Research Publications

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 18

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Accessibility and usability of virtual learning platforms: Lived experiences of visually impaired undergraduates in Sri Lanka
(Elsevier Ltd, 2026-03-12) Rajapakshe, W; Wickramaarachchi, C; Alwis, M.K. S.S; Amarasinghe, A.A. M.L; Jayasekara, P.N; Jayasekara, P.T
This study explores the accessibility and usability of virtual learning platforms of visually impaired undergraduate students in Sri Lanka, focusing on their lived experiences, use of assistive technologies, and institutional support mechanisms. As online learning becomes increasingly prevalent, accessibility and inclusive challenges persist, particularly in developing countries with limited infrastructure and institutional support. Despite the availability of assistive technologies, visually impaired learners frequently encounter barriers, including poorly designed platforms, limited usability of screen readers, and inadequate institutional guidance. Addressing a critical research gap, this study investigates how visually impaired undergraduates experience and navigates virtual learning environments to identify accessibility barriers, enabling practices, and context-specific strategies for inclusive digital learning. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen visually impaired university students across Sri Lanka. Thematic analysis revealed five core themes: barriers and challenges to effective virtual learning, preferred virtual platforms, accessibility features and tools, facilitators of learning success, and strategies to optimise the learning environment. These findings illuminate how systemic inequalities, infrastructural limitations, and institutional neglect collectively constrain the digital learning experience for visually impaired students, while also highlighting enabling practices that foster access and inclusion. The study's originality lies in foregrounding student-led insights in a developing country context and integrating practical, context-specific recommendations for platform developers, educators, and policymakers. By centering the voices of visually impaired learners, this research contributes unique and actionable knowledge to the field of inclusive digital education.
Embargo
From Tourism Growth to Sustainable Development: A Causality Analysis of Tourism, Exchange Rates, and Economic Growth in Asia
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-02-04) Wickramaarachchi, C; Jayathilaka, R
Tourism is widely recognised as a catalyst for sustainable development, particularly in regions where it supports employment, foreign exchange earnings and local entrepreneurship. However, the extent to which tourism contributes to sustainable development depends on macroeconomic stability and policy environments that enable long-term investment rather than short-term revenue maximisation. This study examines the causal relationships between tourism receipts, per capita GDP (PGDP), and exchange rates across 46 Asian countries from 2000 to 2020, while controlling for trade openness to account for broader external sector exposure. Employing a panel data framework that accounts for cross-sectional dependence, heterogeneity, and mixed integration properties, the analysis combines second-generation unit root and cointegration tests with country-specific Granger causality techniques. The findings reveal substantial heterogeneity in causal dynamics across countries. In some economies, tourism-led growth emerges, where expanding tourism receipts stimulate economic growth. In others, economy-driven tourism dominates, indicating that rising income levels facilitate tourism development through improved infrastructure and destination competitiveness. Exchange rate stability plays an important conditioning role, shaping the extent to which tourism revenues translate into sustained development gains. Countries characterised by stable exchange rate environments are better positioned to channel tourism income toward long-term, sustainability-oriented investments. The study offers actionable policy insights by demonstrating that macroeconomic stability is a prerequisite for sustainable tourism development. Strengthening exchange rate governance, promoting eco-friendly tourism investment, and enhancing regional cooperation can support a transition from growth-oriented tourism strategies toward sustainable development pathways.
Embargo
Impact of economic growth, energy consumption, and trade openness on carbon emissions: evidence from the top 20 emitting nations
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Methmini, D; Dharmapriya, N; Gunawardena, V; Edirisinghe, S; Jayathilaka, R; Wickramaarachchi, C
he study focuses on the top 20 carbon emission-increasing nations across continents from 2000 to 2021 and the effects of gross domestic product, energy consumption, and trade openness on carbon emissions. The study uses a panel dataset and multiple linear regression analysis to pinpoint the significant factors influencing each nation's carbon emissions. The findings indicate that China, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea in Asia; Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and the Seychelles in Africa; Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, and Panama in America; Albania, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia in Europe; and Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu in Oceania have a highly significant impact on carbon emissions in their respective regions. Energy consumption significantly increases carbon emissions in all countries except Panama and Kazakhstan, where it only significantly impacts GDP-related carbon emissions. These insights lay the groundwork for policymakers to prioritise sustainable development, reduce carbon emissions in their decision-making processes, and establish comprehensive strategies that reconcile ecological concerns with socioeconomic goals by understanding the intricate dynamics between gross domestic product, energy use, trade openness, and carbon emissions.
Embargo
Visualizing the nexuses: a 3D regression analysis of poverty, urbanization, and crime rates in Asia
(Routledge, 2025-08-11) Gomez, L; Sivakumar, T; Raveendran, T; Jayathilaka, R; Wickramaarachchi, C; Ranagalage, M
The study examines the association of poverty and urbanization on crime rates within the Asian region. The endeavor utilized data from twenty-eight countries from 1990-2020 and employed multiple linear and stepwise regression. The top five countries from the Asian region were selected based on the highest average crime rates to provide a comprehensive analysis. Multiple regression was further visualized using a 3D scatter plot diagram with a regression plane. The research discovered a positive association between poverty (proxied by infant mortality rate) and crime rates in the Philippines and Thailand. All the top five countries have recorded a negative association between urbanization and crime rates in the Asian region. The findings provided insights into the country-specific impact of poverty and urbanization on crimes in the Asian region. By utilizing these insights, policymakers could better tackle crimes and control the unintended consequences of poverty prevalence and rapid urbanization.
Embargo
Investigating the Associations Between Alcohol Consumption and Prevalence of Anxiety Using Multiple Correspondence Analysis
(Springer, 2025-10-13) Kolonne, T; Mudalige, K; Dissanayaka, G; Rathnayake, K; Jayathilaka, R; Rajamanthri, L; Wickramaarachchi, C
The prevalence of a specific link between alcohol consumption and anxiety is the basis of this study. The primary aim is to identify how different types of alcohol link with different levels of anxiety disorder. This study is based on secondary data spanning two decades from 1990 to 1999 and 2010 to 2019. Before the primary analysis, the variables were categorised relative to their maximum and minimum values to identify countries with high anxiety prevalence. The MCA (multiple correspondence analysis) included four different types of alcohol and the prevalence of anxiety as variables. This methodology was utilised to determine the associations across 189 countries. The results reveal that anxiety rates are rising worldwide, with 17 countries identified to have prevalent high levels of anxiety. Most countries that exhibited a high prevalence of anxiety were based in the European region. The study emphasises a bi-directional association between anxiety and alcohol disorders, with diverse associations for various alcohol categories. Lower levels of consumption of alcoholic drinks with a high percentage of alcohol are associated with a greater incidence of anxiety, except beer, where consuming more beer is associated with a higher anxiety incidence. Similarly, a reciprocal relationship can be identified between these variables. The study emphasises that the consumption of alcohol can be detrimental to mental health and advises anxiety-prone individuals to exercise caution and restraint when imbibing.
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, C
Globally, 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.
Embargo
Fueling the future: unveiling what drives gig worker motivation and engagement in Sri Lanka’s corporate landscape
(Emerald Publishing, 2025-03-25) Perera, L; Jayasena, C; Hettiarachchi, N; Siriwardana, D; Wisenthige, K; Wickramaarachchi, C
Purpose: The gig economy has rapidly grown due to economic trends supporting flexible work and digital platforms, leading to increased demand for corporate gig workers. Although numerous studies have explored various aspects of the gig economy, research on the motivational and engagement factors of gig workers remains relatively rare. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence corporate gig workers’ motivation and engagement in the geographical context of Sri Lanka. Specifically, job autonomy, remuneration, social connection and technology and investigated here. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative study, employing a deductive research approach, was conducted with data gathered through a survey designed using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. Respondents were conveniently selected from Sri Lankan corporate gig workers. A total of 397 responses were obtained through a snowball sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, providing a robust framework for evaluating the hypothesized relationships. Findings: The findings revealed that job autonomy, remuneration, social connection and technology significantly influence corporate gig worker motivation, whereas motivation significantly influences the engagement of corporate gig workers in Sri Lanka. Research limitations/implications: This study faced common limitations. Due to challenges in identifying the framework for the population, a snowball sampling technique was employed. One key limitation is the study’s narrow focus on motivation factors within the Sri Lankan context, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the geographic focus and uneven sample distribution could limit the broader applicability of the conclusions. Future research should adopt a cross-cultural approach to explore the influence of social commerce adoption, enhancing the generalizability of the results. Practical implications: A comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence the corporate gig worker motivation and engagement is provided, facilitating, the decision-makers to gain insight to enhance worker motivation and engagement by adapting strategies. This can lead to higher productivity and job satisfaction among gig workers. Originality/value: Examination of the motivational and engagement factors specific to corporate gig workers in Sri Lanka, a context that has received limited attention in previous research. Also, it contributes to the existing literature by providing a deeper understanding of the gig economy and gig work, particularly in a non-Western setting.
Open Access
Sustainable food waste management: A cross-country study of Australian and Sri Lankan hotel sector
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-12) Jayasuriya, N; Wickramaarachchi, C; Wijesundara, H; Sriyananda, U; Rathnayake, V; Liyanage, T
Food wastage constitutes a critical global issue, with an estimated one-third of the food produced worldwide being wasted annually. The hotel sector represents a key contributor to this problem; however, it has received limited attention in the existing body of research. Therefore, this study seeks to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the underlying drivers of food wastage, the challenges encountered, and the strategies implemented to mitigate this issue within the hotel industry. Addressing the different contexts in developed and developing countries, this study has selected hoteliers in Australia and Sri Lanka. Data was collected from 20 hotel employees from both countries who are responsible for food handling and were analyzed thematically. The findings identified transportation waste, kitchen waste, and consumer waste as critical points of food wastage. Additionally, the role of technological equipment, combined with food safety precautions and regulatory measures, emerged as pivotal in managing food waste. These aspects are examined in detail alongside proposed mitigation strategies. Even though hospitality sector is largely contributed to these issues, the studies conducted on this sector in relation to the food wastage is very limited. Thus, this study focuses on filling the void in the literature by conducting an in-depth investigation on this topic.
Embargo
Economic growth, poverty and female employment on crime rates at global level
(Springer Science and Business Media, 2025-12-29) Sivakumar, T; Raveendran, T; Jayathilaka, R; Wickramaarachchi, C; Jayasuriya,N
This study investigates the impact of female labour force participation, infant mortality rate, per capita gross domestic product, and urbanisation on crime rates globally and across different regions. Using panel regression techniques on secondary data collected from 106 countries over 34 years (1990-2023), the findings reveal that female labour force participation correlates positively with crime rates globally. The infant mortality rate is positively associated with crime in the European region. Conversely, per capita gross domestic product is negatively related to crime rates globally and in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Urbanisation showed no significant association with crime rates globally or regionally. These insights may help government and law enforcement agencies formulate policies to reduce crime effectively
Open Access
Global nexus of smoking prevalence, healthcare quality and respiratory cancer mortality: a cross-continental study
(Springer Nature, 2025-10-06) Piumika, L; Silva, D; De Silva, R; Jayathilaka, R; Wickramaarachchi, C; Rajamanthri, L
Background Smoking causes Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung Cancer (TBLC) mortality, depicting a strong correlation,while the quality of healthcare access in countries considerably impacts health outcomes. This study evaluates the differential effect in the interplay between Smoking Prevalence (SP) and health care, employing the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index towards the TBLC mortality rates across diverse continents and globally. Methods The data covering a 30-year period for 204 countries globally was categorised based on the level of SP (Low, Moderate, High, Critical) and the quality of healthcare access (Poor, Limited, Adequate, Optimal). A two-way ANOVA was utilised to analyse the patterns and variations in TBLC mortality rates across these categories, exploring the interactions between SP and the HAQ Index. Results Distinct patterns were observed in each continent, highlighting the complex interactions between the HAQ Index and SP, which lead to varying health outcomes. The results indicate that regions with an optimal HAQ Index and low SP have lower TBLC death rates, whereas those with a poor HAQ Index and critical SP exhibit higher death rates. Conclusion The findings emphasise the need to address both smoking prevalence and healthcare facilities globally. By improving healthcare access and reducing smoking rates, governments can significantly lower TBLC mortality rates. This study underlines the importance of integrating public health policies that limit smoking prevalence with enhancements in healthcare systems to promote better health and well-being.

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