Browsing by Author "Rathnayaka, R"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

item: Conference-Abstract
Ascertaining the sense of safety in urban neighborhood streets : the case of Kotahena, Sri Lanka
Karunananda, S; Rajapakse, A; Rathnayaka, R
Streets are primary elements through which the character of urban neighborhoods are experienced and expressed. The “sense of safety” in neighborhood streets is paramount to social and psychological wellbeing of its residents and visitors. The intention of this study was to explore environmental and social cues of a neighborhood, which evoke fear of crime, which will help designers to prevent the generation of such negative feelings and promote more safe and comfortable spaces in our cities. This study used interviews, group discussions and observations to identify fear-generating factors with a sample of participants in the multi ethnic neighborhood of Kotahena in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Field data was analyzed through visual documentation and photographic surveys. Moreover, group discussions, interviews and personal observations were used to synergize the study objectives. The findings inform that fear of crime on streets is influenced by both environmental and social cues to varying degrees. Feelings of fear were associated with gender, ethnicity and less familiarity with the place as participants were from an ethnic minority within the community. Literature has emphasized that fear of crime has a connection to actual crime locations. The research findings, however, indicate that fear of crime spots identified by the residents do not have a direct relationship to the actual crime locations.
item: Article-Full-text
The Evocative wardrobe : establishing emotional durability to accelerate circular economy in fashion
(2023-08) Fernando, N; Rathnayaka, R
Global fashion waste, sustainability, and the circular economy are concepts that are increasingly gaining popularity not only in the world but also in Sri Lanka. The Fashion Revolution, organizations such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and brands such as Patagonia spearhead this movement in which the idea of circular economy is promoted, and action is taken to reduce the impact on global fashion waste and issues such as overconsumption and overproduction of clothes. Sri Lanka’s capital city Colombo itself, contains landfills filled with unwanted clothes and materials. Furthermore, garment manufacturing is Sri Lanka’s single biggest industry, but it also produces tens of thousands of textile waste every year. However, it can be seen that there is an increase in online Thrift Stores selling secondhand clothing, fashion brands that upcycle clothes, movements such as the Goodlife Foundation, and companies such as the Hirdaramani Group carrying out projects related to fashion waste. It can also be seen that The Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) in association with the Responsible Fashion Movement (RFM), has come out with a specific action-oriented impact on each garment presented on the ramp, under a program titled Responsibility In Fashion.
item: Conference-Full-text
Factors that impact the selection of bio science stream in the G.C.E advanced level in the western province, Sri Lanka
(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2022-12-01) Weerarathna, RS; Rathnayake, NM; Subendran, G; Sivagnanasothy, E; Naguleswaran, L; Rathnayaka, R
The choice of stream in upper secondary education is a turning point for every student for a successful career in the future. The education system in Sri Lanka has five streams—Biological Science, Physical Science, Commerce, Arts, and Technology—and the Biological Science stream is important in national development. The students who select the Biological Science stream in upper secondary education are influenced by several factors, showing a declining trend in Western Province, Sri Lanka. Accordingly, this research aims to identify the factors affecting the selection of the Biological Science stream in G.C.E Advanced Level (G.C.E A/L) in the said region and to examine the impact of those factors. The study identified self-efficacy, career opportunities, and normative social influence as the factors impacting the selection of the Biological Science stream. Data for this study were collected using a mixed method: Primary data was collected using structured interviews and a questionnaire survey. Twenty students were interviewed using convenience sampling, and a questionnaire survey was conducted on a sample of 370 students using a simple random sampling technique. Data were analysed using thematic and multiple regression analysis. According to the regression model, the study recognized that career opportunities and self-efficacy are the most significant factors which impact the selection of the Biological Science stream. The findings suggest improving the quality of the Biological Science curriculum in the G.C.E A/L examination and encouraging students to continue their studies in the Biological Science field, thereby further contributing to national development. This research provides information to stakeholders such as students, parents, educators, and the government for making different policy decisions.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Study of migration as a form of adaptation strategy to natural hazards. case study: flood induced migration in Rathnapura area
Witharana, T; Rathnayaka, R
This research studies migration as a household adaptation strategy to flood in Rathnapura.Environment extremes act as one contributor among many to population movement. There are number of migration theories those explains the factors which contribute to human migration. Existing research on human migration in response to natural hazards tends to be limited. So it is important to study how environment factor act as critical factor in the decision to migrate. It is undisputed that there is indeed a relationship between migration and environment hazards. The topic of migration as adaptation strategy is of growing importance but still in the initial stage. So this research emphasize why some people decide to migrate while others do not. What are the factors affect to people to think to migrate and what are the adaptation strategies employed by people in order to reduce the vulnerability. This research was designed in order to give answers to those questions and to study the migration as one form of adaptation strategy. Data and information was collected through questionnaire and interview. The data was analyzed through chi-square test, one way ANOVA and descriptive statistical method by using SPSS. Results shows that there is statistically significant relationship between occupation, severity of flood and no. of years living in hazardous area with think of migrating. Migration cost, livelihood linked with environment, native place,social ties mainly affect to people to stay in risky area. The factors like recovery cost,scarcity of food, disease and security motivate people to migrate. This study shows that people are more vulnerable for flood like to migrate in order to reduce the vulnerability by reducing exposure to flood.