Identifying the impact of tidal level variation on river basin flooding

Different parts of Sri Lanka are regularly subjected to a wide range of natural disasters, of which floods are most common. When severe, flooding can decrease the economic and social development of the country and the Government of Sri Lanka has to spend huge amounts of money each year to address such problems. Floods occur mostly because of heavy rainfall combined with human-induced factors in the catchment areas. In this project, tidal level variation is considered as a factor for floods in the river basins. The tidal level changes periodically due to the gravitational attraction from the sun and the moon and the centrifugal force of the earth’s rotation. This project studied the relationship between changes in tide and river water level in the mouth of the Kelani River. Tidal data was collected from the Colombo Harbor, and water level data and river flow data was obtained from the Nagalagam Street gauge and Hanwella gauge. It was found that there is a direct relationship between tidal level and flood level in the river mouth area. Therefore, it is proposed that tidal level variations be considered in order to make accurate flood predictions in the river mouth areas.Length: pp.119-126River basinsFlooding

Physical and mental well-being and job satisfaction among male construction workers in selected urban construction sites in Sri Lanka

Background: Construction sites are mushrooming everywhere in the urbanized areas of Sri Lanka, keeping pace with the rapid economic development. As this industry is inseparably associated with numerous risks endangering the workers, it is important to assess and identify any potential overall health impairments.Objectives: Our aim was aimed to assess the physical and mental wellbeing and job satisfaction among male construction workers in selected urban construction sites.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in a sample of 120 male workers at three urban construction sites using an interviewer administered questionnaire that was specially designed. Socio-demographic factors, level of physical activity, nutrition and diet, alcohol and smoking, rest and sleep, energy and fatigue, pain and discomfort, level of mental wellbeing and level of job satisfaction of them were assessed. Rate of Perceived Exertion Scale (CR10), Fatigue Severity Scale, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, Job Satisfaction Survey used in designing the tool for data collection and for the sections questionnaires which were validated through a content expert. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22.Results: A majority (N=88, 73.3%) of the workers monthly earned more than thirty thousand rupees. Most (N=51, 42.5%) were engaged in vigorous physical activities. Most (N=68, 56.7%) had normal BMI while 21(20.8%) were underweight. Current prevalence of alcohol use and smoking were 55.0% (N=66) and 44.2% (N=54) respectively whereas 24(36.9%) were consuming alcohol for more than 10 years and 5(9.4%) were smoking more than 10 pack years. Majority (N=69, 57.5%) had adequate sleep but most (N=70, 58.3%) were not involved in leisure activities. Majority (N=100, 83.3%) was not fatigued whereas 80(66.6%) had musculoskeletal pains, most common being the back pain. Most had good mental wellbeing (N=119, 99.2%) and good job satisfaction (N=115, 94.8%).Conclusions: In conclusion the monthly income of majority of the workers was high and the overall nutritional status was satisfactory whereas alcohol use and smoking were significantly prevalent in comparison to the general population. Many suffered from musculoskeletal pains but majority had good mental wellbeing and were satisfied about their job

Modeling Sri Lankan Stock Market and Exchange Rate Volatility: A Multivariate GARCH Approach

国际金融市场的全球一体化带动了许多实证研究来检验不同市场之间的相互影响，其中，对金融资产波动传递方式的研究尤为重要，其研究结果有助于金融从业人员做出投资决策，并有利于金融监管者来监控金融危机的蔓延。 本文旨在探讨在斯里兰卡金融市场中是否存在股票价格和USD/LKR汇率之间的波动传递。本研究采用自1992年5月到2011年9月的日度数据，通过对股票价格和汇率价格取自然对数并差来定义日回报率。我们利用M-GARCH模型，即BEKK模型(EngleandKroner，1995)来捕捉金融时间序列的尖峰和自相关特性。我们的结果表明，汇率市场的波动性占据主导地位，然而自身波动性一般比交叉波动性更大...The increasing integration of international financial markets has driven many empirical studies to examine the co-movements among different markets. The knowledge of this interrelationship and volatility transmission between financial assets would help financial practitioners to make their investment decisions and financial regulators to control the financial contagion. This paper examined whe...学位：经济学硕士院系专业：经济学院金融系_金融学(含保险学)学号：2772010115447

A study on the extent, aetiology and associated factors of dandruff in a group of medical students and the in vitro effects of antidandruff preparations

Introduction: Dandruff is a scalp disorder, characterized by itching and rapid skin flaking of the scalp of a person. Yeasts of the genus Malassezia are responsible for dandruff. The prevalence of dandruff in South Asia is 60.1%, whereas in the world it is 50%. The objectives of this study were to ascertain the prevalence, describe associated factors, isolate Malassezia sp. from dandruff samples of medical students and test the anti-fungal effects of commercially available shampoo and crude extracts of commonly used herbs against Malassezia. Methods: Ninety five students were chosen by systematic sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Samples of skin flakes/swabs was collected from the scalp of participants. Specimens were examined using three direct microscopic methods. Fungal colonies isolated on Saborauds/Dixon Agar were identified using Gram stain and catalase test. Antifungal activity of six shampoo brands and crude extracts of eleven herbs were tested against isolated Malassezia sp. by agar well/disc diffusion method. Results: Prevalence of dandruff was 64.2% in the study group. The typical ‘spaghetti and meatball’ appearance was seen in the skin flakes taken from 44 of 61 (72.1%) students. Malassezia sp. was isolated only from 49 of the 61 students (80.3%). In-vitro, anti-malassezial effect (Inhibition zone (IZ)&gt;10mm) was observed in 4 of the 7 tested ‘anti dandruff’ shampoos. Crude extracts of fresh leaves of Psidium guavava (guava), flowers of Punica grantum (pomegranate) and fruits of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and Citrus hystrix (Kaffir lime) showed IZs &gt; 10mm. Conclusion: Prevalence of dandruff in the studied group of medical students was higher than in the Asian population. Four of the tested ‘anti dandruff’ shampoos and crude extracts of leaves of P. guavava (guava), fruits of S. lycopersicum (tomato), C. hystrix (kaffir lime), and flowers of P. grantum (pomegranate) showed an in-vitro inhibitory effect on the growth of Malassezia sp.</p

Environmental reporting and firm profitability: Evidence from Sri Lanka

Background of study Literature review: gaps Research questions 1 Do disclosures on materials, energy, and water impact firms’ profitability? 2. Do bio-diversity disclosures impact firms’ profitability? 3. Do disclosures on emissions, effluents, and waste impact firms’ profitability? 4. Do disclosures on products & services, compliance, transport, overall supplier assessment, and environment grievance mechanisms impact firms’ profitability? Contribution Research context Methodology Conceptual framework Measurement of variables Model development Data analysis Findings Conclusions, limitations and suggestions NOTE: Initial author = Lakshan Attanayake on Unitec staff directory; and A.M.I. Lakshan on paper

Malaria in Sri Lanka: Investigating causes of the recent elimination and making plans to prevent reintroduction

Taylor-Robinson, AW ORCiD: 0000-0001-7342-8348Sri Lanka is a country that has long suffered from epidemics of malaria. In this historical context, it is remarkable that in 2016 the Indian Ocean island nation was able to officially celebrate the elimination of this parasitic disease of major public health importance. The most devastating outbreak recorded in Sri Lanka was during 1934–35, when close to 80,000 human deaths were reported. Indoor residual spraying with the insecticides, DDT and malathion commenced in 1947 and was successful in causing a rapid decline in malaria incidence. However, poor vector control measures, resistance of mosquitoes to these insecticides and resistance of blood-stage Plasmodium parasites to the prevailing drugs used are considered the principal reasons for the occurrence of subsequent outbreaks. Despite this, Sri Lanka achieved the significant milestone of zero locally transmitted malaria cases in October 2012 and zero recorded deaths since 2007. Vector surveillance, parasitological examination, and clinical case management were collective effective activities that most likely led to elimination of malaria. Yet, there remains a high risk of reintroduction due to imported cases and an enduring vulnerability to vector transmission. In order to prevent reestablishment of malaria, continued financial support, sustained surveillance for vector species present in Sri Lanka and effective control of imported cases through rapid detection and early diagnosis are all required. In addition to these immediate practical priorities, further studies on vector biology and genetic variations that affect vectorial capacity would help to shed light on how to avoid reintroduction. This review affords an insight into the determinants of past malaria epidemics, strategies deployed to achieve and maintain the current status of elimination, lessons learnt from this success and plans to avoid resurgence of infection