SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Science and Humanities [SICASH]

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SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Science and Humanities is organized by the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), the annual research multi-conference of the faculty.

https://sicash.sliit.lk

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Open Access
A Comparative Study on Narrative Techniques in the Novel Deutschstunde and its 2019 Film Adaptation
(Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Bandara, S.I; Wijewardhana, S; Sandaruwan, L.G.S.U.
The adaptation of literary works into films presents unique challenges and opportunities in translating narrative techniques across media. This study provides a comparative analysis of narrative techniques employed in Siegfried Lenz’s novel Deutschstunde and its 2019 film adaptation directed by Christian Schwochow. It explores the complexities of transforming a thematically dense literary narrative into the visual and auditory medium of film. The primary research problem addressed is the extent to whichnarrative strategies in Lenz’s novel Deutschstunde differ from its 2019 adaptation. The methodology consists of a qualitative comparative approach incorporating close reading of the novel and detailed frmal analysis of the film. Central narrative aspects focused on are focalisation, temporal structure, character representation, and the presentation of symbolic motifs. Results indicate that while the film effectively utilises cinematic techniques to depict the oppressive setting and Siggi Jepsen’s inner turmoil, it alters the pervasive frame narrative and extensive interior monologue utilised in the novel, subtly shifting the portrayal of the protagonist’s inner journey and the engagement of the audience with memory. This comparative analysis elucidates the adaptive processes, the impact of different media on narrative delivery, and the continuing relevance of Deutschstunde to adaptation studies.
Open Access
A Comprehensive Review of Most Influential Risk Factors for Dementia among Elderly People in Asian Countries
(School of Nursing, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Ranaweera, G; Dasanayake, C; Kanchana, T
Dementia is characterised by a group of symptoms that are typically defined by memory loss, behavioural changes, and the subsequent loss of cognitive and social functioning caused by progressive neurological disorders. It represents one of the greatest global challenges for health and social care in the 21st century. This review aimed to identify the most influential risk factors for dementia among elderly populations in Asian countries.
Open Access
A Machine Learning Approach to Actuarial Life Table Estimation in Lung Cancer Patients
(Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Tharushika, D. D. H.; Napagoda, N. A. D. N.
Cancer-related mortalities worldwide are most caused by lung cancer, and one of the major causes of passing worldwide is still cancer. A dangerous disease is lung cancer, which requires accurate survival modelling to assist in actuarial evaluations, public health planning, and clinical decisions. Life expectancy and mortality risk across age groups are calculated using essential tools such as actuarial life tables, but complex real-world data is frequently struggled with by traditional methods. Actuarial life tables for patients with lung cancer are created using a data set of more than 500,000 patient records with 15 key variables from 2014 to 2024 across European countries, employing Extreme Gradient Boost Accelerated Failure Time (XGBoost AFT) based survival analysis. The main objective is to develop agespecific mortality rates and life expectancy for patients with lung cancer. In contrast to earlier research that was reliant on traditional models, the nonlinear learning capabilities of XGBoost AFT models areutilized in this study to allow for more accurate estimation of mortality trends. A data-driven, machine learning approach to actuarial life table development is contributed by this study, with information about lung cancer survival patterns being provided. The understanding of survival trends, treatment planning, efficient use of healthcare resources, and assessment of the results of initiatives is aided by physicians, researchers, and policymakers. Public health initiatives focused on early identification and prevention are also guided, as well as future healthcare requirements being forecast.
Open Access
A Novel Hypermatrix Product and its Application to Multilinear Mappings
(Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Senevirathne, S. S. M. A. C.; Athapattu, A. M. C. U. M.; Chathuranga, K. M. N. M.
Matrix theory provides a well-established algebraic framework for working with linear maps, in which matrix multiplication replaces the composition of linear transformations. However, there is no canonical multiplication rule for hypermatrices that leads to multilinear maps, partly because multilinear maps are not closed under composition. To address this gap, this research introduces a novel (restricted) hypermatrix multiplication based on the Frobenius inner product. We start byshowing that every multilinear map 𝑓: 𝑉1 × 𝑉2 × … × 𝑉𝑛 → 𝑉0 gives a hypermatrix representation 𝒜 and defining a contraction operation, which computes 𝑓(𝑣1, 𝑣2, … , 𝑣𝑛 ) through Frobenius inner products between 𝒜 and matrices derived from input vectors. This operation allows for the efficient computation of the hypermatrix of an arbitrary multilinear map. This work provides constructive proofs and detailed numerical examples.
Open Access
A Participatory Approach to Developing Adolescent Support Groups Focusing on Social Emotional Wellbeing: Lessons from a Community-Based Intervention Conducted in Gothamipura, Sri Lanka
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Jayatilake, P; Gunawardana, R; Goonetilleke, N
Adolescent mental health remains a growing concern in underserved urban communities in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to develop a culturally relevant support group model for adolescents in Gothamipura using a participatory approach. The objectives were to create a replicable context-sensitive intervention, enhancesocial-emotional wellbeing of participating adolescents, and offer a replicable framework for developing community-based psychosocial interventions in similar settings. The methodology involved two phases. The first phase involved focused group discussions and consultations with adolescents to understand social emotional focus areas. The second phase included designing sessions, pilot testing, and multiple feedbackand impact assessment sessions. A total of 26 sessions were conducted over 12 months, leading to the development of a support group model with 12 sessions. The model focused on three core areas: emotional awareness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Session content was refined iteratively basedon facilitator observations and participant feedback. Impact assessments showed improved understanding of emotions, greater awareness of distress tolerance strategies, and increased engagement in interpersonal skills, though comprehension levels varied among participants. The structured yet adaptable framework that emerged to develop the model highlights the importance of grounding psychosocial interventions inthe lived experiences of adolescents and incorporating continuous feedback throughout the development process. While the model showed promise, limitations included the absence of pre-post quantitative evaluation and challenges in sustaining the intervention beyond facilitator-led sessions. This study contributes to existing knowledge by demonstrating how participatory methods can support the design oflocally meaningful psychosocial programs for adolescents in low-resource, and marginalized settings.
Open Access
A Poisson Mixture Model of Claim Counts to Improve Insurance Claim Predictions Using Incomplete Data/ Asymmetric Data: A Case Study with Telematics Insurance
(2025-10-10) Peiris, K. G. H. S.; Sampath, J. K. H.; Premarathna, L. P. N. D
In the evolving landscape of insurance analytics, integrating traditional and telematics data is pivotal for enhancing the accuracy of claim predictions. This study introduces a two-fold approach utilizing a Poisson mixture model to merge these distinct data streams effectively. Initially, we apply the Poisson mixture model to traditional insurance features common to both datasets, employing Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) and Metropolis-Hastings algorithms separately for model fitting. Subsequently,the predicted claim counts derived from the Poisson mixture model are used as an offset to fit a Poisson generalized linear model (GLM) exclusively with telematics-based features. Our focus is on assessing the suitability of HMC and Metropolis-Hastings for addressing data integration challenges within Poisson mixture frameworks. Comparative analysis reveals that while HMC demands more computational time to achieve convergence, it exhibits superior performance in parameter estimation in scenarios with increased model complexity. This study underscores the potential of advanced Monte Carlo methods in refining predictive models by leveraging the synergy between traditional and telematics data sources.
Open Access
A Qualitative Exploration of Pet Ownership and its Perceived Impact on Mental Health and Cultural Perspectives among Young Adults in Sri Lanka
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Rodrigo, R. J; Goonethilleke, N
Pets have the capacity to offer unconditional love and support through companionship, positively influencing emotional, mental, and social wellbeing. Guided by the Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) framework, this qualitative study explored the views on pet ownership and mental health among young adults in Sri Lanka. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven pet owners aged 20 to 22. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Four key themes emerged: (1) Psychological impact and emotional support, (2) Responsibility and daily structure, (3) Cultural and societal contexts, and (4) Fostering social connections. The findings highlight the meaningful contributions of pet ownership to reduced stress and anxiety, increased empathy, improved emotional regulation, and a sense of routine and responsibility, with cultural and familial factors shaping experiences. Pets occasionally served as social facilitators. Overall, findings suggest that pet ownership may offer valuable support for young adults’ mental health and wellbeing in the Sri Lankan context.
Open Access
A Right to Explanation for Algorithmic Credit Decisions in the UK
(School of Law, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, 2025-10-10) Lui, A
Algorithmic processing of credit data is widely used in UK banks. ‘Algorithmic processing’ refers to the processing of personal and non-personal data by automated systems. This includes artificial intelligence (AI) systems such as machine learning models. The widely used description: ‘black box’ phenomenon, refers to the challenges of how and why algorithms arrive at a decision, given specific data input. The phrase ‘black box’ is used because such machine learning algorithms are very complex and constantly adapt to new input through ‘deep learning’. ‘Deep learning’ is a sub-set of machine learning. It allows computers to learn and think independently. In ‘deep learning’ technology, the decision-making process is often opaque and difficult to explain in a way that can be easily understood by humans. This inscrutability can lead to distrust in algorithms. The stakes are especially high when such algorithms are applied to decisions on access to finance because some of the most inscrutable machine learning models are used.
Open Access
A Study on the Challenges Faced When Interpreting Expressions Made in Sri Lankan Sign Language into Sinhala
(Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Madushani, B. L
Sign Language is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions, and body language. Like other world languages, it has systematic grammatical and morphological structures. It is the primary mode of communication for individuals with hearing impairments. In Sri Lanka, many deaf children born into deaf families, use Sri Lankan Sign Language (SLSL) as their mother tongue. As such, deaf signers use SLSL fluently, embodying its cultural and community-specific nuances. However, it is observed that when translating ideas conveyed through SLSL into Sinhala, numerous challenges arise. Against this background, this study attempts to identify the key linguistic, cultural, and technical obstacles encountered in translating from SLSL into Sinhala and explore strategies for mitigating them. In this context, the data were collected from fifteen professional and community-based sign language interpreters via semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and Google Forms surveys. The findings emphasize the challenges posed by the variations in the signing pace, regionaland abbreviated variants, semantic shifts, form–movement variations, grammatical incompatibility, lack of deaf cultural awareness, detection difficulties, community signing preferences, and unstructured signing. These challenges lead to misinterpretation, loss of meaning, and communicative reakdowns. Recommendations, include standardizing SLSL through a national corpus and lexicon, establishing accredited interpreter training programs, integrating deaf cultural competency modules, promoting public awareness, and leveraging technology such as video annotation tools. Implementing these measures is supposed to facilitate high-quality SLSL to Sinhala interpretation, ultimately empowering deaf individuals and fosteringinclusive communication in Sri Lanka.
Open Access
A sustainable nursing and midwifery partnership research network improving patient care
(School of Nursing, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Phillips, Nikki (Nicole)
The focus of this presentation is Deakin University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery sustainable Research Network and its contributions through the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research. The Research Network has pioneered academic-industry partnerships, embedding researchers within major health services in Victoria, Australia.The first health service partnership was established in 1996 with the appointment of a Clinical Chair in Nursing, and the network has since grown to be large, wide reaching and sustainable, resulting in health services that together provide care for over three million Victorians annually. The three key research pillars underpinning the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research are patient safety, patient experience, and health workforce in the context of a variety of healthcare settings. Today, the School has one of the largest nursing and midwifery professoriates in Australia. These include Chairs in Nursing or Chairs in Midwifery, and most recently an Associate Professor in MentalHealth Nursing, all jointly appointed by the University and health services, that leadresearch teams focused on improving patient and maternity outcomes. The teams of researchers in each health service collaborate widely with clinicians and other researchers to generate knowledge, synthesise evidence, and translate evidence into practice. In addition, clinicians are supported to undertake research degrees, further building research capacity and leadership in the health service. Examples of impact of the sustainable network will be showcased.
Embargo
Abandonment of paddy lands and its causal factors in Bentota Pahalagamhaya Agrarian service division, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Hansika, A.H; Amarasinghe, S.T.C; Sandamali, T.G.I
Paddy is the most significant and highly valued crop in Sri Lanka. Paddy cultivation has been given top priority in the agriculture industry due to its strong links to food security and the socioeconomic development of the rural community. Paddy is the most significant commercial crop in the Galle district of the Low Country Wet Zone (LCWZ). However, the Galle district has a substantial amount of abandoned paddy land due to various circumstances. Abandoned paddy lands have an impact on paddy production, rural livelihood and food security in Sri Lanka. Therefore the objectives are to identify factors affecting paddy land abandonment and farmers' willingness to recultivate abandoned paddy lands in Pahalagamhaya Agrarian service division. One hundred paddy farmers with abandoned paddy lands were selected by purposive sampling while adopting a questionnaire survey method to perform multiple regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Frequent flood conditions, wild animal damage, poor drainage system, salinity and inadequate infrastructure facilities were identified as the factors that affect paddy land abandonment according to the results of multiple regression analysis. Descriptive statistics revealed that 69% of farmers are willing to re-cultivate abandoned paddy lands. The findings will aid the government and other responsible organizations in the effective management and control of the factors that cause paddy land abandonment in Bentota, Pahalagamhaya Agrarian service division. Reducing the number of abandoned paddy lands will help boost the food security in this area.
Embargo
Academic Research and Technology Transfer from University to Industry: Prospects, Challenges and the Way Forward for Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Punchihewa, N. S.
Universities are at the frontier of knowledge, research, innovation and cutting-edge technology. Therefore, converting university research outcome into commercial success has attracted significant attention among policymakers in developed and developing nations alike in recent years. As it is evident, universities around the world are currently embracing a paradigm shift in academic research commercialization, in addition to traditional university mission. Based on the ’Triple Helix’ model of innovation, the universities are to create ‘academic entrepreneurship.’ Relying upon the landmark legislation of the US, commonly known as the ‘Bayh-Dole Act’ leading universities in many countries have established their own university technology transfer offices (TTOs). The Sri Lankan university system is no exception to this international development. Given the critical and urgent need, the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka has introduced a new legal initiative; namely, the Commission Circular (University Business Linkage) No. 10 of 2016 and guidelines for its implementation. The Circular requires universities to implement an IP Policy at universities, promote the creation of university spin-offs and research cooperation between business and the university, among others. To further this policy objective, all fifteen state universities and a number of non-state sector higher education institutions have established the University Business Linkage (UBL) Cells in compliance with provisions of the said Circular. Therefore, the universities in Sri Lanka have perceived the mandate of teaching, research and creating co-operative extension to provide innovative advantages for the benefit of the society in line with the university mission. In view of the above, this research aims to shed light on and critique the new legal environment created by the UGC Circular for academic research, innovation, protection and commercialization viewed through the lens of a comparative legal research and analysis.
Open Access
Academic Ritualistic Behaviours and Exam Stress: Insights from Generation Z Undergraduates in Sri Lanka
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Dissanayake, I. N. D; Abeysinghe, N
This study explores the role of Academic Ritualistic Behaviours (ARB) in managing exam stress among Generation Z university students in Sri Lanka. Exams are often highly stress-inducing events, and this research aims to examine how ritualistic behaviours rooted in personal, cultural, generational, and psychological frameworks help students in managing exam-related stress. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six undergraduates between ages 18 to 26, till data saturation. The interview transcripts were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework, and the analysis gave rise to three themes: (1) Personal and cultural anchors: Rituals rooted in family, tradition, and peer influence; (2) Rituals as emotional needs: Objects, music, and symbolic actions providing comfort and focus; and (3) Technology-infused rituals: Apps, digital platforms, and manifestation practices shaping modern coping. While rituals promoted reassurance and structure, overreliance sometimes heightenedanxiety when disrupted, highlighting the double-edged nature of such practices. The Findings suggest that academic ritualistic behaviours influenced by cultural heritage and digital practices contribute to resilience, focus, and emotional stability during exams, but also reveal potential risks of overreliance. They emphasise the need for educators and researchers to acknowledge both benefits and risk associated with these behaviours when addressing student wellbeing.
Open Access
Adherence to the World Health Organizati on’s Pati ent Care Indicators in Outpati ent Department Dispensing at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Secti onal Observati onal Study
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Sanjithakrishna, S.; Liyanaarachchie, L.C.P.T.; Krishnananthalingam, D; Bagyawantha, N.M.Y.K.
The World Health Organizati on (WHO) has developed good dispensing practi ces (GDPs) to standardize the performance of pharmacists. Hence, they can be used as indicators to assess the quality of dispensing services. Evaluati ng the quality of dispensing is pivotal in improving dispensing practi ces in a healthcare insti tute. The objecti ve of this study was to assess the adherence of outpati ent department (OPD) pharmacists to WHO’s pati ent care indicators. This was a cross-secti onal, observati onal study conducted at the OPD pharmacy of the Teaching Hospital, Jaff na. Ethical approval was obtained from the ethics review committ ee, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya. Eight pharmacists named A to G in the OPD were evaluated using a checklist by a single observer for about 10 dispensing cycles assessing average dispensing ti me, percentage of pati ents’ knowledge of correct dosage, percentage of drugs adequately labelled, and percentage of drugs dispensed resulti ng in the observati on of 78 dispensing cycles. Pati ent knowledge was assessed using a structured questi onnaire administered postdispensati on. These assessments were carried out in the real dispensing environment at the OPD, and the results were infl uenced by multi ple factors in the dispensing environment. The average dispensing ti me was 41.8 sec. Pharmacist A showed the highest dispensing ti me (55.7 sec) and pharmacist E showed the lowest dispensing ti me (31.0 sec). The percentage of drug knowledge among the pati ents varied between 50.0% to 65.0%. All the pharmacists adequately labelled the drugs during the dispensati on except pharmacist A (68.9%). Pharmacists B and C dispensed 100.0% of prescribed drugs. While adherence to certain WHO pati ent care indicators such as drug labelling and dispensing percentages were sati sfactory, the average dispensing ti me and pati ent knowledge were below WHO recommended standards.
Open Access
An Analysis of the Relationship Between Ordinary Level English Performance and Cambridge English Placement Test Scores Among Foundation Programme Students in Sri Lanka
(School of Education, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Amarasooriya, N; Wickramasinghe, N
The teaching and learning of second languages in local educational settings is of great importance, particularly due to the need to enhance students' proficiency in the English language. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of students’ Ordinary Level English results and their scores on the Cambridge English Placement Test(CEPT) among students enrolled in the foundation program at a higher educational institute in Sri Lanka.
Embargo
Analysing the Processing Ability of Cinnamon Stems Under Different Planting Systems
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Aluthgamage, H. N; Fonseka, D. L. C. K; Benaragama, C. K
Cinnamon contributes largely to the country’s economy, being one of the major agricultural export crops in Sri Lanka. But shortage of skilled cinnamon peelers is one of the major problems. Therefore, enhancement of the efficiency of processing procedure is crucial. Hence, the study was conducted to optimize the processing ability of common stems based on spatial pattern, type of planting material and harvesting interval to enhance the efficiency of cinnamon processing. Seedlings and vegetatively propagated plants (VP) of cinnamon; variety Sri Gemunu were planted under three spatial patterns as (A) 1.2×0.6 m with three plants per hill, (B) 1.2×0.4 m with two plants per hill and (C) 1.2×0.2 m with one plant per hill at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. Stems were harvested in two planting intervals as 6 and 8 months. The study was conducted after four years from field establishment. Harvested cinnamon stems were processed with the support of a skilled cinnamon peeler. Scraping ability, rubbing ability, peeling ability and overall processing ability were recorded based on a scoring scale as, Bad-1, Normal-2, Good- 3 and Best- 4. The results revealed that, only the impact of planting material was significant ( p < 0.05) for Scraping ability, rubbing ability, peeling ability as well as overall processing ability of the cinnamon stems. Seedlings were observed to have better ability of processing than vegetatively propagated plants. Current findings can be used for further studies on efficiency enhancement of cinnamon processing.
Open Access
An Analysis of Creati vity, Criti cal Thinking, Communicati on, and Collaborati on Skills in the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) General English Textbook in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Lawrence, D; Wijesekera, H.D
The Advanced Level General English (GE) Course in Sri Lanka aims to prepare students for success in higher educati on, work, and social life. To achieve this objecti ve, it is necessary to equip students with “21st century skills” in additi on to language skills. A crucial factor that determines the success of the programme is the teaching material. The Advanced Level GE textbook is the primary teaching material for the GE course in schools nati onwide. This study explored the representati on of 21st century skills in this textbook by employing Qualitati ve Content Analysis (QCA) to systemati cally categorize and evaluate instances of 21st century-related acti viti es and discussions within the textbook. Although the study investi gated twelve 21st century skills, in this paper, we focus on the 4Cs (Creati vity, Criti cal Thinking, Communicati on, Collaborati on). The results indicate that although the 4Cs were the most visible skills and consti tuted the majority of occurrences (85.27%), some important aspects or subskills were not adequately represented. In additi on to other outcomes, the presentati on will mainly contribute to English Language teaching material development and evaluati on at both policy and implementati on levels.
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.
Open Access
An Analysis of the Representation of Epilepsy in Pramod Rathnayake’s Short Film Natta (2019)
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Dissanayake, A.K
This study explores the representation of epilepsy in the Sri Lankan short film Natta (2019) by Pramod Rathnayake. Epilepsy is a neurological disease that may lead to unconsciousness. Epilepsy is also a disability. A disability is distinguished from an illness in that the former is understood as created due to socio-cultural factors that could lead to marginalization of individuals with certain medical conditions. Although the condition of epilepsy has been understood and analyzed from a medical perspective, the human experience of epilepsy has not received much attention, especially in Sri Lanka. In this context, the short film Natta fulfills the role of portraying the dayto- day experiences of an individual with epilepsy named Samantha, from the first-person point of view. The film visually represents some symptoms of epilepsy and sheds light on how superstitious beliefs and misinformation about this condition hinder Samantha from successfully medically controlling his epilepsy. The impact of epilepsy on an individual’s employment opportunities and ability to drive a vehicle too are highlighted in the short film. While these are the strengths of the short film, Natta equates the epilepsy condition in a person to something inherently wrong or lacking in a person. Also, the film ignores the social stigmatization of epilepsy patients and indirectly blames people with epilepsy for marginalizing themselves. Finally, through the portrayal of the character of Sugandika, Samantha’s wife, the short film fails to acknowledge the role that family members or informal caregivers play in the process of looking after patients with epilepsy. Therefore, based on this content analysis of Pramod Rathnayake’s short film, it could be concluded that similar short films would be helpful in giving voice to the daily, personal experiences of people with epilepsy. However, such representations should not avoid blaming patients with epilepsy for their condition and social isolation but should be understanding and inclusive of the social pressure and stigmatization encountered by people with epilepsy.
Open Access
An Analysis on Word Formati on Processes among Young Adults in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Yasisuri, W.G.S.; Sivaji, K.
The history of the English language identi fi ed two core varieti es: Briti sh English and American English. However, World Englishes have gained presti ge over the decades. English, therefore, has become the lingua franca in the world. As a result, Sri Lankan English has fascinati ngly become a specifi c variety. The people of a parti cular region or a country adapt English in specifi c ways, which are visible in their regular acti viti es such as at college, at supermarkets and at workplaces. Novel words can be found among several groups of people, which support the functi on of proper communicati on. Moreover, social media platf orms spread varied English morphemes. The younger generati on of Sri Lanka plays an innovati ve role in the process of word formati on. Therefore, this research focuses on specifi c word formati on processes in the Sri Lankan context among young adults. The objecti ves of this research are to recognize innovati ve word formati on processes in English in the Sri Lankan context and to analyse the use of these processes which are commonly used among young adults in Sri Lanka. The data relevant to word formati on processes were gathered by observing young adults’ speech on social media platf orms and daily speech practi ces of the parti cipants. The data collected were analyzed both quanti tati vely and qualitati vely. Furthermore, data was gathered via a questi onnaire distributed among the parti cipants. Eleven diff erent word formati on processes which were identi fi ed are analyzed in this research and they are also categorized under the most-used formati on processes and generally-used processes. The fi ndings indicate that novel word formati ons in English are explicitly visible among young adults in the Sri Lankan context. It was also found that most of these formati ons occur unintenti onally. This study is thus useful in identi fying the key word formati on processes prevalent in present Sri Lankan society and in understanding the future directi on of Sri Lankan English.