DECODING THE NEXUS BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA

The economic downturn due to the catastrophic Civil War that lasted for 30 years followed by unstable governance, and the pandemic outbreak has made it difficult for Sri Lanka to achieve the sustainable development goal [SDG No.01] of No Poverty (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015). Poverty undermines the stability of a nation and weakens its economy, politics, and social well-being. The Civil War that existed in Sri Lanka has affected the economic stability and the social well-being of the households in war-torn regions. The objective of this study is to investigate the poverty dynamics in a developing economy that has been impacted by Civil War and to ascertain the extent to which socioeconomic factors influence poverty alleviation in such an economy. This study employed a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 300 farming households located in the Thunukai Divisional Secretariat Division of Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province. The findings of Ordinary Least Square and the Probit Models demonstrate that the availability of sufficient land enriched with long-term crops, sufficient water availability, technological advancement in agriculture, balanced gender participation in agricultural activities, and a substantial increase in farming expenditure play a crucial role in alleviating poverty within the households. The theoretical recommendations were provided to optimize the use of the identified predictors in the model estimation such as the reinstatement of community development practices, reformation and redevelopment of the local industries that improve the economic overhead and the involvement of communal activities in the vulnerable areas of society to rebuild the social overhead. Keywords: Poverty, Agriculture, Poverty Measures, Land Management, Poverty Alleviatio

The effects of tsunami on small and medium enterprises (SME's) Case in Hambantota district

South Asia and a part of Africa was struck by a Tsunami, a long high sea wave caused by underwaterearthquake, on the 26 December 2004. In Sri Lanka costal areas around country were badly affectedand entire social, economic system in those areas were disintegrated and had to depend on outsidesupport. Those areas were less developed and income sources were intertwined with sea. In theabsence of large industries economic activities were focused on Small and Medium scale businesses(SMEs) inmost of these areas. This research made an effort to identify the rebuilding achievementsofSME's in post Tsunami period in both social and economic contexts.Harnbanthota was selected for the study and 25 SMEsl were selected randomly in Rathupasgodalletown and Mirijjavila. Cluster of SME's randomly selected included traders, manufactures, fishing,representing services. It was a quantitative study and empirical statistics were studied to identify andinterpret objective of the study. Structured questionnaire was used and comprised before and afterTsunami positions. In all most all cases partner or proprietor was interviewed, researches madeinterpretative approach in analyzing the responses and arriving conclusions.The study has found that SME's had started in small way but do not have a strength to recommenceon their own to the capacity they were hence look for financial assistance. Lack of accepted collateralhad been a major issue as the banks financial services maintained averse approach and only 8% hadreceived financial assistance. Self-employment and SME's had offered income source second toGovernment employment. Non-operations ofSME's created a vacuum for employment opportunities/income sources. 99% of employed were from surrounding areas thus made economic instability tofamilies. Authorities had considered SME's as mere business entities and ignored the fact they play insocial and economic aspect. SME's nor the society was ever prepared for a disaster in a suchmagnitude. They did not have any plan for risk evasion or business continuity. Only marginal numberhad insurance although one third had liability for loans/leases.

Remittances from International Labour Migrants and the Standard of Living of the Left Behind Households in Sri Lanka

This study aims to examine the effect of remittances on the standard of living of the remittance receiving households in Sri Lanka. Survey data were analyzed using thematic analysis and stratified matching method in propensity score matching. It was found that, a large majority of labour migrants remit money to their households left behind. However, the volume of remittances varies with the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the labour migrants and their households. Furthermore, it was found that remittance receiving households enjoy income from diversified sources. Average treatment effects estimated through stratified matching analysis reveal that remittance receivers enjoy a higher level of income and higher standard of living compared to their non-remittance receiving counterparts. Improvement of the income by the remittances varies with the income quintile of the households.KeywordsMigration, Propensity Score Matching, Remittances, Sri Lank

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FAILURES IN SRI LANKA

Software development projects are considered as a unique entity in terms of project management due to the inherent attributes they encapsulate, thus making them distinct and susceptible to failure. Therefore, the importance of software project risk management is emphasized where the identification of the factors which affect software development projects to fail being the main component. This survey-based study focuses on identifying the factors that affect software development failures and the causes of these factors in Sri Lankan software development companies. Twenty-seven factors affecting software development failures were identified using a stringent scientific methodology and were tested to ascertain their validity, importance and the causes in terms of the Sri Lankan context using an interview based questionnaire. Twenty-five software development companies which belong to the software exporters‟ association were selected for data collection, and the gathered data were analyzed to ascertain the significance to the defined objectives using statistical tools. Misunderstanding of user requirements, poor project management skills of managers, and the lack of communication between the members of the software development team were identified as the top three factors affecting software development failures in Sri Lanka, while the lack of proper communication between the development team and the customer, poor project management knowledge of managers, and lack of proper planning were identified as the main phenomena which cause these factors to originate in software development projects in Sri Lanka

Tsunami and its impact on fisheries industry in Harnbantota district of Sri Lanka

December 26,2004 the earth quake occurred close by the Sumathra Islands created a tsumani situationat north, east and south region of Sri Lanka and caused heavy damages killing over 30,000 people,destroying over 100,000 homes and weakening the livelihood of the victims. Also, the natural ecosystems,and coastal infrastructure were destroyed to a great extent. Twenty percent of the coastal populationaffected in Harnbantota district and more than seventy percent were affected in north and eastregions. Fisheries industry experiences a large amount of losses among the affected economic sectorsand industries. Not only the livelihood of the people who are directly involved in fishing but also thelivelihood of the people in related industries, were impacted by the disaster. In general, death,displacements, and damages to the fishing boats and fishing harbors are the results of the Tsunamiwhich pave the way to an economic and social crisis in the country. As it discloses the significantdirect impact to fisheries industries and to the nation at large, the purpose of this study is to asses thedamage and inquire the needs for those who engaged in fisheries and related industries in Hambantotadistrict. Godawaya village in Hambantota district is selected for the study as it is one of the villagesinvolving in different sub sectors of the fisheries industry and it has been seriously affected by Tsunami.Fifty families, which involved in fisheries industry, are directly interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Observation method is also used to gather some of the sensitive data which can not becollected through a questionnaire. The descriptive statistical tools are used for analysis.The study has found that sixty four percent of the people lost more than fifty percent of their propertieswhich have been used in fisheries industry, still their core competency remains with the same industryas per their education level and the experience. Conducting short term business and psychologicalcounseling and training programmes, facilitating through low-interest loan schemes, providingtechnological and marketing supports, developing a multiple village production cluster approach andconducting intensive vocational skill transferring programmes are recommended as short and mediumterm strategies. Establishing Godawaya village, with necessary infrastructure facilities, as an economichub due its uniqueness in location is the main long term strategy.

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

VALUE ADDITION AS A STRATEGY OF STRENGTHENING THE FOOD-PROCESSING SECTOR IN SRI LANKA; A CASE STUDY OF MDK FOOD PRODUCTS (PVT) LTD.

This study aims at identifying the means of enhancing value addition within the food-processing sector, which would be directed towards the economic development of Sri Lanka. Firstly, the study has analyzed the sector’s contribution to the economic development and its relative importance in terms of value addition, employment and labor productivity using latest available data. The growth in the above three parameters for nine industrial categories were measured and assigned to the productivity and employment quadrants based on their performances. This reveals that, out of nine industrial categories, only the food, beverage and tobacco products sector,has recorded affirmative growth in all three parameters. Unfortunately, net agriculture surplus in terms of foreign trade was rapidly deteriorated during the past 2 decades within this industrial category emphasizing the inattention at improving value addition. Thus, it is important to encourage value addition and increase the productivity level within the sector as a means of facing international competition. An in-depth case study representing the domestic food-processing industry was undertaken to ascertain the value-added initiatives in terms of two dimensions i.e. innovation and coordination, which is to be adopted at firm level. The case study reveals that by adopting value added initiatives, the firms can enhance value addition and productivity levels. In this regard, the role of the fi rm as the value generator and the role of the government as the facilitator can be highlighted. Keywords: Economic development, Value addition, Labor productivity, Employment generationFor full paper: [email protected]

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FAILURES IN SRI LANKA

Software development projects are considered as a unique entity in terms of project management due to the inherent attributes they encapsulate, thus making them distinct and susceptible to failure. Therefore, the importance of software project risk management is emphasized where the identification of the factors which affect software development projects to fail being the main component. This survey-based study focuses on identifying the factors that affect software development failures and the causes of these factors in Sri Lankan software development companies. Twenty-seven factors affecting software development failures were identified using a stringent scientific methodology and were tested to ascertain their validity, importance and the causes in terms of the Sri Lankan context using an interview based questionnaire. Twenty-five software development companies which belong to the software exporters’ association were selected for data collection, and the gathered data were analyzed to ascertain the significance to the defined objectives using statistical tools. Misunderstanding of user requirements, poor project management skills of managers, and the lack of communication between the members of the software development team were identified as the top three factors affecting software development failures in Sri Lanka, while the lack of proper communication between the development team and the customer, poor project management knowledge of managers, and lack of proper planning were identified as the main phenomena which cause these factors to originate in software development projects in Sri Lanka

Tsunami and its impact on fisheries industry in Harnbantota district of Sri Lanka

December 26,2004 the earth quake occurred close by the Sumathra Islands created a tsumani situationat north, east and south region of Sri Lanka and caused heavy damages killing over 30,000 people,destroying over 100,000 homes and weakening the livelihood of the victims. Also, the natural ecosystems,and coastal infrastructure were destroyed to a great extent. Twenty percent of the coastal populationaffected in Harnbantota district and more than seventy percent were affected in north and eastregions. Fisheries industry experiences a large amount of losses among the affected economic sectorsand industries. Not only the livelihood of the people who are directly involved in fishing but also thelivelihood of the people in related industries, were impacted by the disaster. In general, death,displacements, and damages to the fishing boats and fishing harbors are the results of the Tsunamiwhich pave the way to an economic and social crisis in the country. As it discloses the significantdirect impact to fisheries industries and to the nation at large, the purpose of this study is to asses thedamage and inquire the needs for those who engaged in fisheries and related industries in Hambantotadistrict. Godawaya village in Hambantota district is selected for the study as it is one of the villagesinvolving in different sub sectors of the fisheries industry and it has been seriously affected by Tsunami.Fifty families, which involved in fisheries industry, are directly interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Observation method is also used to gather some of the sensitive data which can not becollected through a questionnaire. The descriptive statistical tools are used for analysis.The study has found that sixty four percent of the people lost more than fifty percent of their propertieswhich have been used in fisheries industry, still their core competency remains with the same industryas per their education level and the experience. Conducting short term business and psychologicalcounseling and training programmes, facilitating through low-interest loan schemes, providingtechnological and marketing supports, developing a multiple village production cluster approach andconducting intensive vocational skill transferring programmes are recommended as short and mediumterm strategies. Establishing Godawaya village, with necessary infrastructure facilities, as an economichub due its uniqueness in location is the main long term strategy.