Research Publications
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Publication Open Access Impact of Psychosocial Factors on Sustainability of Stock Investors’ Inclination: A Case of the South Pacific Stock Market(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) Saliya, C. APrevious research has documented that psycho-cognitive resources and socioeconomic status have significant influences on investment behavior in financial assets. Drawing from the positive psychosocial perspective, I hypothesized that positive enterprising personality mediates the influence of individual characteristics on investment behavior. I tested this hypothesis in the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework using a purposive sample of potential stock investors in Fiji. The theoretical framework and analytical procedures, I introduce here, can also be used to discover additional factors influencing investment inclination and then estimate the predictors of stock market investments in other developing countries with similar socioeconomic contexts, for example, Sri Lanka. The results revealed that four latent factors (Intuition, Education and knowledge, Sociocultural norms, and Enterprising personality) are distinct dimensions of investment inclination together with the maturity factor (Age) towards stock investments. The findings could broaden our understanding about the direct and indirect impact of psychosocial characteristics on stock market participation through positive, personal resources such as an enterprising personality. The findings will be useful for financial service providers and regulators in designing educational programs for different levels of maturity, knowledge, and education, to enhance enterprising personality qualities amongst people generally, and inculcate positive attitudes towards stock investments in the young through high school curricula and mass-awareness programs.Item Open Access BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS TO ADOPTING DIGITAL TWIN IN SRI LANKAN CONSTRUCTION(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2025) Indunil H.T.T.A; Bandara R.P.H.S; Buddhini P.H.Y.In the Industry 4.0 era, Digital Twin (DT) technology has emerged as a key innovation, integrating physical assets with their digital counterparts to enhance coordination, safety, and cost management in construction. Despite its potential, DT adoption in construction remains limited, particularly in developing countries like Sri Lanka, due to high costs, technological barriers, and a lack of standardized integration methods. While DT has significantly improved efficiency in other sectors, the construction industry still lacks practical large-scale applications and a unified framework for implementation. This research aims to explore the applicability of DT in Sri Lankan construction projects. Moreover, semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with 7 experts to gather data. Accordingly, the literature review and insights gathered from interviews highlighted its current usage, benefits, and barriers, and proposed 8 practical solutions to facilitate broader adoption of DT in the Sri Lankan construction industry. The findings of this research are anticipated to contribute significantly to the effective integration of DT technology within the Sri Lankan construction sector. The results underscore the promising role that DT can fulfil in addressing a variety of barriers confronting the construction industry. This study not only emphasizes the critical importance of adopting Digital Twin technology but also seeks to raise awareness of its potential, thereby encouraging its utilization and ushering in a new era of innovation in the Sri Lankan construction industry.Item Embargo Sustainability Insights: Unveiling the Impact of Business Analytics in Shaping Sustainability Practices in the Apparel Industry(2025) Gajanayake, L; Rajapaksha, D; Rukshan, T; Pathirana, S; Thelijjagoda, S; Pathirana, GThe Sri Lankan apparels industry has a strategic importance for the national economy as the country has been one of the main exports and employers. But it has sustainability issues such as high resource consumption, increased pollution, and poor labor standards. As the consumption of sustainable and environmentally responsible clothes continues to rise around the world, such concepts as business analytics (BA) present an opportunity to tackle these issues. This study investigates the effects of BA tools and techniques in enhancing sustainability in Sri Lanka apparel industry with regards to waste reduction, efficient resource management and compliance to ethical standards for sustainable driven global business. A qualitative research design was followed and conventional interviews conducted on key informants from GOTS certified apparel factories. Data were coded and analyzed thematically using MAXQDA software, with reference to the subthemes that emerged in the study, such as waste reduction and increasing efficiency and effective decision-making. It was revealed that BA solutions such as RFID, predictive modelling and dynamic dashboards offered promising improvements to sustainability performance. Techniques like 3D sampling reduced fabric consumption during the generation of prototypes, and dashboard analytics allowed constant tracking of other forms of sustainability KPIs like power use and carbon footprint. They also increased efficiency of cross-functional coordination, integrating sustainability into functions and departments. This study demonstrates how BA enables the sustenance of development within the apparel industry, based on a strategic management of economical, ecological, and social goals. The outcomes would help industry leaders and policymakers in developing improved strategies for sustainability practice to overcome existing gaps between theory and practice and for sustainable and competitive business growth in the context of a world economy moving toward sustainability.Publication Embargo 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.TThis 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.Publication Embargo Long-term recovery from the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami in two Sri Lankan east coast municipalities(Elsevier Ltd, 2026-01) Thamboo, J; Josiah, R; Saja, A; Salah, P; Rossetto, T; Dias, PSri Lanka was the second most affected country after Indonesia, in the 2004 Boxing Day Indian Ocean tsunami (IOT). A study mission was therefore carried out twenty years after the 2004 IOT to assess the recovery of the affected regions, especially in the Eastern region of Sri Lanka, focusing on two of the most affected municipalities, i.e. Kalmunai and Batticaloa. The social and infrastructure characteristics of resettlements/relocations/new settlements in the affected regions, presence of critical infrastructure, preparedness and early warning systems installed have been assessed. It was observed that similar approaches have been adopted to plan the community relocation in both of these municipalities, while the significant reemergence of residential and commercial developments in the coastal stretches of Kalmunai municipality have been noted. Exposure analyses have revealed that there are still some critical infrastructure situated in the tsunami hazard zones. It can be construed that these municipalities have recovered from the physical losses incurred, and spatial planning is in place for future developments considering the tsunami risk. Challenges and opportunities from their differing geographical contexts appear to have been judiciously handled. However, shortcomings are noted in actual implementation due to various reasons, such as limited resources, availability of funding and preference of communities to live close to their original lands. Improving the resilience of infrastructure by designing against the expected tsunami hazard and multi-hazards, regular verification of the early warning systems and evacuation procedures are emphasized to mitigate the impacts from future tsunami.Publication Open Access Enhancing Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) performance: Analyzing the role of human resource practices in Sri Lanka’s telecommunication industry through Lewin’s change management model(Public Library of Science, 2025-01-10) Pubodhya S.H.N.; Rajapakshe, WThis study explores the integration of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in Sri Lanka, utilizing the Health Belief Model (HBM) to predict the perceived quality of SRH education among non-state undergraduate students. In many Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, cultural resistance and skepticism often challenge SRH education initiatives. The research is based on a questionnaire survey, examining factors influencing the perceived quality of SRH education, such as cultural norms, embarrassment, attitudes, awareness, and institutional support. In recent years, the Sri Lankan telecom industry has experienced significant expansion and transformation, leading to a notable increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This study investigates the impact of human resource practices on M&A performance, utilizing Lewin’s Change Management Model as a framework. The research is based on a questionnaire survey, examining factors influencing the performance of M&A in Sri Lanka Telecom industry, such as communication (Unfreeze), training (Change), leadership (Refreeze), and performance (M&A outcomes). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) reveals that communication significantly influences training (β = 0.800), while training has a strong effect on leadership (β = 1.062), both directly and indirectly via communication (β = 0.850). Additionally, performance is positively impacted by training (β = 0.819) and leadership (β = 0.459), with communication exerting a substantial indirect influence on performance (β = 0.655). These results underscore the necessity for an integrated approach that enhances organizational performance and adaptability in an evolving business landscape. To optimize M&A outcomes, organizations are encouraged to prioritize leadership development, invest in comprehensive training programs, and align communication strategies effectively. This research contributes valuable insights into the management of change within the telecom sector, promoting sustainable growth and success in future M&A endeavours.Publication Open Access Sri Lankan SMEs’ Performance Through Cloud Computing Adoption: An SEM-ANN Analysis(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025-04-25) Nawaz, S.S; Thelijjagoda, SThis study identifies the determinants of cloud computing adoption and its effect on the performance of Sri Lankan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and individual context were used to derive the study variables. This quantitative cross-sectional study adopted items from previous validated studies. Google Form was employed to collect data, and 418 responses were received from Sri Lankan SMEs. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4 and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis via IBM SPSS 29 were used for data analysis. Based on the results, all hypotheses are confirmed except for one, and SME performance is significantly affected by cloud computing adoption. This study adds to the existing empirical evidence on cloud computing adoption by introducing an all-inclusive model that integrates the TOE, TAM, and individual factors. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the PLS-SEM/ANN hybrid methodology in analysing the determinants of cloud computing adoption. The significance of top management as a factor is highlighted by providing training and education to employees. Managers can benefit from this result by improving cloud computing adoption among SMEs in Sri Lanka. This is the first study of its kind in Sri Lanka, integrating the TOE, TAM, and individual variables and using a hybrid methodology combining PLS-SEM and ANN.Publication Embargo Navigating economic crisis: Factors shaping resilience in Sri Lankan construction SME supply chains(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Madhavika, N; Bandara, M; Manchanayake, M; Perera, C; Bandara, W; Jayasinghe, P; Ehalapitiya, SIn today’s construction industry, supply chains are subject to much greater disruption than they were in the past, resulting in a greater need for resilience. However, there is a gap in the literature that examines the resilience of construction small and medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) specifically focusing on developing countries. This article is a step towards identifying the factors influencing the resilience of construction SME supply chains taking the case of Sri Lanka: a developing country which is currently amidst a major economic crisis. This research study adopted a mixed-method approach, employing 08 structured interviews with employees ranging from executive level to top level management of 08 construction SMEs followed by a questionnaire survey considering a sample of 195 construction SMEs also with executive level to top level management of each construction SME. The findings indicated that Collaboration, Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), Internal Integration, and Outsourcing have a positive significant impact on the resilience of Sri Lankan construction SMEs’ supply chains during an economic crisis, while ‘collaboration’ and ‘EO’ are the most influential factors respectively. Therefore, construction SMEs must prioritize and enhance collaboration and EO when devising supply chain strategies to strengthen resilience during economic crises. This paper contributes to filling the research gap by investigating factors influencing construction SME supply chains in a developing country during an economic crisis. Moreover, it contributes to the knowledge by being one of the latest empirical studies focusing on the construction SME supply chains in Sri Lanka. The findings provide a valuable reference for both policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve the resilience of construction SME supply chains.Publication Open Access The Potential of Arboreal Tiger Beetle (Derocrania scitiscabra Walker) as a Natural Enemy for the Control of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith)(Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 2025-01-15) Kasige R.H.; Abeywardhana D.L; Pallewatta N; Perera M.T.M.D.R; Dangalle C.DPurpose: The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious pest of maize, sugarcane, and other crops in Sri Lanka. Natural predators and parasitoids are considered the best methods to control this insect pest. The present study investigates the possibility of using an endemic tiger beetle, Derocrania scitiscabra, as a natural predator for the larval stages of S. frugiperda. Research Method: The feeding preferences of D. scitiscabra to live prey versus dead prey, live prey types including different instar stages of S. frugiperda were investigated in the laboratory using choice tests. Fresh minced meat was used as dead prey, while red ants, earthworms and the six larval instar stages of S. frugiperda were used as live prey. Findings: Red ants were the most preferred prey type of D. scitiscabra, and dead prey, earthworms and mature S. frugiperda larvae were not consumed. Early larval instar stages of S. frugiperda were selected as prey, and the beetle showed a high feeding preference for the second larval instar stage. This feeding preference was observed irrespective of whether red ants were present or absent in the same environment. D. scitiscabra may have selected the second larval instars of S. frugiperda due to their small size, high prey density, mobility, and being devoid of injury. Research Limitations: The tests were conducted under laboratory conditions in insectary facilities. However, field investigations are essential to understand the ecological dynamics that affect insect behavior and survival. Originality/value: An endemic beetle is introduced to control S. frugiperda infestations in their early stages of development. The finding may provide an environmentally safe and economically beneficial method to control S. frugiperda.Publication Open Access Prevalence, nature and impacts of non-sexual online harassment in Sri Lanka: A quantitative analysis(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-10-20) Harasgama, K. S.; Karunasena, K; Senarath, S; Jayamaha, S; Mahingoda, C.B; Deshapriya, WThe objective of this study is to examine the prevalence, nature and impacts of nonsexual online harassment among the youth population in Sri Lanka. Data was collected through a countrywide survey from a cross-sectional sample of 4805 young people. Data was analysed using SPSS software package. Results of this study indicate that 11.7 % of the youth population surveyed had experienced non-sexual forms of harassment in the cyberspace. The analysis also revealed the most common types of harassment experienced, the platform where harassment was committed the most, the most common types of victims and perpetrators, and the impacts of non-sexual online harassment on victims. The findings of this study suggest that Sri Lanka needs to devise targeted policies for combatting non-sexual online harassment, and that it may need to tailor its responses to the needs of each sector.