SLIIT Journal Publications

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Open Access
A Blend of Arbitration and Mediation: Analysis of the Possibilities and Challenges in Utilising MedArb Practice in Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2024-12-31) Vithanage, P
The ADR landscape is evolving at a rapid level across the world and one of the latest trends in such is transferring dispute resolution into Arb-Med-Arb and Med-Arb. Arbitration and Mediation are recognised as two favourable dispute resolution methods, especially in commercial dispute resolution. When considered in isolation, both mediation and arbitration have unique features. Despite a few substantive and procedural drawbacks in both methods, mediation, and arbitration have gained popularity recently. While transferring into a mixed approach of MedArb and Arb-Med-Arb is still in its infancy in the context of Sri Lanka, this paper examines the possibility of utilising MedArb practice within the existing landscape in the country. Arbitration practice in Sri Lanka has a long history and the Arbitration Act No. 11 of 1995 and its amendments suggested which are to be in force in the future lays the statutory framework for arbitration. Notably, the background for Mediation in Sri Lanka started with community mediation and now it has reached a significant milestone in commercial mediation as the enabling legislation for the Singapore Convention was enacted recently. This paper uses a doctrinal approach in dealing with primary resources as well as secondary resources when conducting the research. This paper uses an exploratory analytical method. It also includes a comparative study that examines the MedArb practice in Hong Kong as a progressive Common law jurisdiction. In its findings, the paper highlights that the MedArb practice is adaptable in Sri Lanka within the existing statutory framework and the institutional setup. However, it urges that the professionals and the commercial community pay attention to the points discussed in the recommendations for the successful functioning of the MedArb practice.
Open Access
A Fly in the Ointment; Undue Liability on E-commerce Platforms
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022) Rajaguru, K.
Trade is now largely internet-centric, meaning the internet is the medium through which most commercial transactions occur in today’s (information) economy. As e-commerce uptake has accelerated globally, it has opened new possibilities for buyers and sellers alike, helping them integrate into a global marketplace and promoting innovations across different business lines. Ecommerce is considered one of the main drivers of recent economic and social developments. In Sri Lanka, e-commerce is emerging and in its infancy. The industry is expected to operate within the margin of the law and be self-regulated. In the absence of a separate law for e-commerce, ecommerce platforms (e-commerce marketplaces) meaning, digital storefronts that connect sellers and customers to transact online, are exposed to a higher risk of being unreasonably penalized by applying the existing laws without mitigation. On the other hand, the platform users are left in a desperate situation with no remedy for harm caused. However, there are many developments globally around e-commerce and platform liability. Therefore, this article explores the responses of advanced jurisdictions such as China, the EU, and the USA regarding platform liability. This concludes that facilitating a business-enabled environment with holistic and innovative strategies that are aligned with the social and economic status of the country with a business-friendly legal landscape that matches the reality of the industry is imperative.
Open Access
Advancing Audio Surveillance in Simulated Environments: Real-World Soundscapes and Targeted Noise Detection through Enhanced Beamforming Techniques
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2025-01) Stroud, S; Jones, K; Edwards, G; Robinson, C; Chandler-Crnigoj, S; Ellis, D
This paper introduces an innovative beamforming approach designed for audio surveillance, executed through a virtual simulation of a real-world environment based at Liverpool John Moores University. Our research is driven by the increasing requirement for sophisticated audio analysis methods to isolate and enhance specific sounds within noisy environments for forensic analysis, for example, in criminal court cases. By leveraging a time-delay beamforming algorithm, our work offers a novel solution to discern and amplify targeted noises amidst complex soundscapes, a challenge commonly encountered in urban surveillance and forensic audio analysis. Our approach's foundation lies in utilising a carefully arranged, robust array of omnidirectional microphones, which are instrumental in capturing a wide range of real-world sound signals. The core of our methodology involves processing captured sounds using the proposed algorithm, followed by evaluating the system's effectiveness in capturing the desired localised audio sources. This paper explores the system's resilience against microphone array degradation, showcasing its robustness in scenarios of partial system functionality. The experiments, grounded in the simulation of real-world acoustic environments, demonstrate the algorithm's adeptness at managing sound reflections and reverberation, critical factors in the realistic replication of urban soundscapes. It also considers the broader implications of our findings, exploring the potential for adopting this technology in various domains beyond law enforcement, including broadcast solutions, advanced audio engineering applications, and animal conservation in the wild. In conclusion, this research showcases a creative approach to audio surveillance and opens the door to numerous applications that can benefit from enhanced methods of audio isolation and analysis. Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on developing advanced surveillance technologies, offering insights that could help shape the future of audio processing and analysis.
Open Access
Advisory Opinion on Kosovo’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence: Strategic Silence by the International Court of Justice
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2020) Jayamaha, J.M.D.S.U
Kosovo, one of Serbia’s autonomous provinces unilaterally declared independence in 2008. In denial of such, Serbia sought an opinion from the International Court of Justice, which returned an advisory opinion stating that Kosovo’s said declaration does not violate the contemporary international law. The opinion has attracted much criticism for failing to adopt a broader interpretation of the question posed and the limited discussion engaged with, in terms of law related to the posited question. Despite the non-binding nature of the advisory opinions, and the supposedly narrow approach of this opinion, it still has posed many implications not only on the status of Kosovo but also on the development of the international law in relation. This paper attempts to engage in an analysis of the said advisory opinion, its alleged narrowness, and the wider implications it may pose to the international law and its actors, more pertinently on issues of statehood, recognition of states, territorial integrity, and future ramifications for UN peace arrangements.
Open Access
Alcohol and Heart - Health Nexus in Lower MiddleIncome Countries: Cardiovascular Risks Study
(SLIIT,Business School, 2024) Gamage,J; Oshini, A; Palliyaguru, D; Senarathne,B; Rajamanthri, L; Wichramarachchi, C
Cardiovascular diseases have become a growing concern in lower-middle-income countries, not only as a public health challenge but also as a critical management issue influencing workforce productivity, absenteeism, and organizational performance. Understanding how lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption affect cardiovascular health is vital for developing sustainable workplace health strategies. This study examines the impact of alcohol consumption—classified as wine, beer, and spirits—on cardiovascular diseases while incorporating key determinants such as cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use within lower-middle-income countries. Using panel data from 170 countries between 1990 and 2019, this study applies fixed and random effects regression models to explore the relationship between alcohol consumption patterns and cardiovascular disease prevalence. The analysis integrates major lifestyle and health variables to assess their combined impact on national and workforce health outcomes. Findings reveal that alcohol consumption, particularly beer and spirits, has a significant positive association with cardiovascular disease risk, while cholesterol, obesity, and tobacco use further exacerbate these effects. Interestingly, diabetes prevalence demonstrated a negative relationship with cardiovascular disease within lower-middle-income countries. The results underscore the economic and managerial implications of unmanaged lifestyle risks that contribute to lost productivity and healthcare burdens. This study highlights the critical intersection between health behavior and management, suggesting that promoting responsible alcohol consumption and preventive health measures can enhance workforce well-being and productivity. The insights provide valuable guidance for human resource professionals, organizational leaders, and policymakers in designing evidence-based wellness programs, occupational health policies, and strategic interventions aimed at reducing cardiovascular risks in developing economies
Open Access
An Alternative Proof of Ptolemy’s Theorem and its Variations
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-05-10) Amarasinghe, I. S.
This paper introduces a pure geometric proof for Ptolemy’s Theorem, without using trigonometry, coordinate geometry, complex numbers, vectors or any other geometric inversion techniques focusing on cyclic quadrilaterals and employing a generalized identity in relation to a cevian of an arbitrary Euclidean plane triangle. Additionally, the paper provides proofs to the converse of Ptolemy’s Theorem to which almost no pure geometric complete proof is available, and to the standard Ptolemy’s Inequality, to fulfil the research gap in the proofs to some extent. It also includes applications, new corollaries, derived from Ptolemy’s Theorem and its converse.
Open Access
An Analysis of Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by Sri Lankan IT Undergraduates: Frequency, Technology Usage and Performance at a Formative Assessment
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-11-10) Kalinga, J. C.
Learning vocabulary is an integral part in language acquisition and acquisition of academic vocabulary is a determinant for the success in an academic context. Therefore, many studies have been conducted to formulate academic vocabulary lists and identifying vocabulary learning strategies. This study seeks to explore the vocabulary learning strategies employed by IT undergraduates when studying academic vocabulary and to examine their performance on academic vocabulary related questions at the mid-term examination which is one of their formative assessments. The sample of the study includes 276 first year IT undergraduates who follow the module English for Academic Purposes in a Sri Lankan non-state university. A questionnaire is used as the research tool to obtain data from the sample and the result of the formative exam is used to examine the performance related to academic vocabulary. According to the data analysis, most of the students often use either monolingual or bilingual dictionary as a strategy for the discovery of a new word meaning. This is more emphasized as they have mentioned that they prefer using dictionary apps as a vocabulary strategy using online. A significant number of students study the spelling, meaning and form of a word and ask for help from their friends as strategies for consolidating a word once it has been encountered. When comparing the marks obtained for the vocabulary related questions at the exam, it is noted that the students have obtained less marks to the question in which they had to replace the underlined word/phrases with a more academic alternative. Thus, students need to adopt more effective strategies to acquire mastery of academic vocabulary. Moreover, they should reflect on the current strategies used by them.
Open Access
Analysis of Customer Satisfaction and Internet Service Quality During the Covid 19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka
(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-06) Rashad, M.N.M.; Hansini, M.P.; Muthugala, M.H.N.; Karunarathne,U.W.S.P; Munasinghe, R.M.; Bulathsinghala,A.S.K.
The tracking of Service Quality is an important consideration for a business as customers may go with an alternative service provider if they are dissatisfied with the standard. In particular we look at Internet Service Providers (ISP) and research the impact of Internet Service Quality (ISQ) on Customer Satisfaction. The prevailing COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka reveals the importance of this study as government rules and regulations have been imposed to promote work from home, online learning and online entertainment. Previous studies have looked at the influence of ISQ on Customer Satisfaction in other countries – however to the best of our knowledge, no such evaluation has been done in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, in the context of COVID-19 the existing literature is lacking. Past research identifies the following factors which impact ISQ: Tangibility, Assurance, Empathy, Reliability, Responsiveness (Eze, et al., 2008) and Price (Joudeh & Dandis, 2018). This study was carried out as a deductive study and a quantitative method was employed. Our sample included 500 respondents obtained from the convenience sampling method by distributing a questionnaire survey among university undergraduates within Sri Lanka. The findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between Internet Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction. The study was also able to extract insights for ISP managers by highlighting the aspects of ISQ which can satisfy their customer base as well as measures which could be taken with reference to the practice gaps identified.
Open Access
Applicability of Civil Remedies in Redressing the Victims of Online Harassment
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022) Jayamaha, S.; Harasgama, K. S.; Mahingoda, C. B
Online harassment has undoubtedly become a menace that has severe negative impacts on victims and society at large. Owing to its critical nature, jurisdictions around the world have utilized different branches of law such as criminal law, tort law and intellectual property law to redress the victims of online harassment, as well as to penalize its perpetrators. This paper attempts to analyse whether actio inuriarum under the law of delict could be employed as a corrective justice mechanism to provide redress to victims of online harassment, considering the severe emotional distress they undergo due to harm caused to their dignity, reputation and privacy. The paper adopts the view that actio injuriarum provides an effective remedy to plaintiffs for impairment of dignity, person and reputation, caused by insult. Thereby, it analyses how actio injuriarum could be utilized as a general remedy for sentimental damages suffered by the victims of online harassment. It concludes with the finding that the principles and elements of actio injuriarum are broad enough to redress the victims of online harassment.
Open Access
Application of Natural Justice Principles in Workplace Discipline: The Need for Legal Reform in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-05-17) Rajapakse, R. L. W; Seneviratne, P. K.; Seneviratne, P. K.S. K.
Principles of natural justice, including fair hearings and unbiased decision-makers, should apply in employee disciplinary procedures. However, Sri Lankan labor law does not statutorily require employers to conduct domestic inquiries before imposing disciplinary punishments. This study investigated whether courts continue to uphold principles of natural justice in the absence of a legal mandate requiring domestic inquiries, thereby assessing the necessity for legal reforms. Through examining legislation, case law, and academic literature, this study found courts generally only consider if a valid reason exists for the punishment, not whether fair procedures were followed. Further discrimination arises between public and private sector employees in applying natural justice principles. Reforming labor law to mandate domestic inquiries before employee punishment would strengthen natural justice rules and align with international standards like ILO Convention 158. This reform is needed to universally uphold procedural fairness in workplace discipline. Until then, the judiciary cannot fully ensure employees’ rights to fair disciplinary procedures are protected. Courts have upheld natural justice primarily under writ or fundamental rights jurisdiction, mainly benefiting public sector employees. Private sector employees lack that protection. Requiring domestic inquiries before punishment through amending the Industrial Disputes Act would fill this gap. This suggested legal reform would bolster the rule of law in Sri Lanka’s employment relations. As the law stands, employers currently have full discretion on disciplinary procedures. Statutorily mandating domestic inquiries would check that unilateral authority. This study demonstrates the need to embed fair process requirements into labor legislation to fully realize principles of natural justice.
Open Access
Application of Sentinel-2 Satellite Data to Map Forest Cover in Southeast Sri Lanka through the Random Forest Classifier
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2022-09) Gunawansa, T; Perera, K; Apan, A; Hettiarachchi, N
Sentinel-2 satellite data has been used for forest cover monitoring for almost five years. Mapping with Sentinel data will be a cost-effective solution for Sri Lanka, where the lack of updated land cover maps with high spatial resolution is a significant challenge in the land resource management of the country. A study area of about 5,000 km2 located in southeast Sri Lanka was selected for this study. Agricultural lands, forests including Yala national park, and villages with perennial crops make up the region. A Level-2A Sentinel-2 image with less than 10 percent cloud cover was used in the European Space Agency's (ESA) SNAP software version 8.0.0 for image processing and the forest cover of the study area was mapped through the Random Forest classifier (RFC). Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is also calculated as a Sentinel product to support RFC output. For RFC, ground truth data were collected through the reference of Google Earth high-resolution data. The classification accuracy was assessed using the Google Earth image as the reference dataset. Furthermore, RFC results were compared with NVDI greenness values. The classification accuracy was calculated using a confusion matrix (error matrix) through randomly selected 100 sample points. The overall accuracy of the land cover map was 85 percent, with a 96 percent accuracy for forest cover identification. The study found RFC as an effective method to isolate forest cover in Sri Lanka.
Open Access
Assessing Statistical Methods for Generating Forecasts for COVID-19
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-06-09) Siriwardena, S. M. D. G. A; Dharmaratne, G.; Amaratunga, D.
The COVID-19 pandemic, a persistent global health emergency that has affected almost all facets of daily life, was initially discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Since that time, the virus has rapidly spread over the globe, causing serious social and economic upheavals necessitating the need for reliable forecasting methods. This study compares ten distinct models to predict the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka, aiming to assess the performance of statistical models using limited and volatile real-world data characterized by trends, random peaks, and autocorrelations. In addition to the classical ARIMA model, various smoothing and filtering techniques were explored to capture the unique characteristics of the data. The model consistencies in multiple-day predictions were demonstrated, and robust evaluation criteria, along with non-robust measures, were utilized to enhance the effectiveness of the evaluation process. The results highlight the effectiveness of traditional smoothing and filtering strategies such as Simple Exponential Smoothing, Holt’s Exponential Smoothing, and the Smoothing Splines technique coupled with the ARIMA model. This study also discovered that the ARIMA model, when applied directly to the original data without using any smoothing or filtering approaches, failed to forecast adequately, thereby demonstrating the insufficiency of the ARIMA model on its own to provide credible forecasts when given a volatile set of data.
Open Access
Association among Depression, Social Anxiety, and Aggression caused by Cyberbullying on Facebook among Sri Lankan Adults
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences (FHS) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) Malabe, 2020-12-01) Gunathillake, N.A.; Perera, H.K.
Cyberbullying has become a growing social concern as electronic platforms provide perpetrators an alternative medium through which they can easily target their victims from any place, at any time. The present study aimed to investigate whether depression, social anxiety, and aggression were significantly related to cyberbullying perpetration on Facebook among Sri Lankan adults. A cross-sectional, non experimental study was conducted using 168 Sri Lankan Facebook users between the ages 21 and 60. Data were collected using an online survey. Cyberbullying perpetration on Facebook, depression, social anxiety, and aggression were assessed using the Prevalence of Facebook Bullying Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10), Interaction Anxiousness Scale, and Brief Aggression Questionnaire respectively. Results of the Spearman correlation analysis revealed that depression and aggression were significantly and positively correlated to cyberbullying perpetration, while there was no significant correlation between social anxiety and cyberbullying perpetration. The findings of the present study provide insight into the importance of addressing the psychological and behavioural issues of perpetrators using appropriate interventions in order to reduce the occurrence of cyberbullying. The study also emphasizes the importance of reporting the incidents of cyberbullying and taking necessary legal actions against the perpetrators.
Open Access
Attitude of the Students towards the Usage of Group Activities as a Remedy for Secondary Language Speaking Anxiety
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences (FHS) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) Malabe, 2020-12-01) Peiris, A.E.
As literature suggests Second Language (L2) speaking has always been a challenge for students. One of the main issues is the apprehension occurring when a learner is expected to perform in the second language. As facilitators at the tertiary level, it is vital to create a low-anxiety classroom to help students with L2 speaking anxiety. This research attempts to investigate the perspective of students towards using group activities to reduce speaking anxiety in the English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom. The sample group consisted of forty-five Post Advanced Level Students from an intensive course in a private institute. A questionnaire prior to any speaking activity and weekly questionnaires while conducting both group and individual speaking activities were given to this mixed ability group for three weeks to study their attitude towards L2 speaking. Initial findings were that majority (86.7%) of students were afraid of L2 speaking due to several reasons. However, that percentage was dropped to 56.5% and 38.7% at the second and third week respectively irrespective of the medium of communication at school, and the usage of English at home. . In contrast the initial percentage of not afraid of L2 speaking (13.3%) was increased to 43.5% and 61.3% respectively at second and third week. These results clearly indicate that the students preferred group activities more than individual activities. Group activities have helped the students to make an effort to speak as there were students who did speaking activities for the first time in their life. It is recommended that group activities can be used to a certain extent as an effective tool to reduce speaking anxiety.
Open Access
Attributes of ADR in the Sri Lankan Construction Industry
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2022-09-22) Edirisinghe, V; Marsh, D; Borthwick, F; Siriwardena, M; Cotgrave, A
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods were introduced to the construction industry to avoid the negative effects of litigation in relation to the cost, time, and business relationships of a construction project. This study focused on identifying the current ADR practices in the Sri Lankan construction industry and examined the specific attributes of each method to create a more effective process. A qualitative research strategy was carried out with interviews with industry professionals working in the Sri Lankan Construction Industry. Content analysis using NVivo software was used to analyse the data. The key findings revealed that the neutral third party has good knowledge of construction. Despite the differences in each ADR method, disputing parties do not have the confidence in the neutral third party or trust in the process. This study also revealed that the unavailability of these key attributes will finally affect the cost and reputation of the ADR methods. Therefore, the research suggests that to improve the ADR process and its success there should be awareness studies on ADR methods and training for ADR practitioners within the Sri Lankan Construction Industry.
Embargo
Biotive Molecules in Canadian Gooseberry and Blackcurrant
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Wijekoon, C; Sura, S
Wild berry varieties are widely distributed in Canada and are mainly used by the indigenous population as food. Gooseberries and blackcurrants are the two tart berries with a strong taste that are used to make preserves such as jams, jellies, and wines. Fruits such as berries provide significant health benefits because of bioactive compounds and their high antioxidant properties. Phenolic compounds and fatty acids are the predominant bioactive metabolites present in these berries. Recently, researchers are more interested in exploring the fruits such as berries for functional properties that benefit human health. However, research evidence related to the profiling of bioactive molecules in these wild berries such as Canadian gooseberry and blackcurrant is limited. These traditional wild berries may help to address the issues related to indigenous populations’ food insecurity and chronic diseases. In this study, we assessed and compared the bioactive phenolic and fatty acid composition in these two berries using liquid and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The cyanidine glucoside, which is a polyphenolic anthocyanin present in blackcurrant is significantly higher compared to that in Canadian gooseberry. However, fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic, and alpha-linolenic acid, which are important in cardiovascular health, are present in both blackcurrant and gooseberry. Further characterization of these berries for antioxidant activity, bio-accessibility, and bioavailability studies will improve the value of these two types of wild berries to harness their full potential as a functional food.
Open Access
A Case Study of Assessing the Accuracy of Secondary Consolidation Prediction Using Qualitative Approach
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-03) Welikala, C.O.; Vidurapriya, K. V. D.; Thilakasiri, H. S.
Infrastructure constructed, especially over soft organic soil layers, can be subjected to excessive settlement within its life cycle due to the complex behaviour of the soft soil with time. However, with necessary actions prior to construction, the impacts from such soil layers can be mitigated to some extent. The case under consideration is a leisure resort in Matara, a 15-storey hotel resting on a raft foundation near the southern coastal line of Sri Lanka. With time, some cracks have formed within the building, and an investigation was done to identify the cause for the crack formation. It has been determined that cracks have appeared due to the excessive settlement of the subsurface. Furthermore, ground investigation results suggest that a peat layer is beneath the building within a depth of 15-24m. As per the survey report on the settlement of the building, secondary consolidation of the soft soil significantly impacts the excessive settlement. Therefore, three methods were used to predict the secondary consolidation settlement of the peat layer beneath the building. The methods are prediction using empirical correlations, laboratory experiment results that will follow the constant coefficient of secondary consolidation throughout time and the qualitative method, which assumes that the secondary consolidation coefficient varies with time. Based on the above techniques, predictions were made, and results suggest that the qualitative method has a significant accuracy compared to the actual settlements of the building. These observations provide some proof that the coefficient of secondary consolidation varies with time according to the qualitative approach and does not remain constant throughout the lifespan of the building as suggested by conventional methods.
Open Access
Challenges and Frontiers in Intellectual Property Rights Amidst the Rise of Artificial Intelligence
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-05-25) Mahingoda, C.D
This article investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on intellectual property (IP) rights, addressing challenges in ownership and authorship of AI-generated creations while exploring legal and ethical dilemmas in traditional IP domains. It offers strategies for navigating these complexities, drawing on legal precedents, international agreements, and policy recommendations. The research emphasizes the urgent need for legislative updates to address these challenges effectively. Recommendations include the enactment of innovative constitutional provisions, updating IP legislation to encompass AI-related issues comprehensively, and advocating for effective judicial intervention. By implementing these strategies, Sri Lanka can foster a harmonious coexistence of AI and IP, ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights while stimulating innovation in the AI era.
Open Access
Challenges of Mobility and Access to Transport for People with Visual Impairment and Blindness: An Exploratory Study
(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) Suraweera, T.; Bandara, S.; Wickramaarachchi, C.; Perera,D.
The ability to move around to get things done to fulfil one’s wants, and needs is critical for independent living, irrespective of his or her age or existence of impairments or disabilities. Safe and efficient mobility with confidence is widely recognized as influential factors of the positive wellbeing of persons with visual impairment and blindness. Inability to confidently move around pushes persons with visual impairment and blindness to a risk of social exclusion. Even though research into this area is significant, such research in developing countries like Sri Lanka is quite limited. While aiming at bridging the said knowledge gap, this research intended to explore challenges and obstacles of mobility and transport experienced by people with visual impairment and blindness in Sri Lanka. This study adopted a qualitative method through in-depth interviews. Fifteen persons with visual impairment and blindness were purposively chosen to represent a wide range of social and economic boundaries and interviewed in May-August 2021. With the prior consent of respondents, interviews were recorded and transcribed. The interview transcriptions were analyzed using a thematic approach. Data triangulation was done through focus group discussion and observation methods. The results confirmed that persons with visual impairment and blindness confronted challenges and obstacles in mobility and transport that is discussed in six themes: deficient infrastructure, access to information, improper attitudes of sighted persons, service provider issues, personal attitudes, and support. The findings urge the importance of implementing the existing provisions while introducing relevant public policies and social awareness.
Open Access
Characteristics of Travel Mode Choice of Families with Children Below Five Years Old
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-03) Zain, A; Amarasingha, N
Travel mode choices for children under five years old have not been fully explored in past research studies The main objectives of this study were to identify travel characteristics of children aged below five years, travel mode choices for them, and investigate the factors affecting their selection. A survey using a questionnaire was conducted with parents in the Western Province of Sri Lanka to collect data. It revealed that private cars as the most frequent vehicle choice followed by public buses. The Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis identified the age of the child, distance, income, type of vehicle owned, and walking time to the nearest public transport station as the main factors that affect the travel mode choice of children under five years old. Also, the habit of securing the child and the child’s familiarity with the use of a car seat when traveling in a private car were identified as factors that affect travel safety. The recommendations were provided to policy makers, parents, and the public in order for children to make safer, comfortable, economical, and sustainable trips.