Faculty of Graduate Studies

Webometrics is a new field of bibliometrics, which originated in 2004. Webometrics mainly use bibliometric techniques in order study the relationship of different sites on the World Wide Web (www). Local and international online journals become very popular among scientists, as an effective place to publish their research articles. Therefore new technological and statistical approaches (such as Web Impact Factors) were introduced to evaluate these expanding online publication systems. In this study webometric concepts were applied to the World Wide Web, to analyse the quantity (number of papers) and impact (citation indexes) of Sri Lankan research institutions in environment science sector.

This study was manipulated webometric analysis methods, in order to assess the scientific output of the Sri Lankan Environment Science related research publication sector. Initially co-citation network analysis method was followed to demarcate the subject area; based on Google Scholar, scientific out-put of local Journals and institutions in Sri Lankan Environment Science research sector was estimated with “Harzing's Publish or Perish-version 4.0.12”. Current status of the Sri Lanka was compared with other SAARC countries using SCIMAGO publication data, to identify the gaps and trends in Environment Science related research publications in ten year time window (2002-2012). Highest contribution for the Sri Lankan online research publication sector was given by the universities rather than the other semi-government and non-government research institutions. Quantity and the quality of the research publications of particular institution depend on many factors; such as number of researchers, importance of their research field, number of Online Journals published or contributed by the institution, reputation of the researchers and the institution, amount of annual investment allocating for research purposes. Quantity and the quality of the research publications of SAARC countries mainlydepend on theireducational, economical, technological, environmental and social/ political status.

Webometrics is a new field of bibliometrics, which originated in 2004. Webometrics mainly use bibliometric techniques in order study the relationship of different sites on the World Wide Web (www). Local and international online journals become very popular among scientists, as an effective place to publish their research articles. Therefore new technological and statistical approaches (such as Web Impact Factors) were introduced to evaluate these expanding online publication systems. In this study webometric concepts were applied to the World Wide Web, to analyse the quantity (number of papers) and impact (citation indexes) of Sri Lankan research institutions in environment science sector. 101 journals published or contributed by the institution, reputation of the researchers and the institution, amount of annual investment allocating for research purposes and several other factors.

Institutionalization of children has apparently been among the preferred care options in the past for children who lack parental care. In Sri Lanka, in the context of an unsettled security situation particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces followed by the Tsunami disaster of December 2004, the number of institutions providing shelter and care for children saw an unprecedented increase. In consequence new laws and systems were put in place to monitor the institutionalization process, standardize facilities and care as there were many reports of violations of child rights by certain institutions. Following upon this standardization process, a system of compulsory registration of all children's institutions including all children's homes falling within the purview of the Probation Officers was introduced with the managements of the institutions held accountable for all their activities. A few years of the implementation of these new standards, a necessity arose to assess the programme in the context of the latest trends and situations on institutionalization of children in the Eastern Province particularly to determine the need for fresh interventions for future developments.. This paved the way for a research project focusing on the push and pull factors of institutionalization of children in the Eastern Province.

Sophisticated knowledge of the natural world is not confined to western science. Societies from all parts of the world possess rich sets of experience, understanding and explanation. My paper is an exploration of the dying secrets of traditional knowledge in health and wellbeing in Sri Lanka and an attempt to find ways of safeguarding it as intangible cultural heritage of the humanity.

I have marked the parameters of my study by exploring and defining the concepts of ‘traditional knowledge’, ‘traditional cultural expressions’, ‘traditional knowledge in health’, ‘traditional healer’, ‘a healthy person’ and the notion of ‘wellbeing’.

Then, the paper traces the historical evolution of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.  It considers the internal and external forces that influenced in evolution of Sri Lanka’s traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions; the historical developments and achievements in traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions in healing and wellbeing, giving examples of ancient historical and literary sources. Diverse forms of traditional knowledge existed in medical treatment for all forms of disease including viral, bacterial and fungal diseases; all forms of surgeries; all forms of mental illnesses; and on healthy living and wellbeing of individuals and communities. Sri Lankan beliefs, knowledge, and practices have been used in healing through medical practices. Some forms of traditional healing in Sri Lanka include, Ayurveda, Keraminiya, Horiwila Kadum bidum (Orthopaedics), Rasa Shastra, specialized indigenous eye doctors, the Homoeopathic system of medicine and Acupuncture. Local Sri Lankan beliefs, knowledge, and practices were used in protecting mental health through rituals and performances, such as pirith, meditation, bodhi pooja, wows, yoga, astrology, palmistry, healing through spirits,  exorcism, tovil, charms and amulets, adi veil and hetme ritual.

The challenges faced by traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions in health and wellbeing due to Sri Lanka’s complex social, religious and political history that mixes Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Buddhist, Islam, Hindu beliefs, as well as the influences of colonization are outlined in this paper. Understanding the relevance and importance of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, various institutions and instruments have evolved in the international arena, to promote and safeguard traditional knowledge. Various aspects of preservation, protection and promotion of the traditional knowledge are looked into by many international bodies. The paper identifies the contribution of the International Organizations as well as Government Indigenous Medical System in protecting traditional knowledge in health. Finally the need to adopt and implement a more comprehensive, locally relevant and participatory plan to Safeguarding Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions in health and wellbeing is discussed.

This paper explores dying secrets of traditional knowledge in health and wellbeing in Sri Lanka and attempts to find ways of safeguarding it as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. It traces the historical evolution of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. It considers the internal and external forces that influenced the evolution of Sri Lanka’s traditional knowledge, followed by an account of the historical developments and achievements in traditional knowledge in healing and wellbeing, with examples from ancient historical and literary sources.
The challenges faced by traditional knowledge about health and wellbeing as well as the influences of colonisation are outlined in this paper. The paper identifies the contribution of international organisations as well as the government’s Indigenous Medical System in protecting traditional knowledge on health. Finally the need to adopt and implement a more comprehensive, locally relevant and participatory plan to safeguard traditional knowledge about health and wellbeing is discussed.

The paper is an attempt to understand the status of traditional knowledge in Sri Lanka from a post-colonial theoretical lens. First, the paper deals with definitions and theoretical interpretations of traditional knowledge and post-colonial theory. Next, it relates the colonial influence on destroying traditional knowledge systems in Sri Lanka. Third, it discusses efforts taken to revive traditional knowledge in the country. Finally it discusses the current status of traditional knowledge in Sri Lanka, in light of global forces such as capitalist influences and social changes. Based on the emerging trends of traditional knowledge, the paper questions the need and way forward to safeguard traditional knowledge.

This report, originally submitted for a 2nd year sociology unit in the University of Colombo, looks at the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPASL, better known as FPA). It analyzes the organization's mission and effectiveness – its success or failure – in bringing family planning to all communities of Sri Lanka. This also looks at benefits that communities have accrued from the work of the FPA as well as the socio-cultural aspects affecting its work. Special attention has been paid to how the organization has harnessed the resources available, both locally and nationally.

Denying employment to people based on their HIV status is a practice that is informed by social fears and norms, and employers have appropriated existing local and international laws to strengthen their position in refusing employment. There are discriminatory laws that inadvertently or by design deny or limit employment to people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is especially true within the airline industry, given it is highly regulated by laws. About 50 countries have laws that regulate the entry and stay of people with HIV. The airline industry hesitates to accept people living with HIV as cabin crew citing safety regulations and international laws, and have refused work to or removed employees from positions within the company. In general, people with HIV face barriers to employment that far exceed those faced by others seeking employment. There is an exacerbated threat to people with HIV because airlines deal with multiple countries and are bound by many le...

Denying employment to people based on their HIV status is a practice that is informed by social fears and norms, and employers have appropriated existing local and international laws to strengthen their position in refusing employment. There are discriminatory laws that inadvertently or by design deny or limit employment to people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is especially true within the airline industry, given it is highly regulated by laws. About 50 countries have laws that regulate the entry and stay of people with HIV. The airline industry hesitates to accept people living with HIV as cabin crew citing safety regulations and international laws, and have refused work to or removed employees from positions within the company. In general, people with HIV face barriers to employment that far exceed those faced by others seeking employment. There is an exacerbated threat to people with HIV because airlines deal with multiple countries and are bound by many legal regulations that extend far beyond the legal system of any one country. The research analyses the regulations that govern the aviation industry within the context of employment. This qualitative research is aided by a constructivist approach, and exclusively uses secondary research. The cases under study in this paper are Sri Lanka in 2016 for a breach of employment law under the scope of ILO guidelines and national policies and South Africa in 2000 for breach of the South African Constitution and its Bill of Rights.