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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Maritime ports and operational barriers: tracing research trajectories through bibliometric mapping
    (Cogent OA, 2025-12-20) Herath, R; Weligodapola, M; Attygalle,O; Bandara, J; Yahampath, M
    Maritime ports are critical nodes in facilitating global trade, yet they encounterpersistent challenges that sizably affect their operational performance and efficiency.this study is identified as a systematic review using bibliometric analysis to provide anoverview of research developments and trends in operational challenges withinmaritime ports from 2010 to early 2025. this study utilises the prisMa framework,obtaining 96 peer-reviewed journal articles from 60 sources obtained from the scopusdatabase. Data analysis was conducted using tools such as r-studio, Bibliometrix,vOsviewer and nvivo. Our analysis identified the most productive and influentialjournals, institutions, and regions, highlighting the key contributions to the field. thisstudy emphasised articles with the highest citation count, which can serve as referencepoints based on current trends. we also employed co-occurrence techniques andthematic maps to identify trending topics and concepts within the domain. thematiccoding of the literature was conducted to identify the major challenges affecting ports.this analysis provides a noteworthy trajectory of the growth in literature concerningasian nations, most prominently china, india and singapore, which emerged as leaderswithin this domain. it further shows that previous studies have emphasised emergingthemes like digitalisation, congestion, berth allocation, and port risks, which reinforcethe major operational barriers faced by ports globally.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Challenges and Coping Strategies of Sri Lankan Undergraduates in Non-English- Speaking Countries: A Qualitative Exploration Using Schlossberg’s Transition Theory
    (School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Fahumudeen, H; Goonetilleke, N
    International students pursuing higher education in foreign countries are vulnerable to numerous challenges diminishing their experience. Presently, research is dominated by the perspectives of Western students and English-speaking countries; neglecting the perspectives of international students in non-English speaking countries. Through Schlossberg’s transition theory, this qualitative study explored the perspectives of South Asian, specifically Sri Lankan, students in the challenges faced and the coping strategies used – to ultimately develop recommendations improving student experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on eight undergraduates consisting of six women and two men studying in non-English-speaking countries varying from Eastern Europe to Middle Eastern nations. During Thematic Analysis three themes emerged: the role of host country language, discrimination experienced, and how challenges were navigated. Role of language emerged as a significant theme that influenced students’ daily experiences and quality of support provided. Additionally, Sri Lankan students demonstrated agency by developing and maintaining strong socialsupport systems. However, institutions must ensure that international students are provided adequate resources to navigate the challenges they face and encourage intercultural interactions.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Unveiling the challenges: exploring start-up hurdles faced by small and medium-sized enterprise entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka
    (https://www.nature.com, 2025-03-30) Gankandage, A; Jayathilaka, R
    This study specifically focuses on the factors contributing to start-up failures in the SME sector in Sri Lanka, with particular emphasis on the educational, socio-cultural, economic, and psychological variables that affect entrepreneurial outcomes. The primary objective is to identify and analyse the factors contributing to these failures. Data collection involved interviews, telephone surveys, and online questionnaires. Given that the dependent variable categorises outcomes as either success or failure, a Probit regression model, was deemed the most appropriate analytical method. The findings reveal significant impacts of educational and economic factors on start-up failures in the SME sector. Additionally, psychological, and socio-cultural factors were found to influence these failures. Most participants recommended integrating entrepreneurship and skill development topics into the O/Level and A/Level curricula. Based on these insights, this study proposes several policy recommendations. It suggests that policymakers improve the education system to meet the country’s educational needs more effectively. It also recommends that family members, society, and religious leaders receive education pertaining to start-up development. Furthermore, it advises policymakers and financial institutions to align more closely with entrepreneurial needs to prevent business failures. Lastly, the study emphasises the importance of educating entrepreneurs on maintaining a motivated and positive attitude, addressing the fear of loss, and understanding the psychological aspects of business management. Building upon the brief overview in the abstract, the following introduction lays the foundation for our study, elaborating on the economic concepts and contextual background.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Unveiling the challenges: exploring start-up hurdles faced by small and medium-sized enterprise entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka
    (Springer Nature, 2025-03-30) Gankandage, A; Jayathilaka, R
    This study specifically focuses on the factors contributing to start-up failures in the SME sector in Sri Lanka, with particular emphasis on the educational, socio-cultural, economic, and psychological variables that affect entrepreneurial outcomes. The primary objective is to identify and analyse the factors contributing to these failures. Data collection involved interviews, telephone surveys, and online questionnaires. Given that the dependent variable categorises outcomes as either success or failure, a Probit regression model, was deemed the most appropriate analytical method. The findings reveal significant impacts of educational and economic factors on start-up failures in the SME sector. Additionally, psychological, and socio-cultural factors were found to influence these failures. Most participants recommended integrating entrepreneurship and skill development topics into the O/Level and A/Level curricula. Based on these insights, this study proposes several policy recommendations. It suggests that policymakers improve the education system to meet the country’s educational needs more effectively. It also recommends that family members, society, and religious leaders receive education pertaining to start-up development. Furthermore, it advises policymakers and financial institutions to align more closely with entrepreneurial needs to prevent business failures. Lastly, the study emphasises the importance of educating entrepreneurs on maintaining a motivated and positive attitude, addressing the fear of loss, and understanding the psychological aspects of business management. Building upon the brief overview in the abstract, the following introduction lays the foundation for our study, elaborating on the economic concepts and contextual background.