk factors across four phases of risk management. Key risks out of 23 include general factors like health and safety issues, material costs, regulations, political interference, corruption, and labor shortages, while phase-specific risks involve delays, budget overruns, payment delays, and cancellations. The study revises the risk registers to improve risk management strategies. While the findings are context-specific to Sri Lanka, they may offer indicative insights for other developing countries facing similar crisis-driven disruptions. The practical implications extend to multinational and local companies, supported by data from 22 countries, offering a comprehensive framework for addressing construction industry challenges in volatile environments. The novelty of this study lies in its use of theoretical triangulation to align Classical Risk Management theory with real-world operational risk factors, revealing critical overlaps, behavioral influences, and contextual gaps in traditional frameworks.