Defence and Strategic Studieshttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/38222024-03-29T05:56:06Z2024-03-29T05:56:06ZEffective use of tour guiding in countering Tamil Diaspora: an open source response to LTTE sympathizersDe Silva, K Sanath Chandanahttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/10292023-04-26T11:14:47Z2013-01-01T00:00:00ZEffective use of tour guiding in countering Tamil Diaspora: an open source response to LTTE sympathizers
De Silva, K Sanath Chandana
Nations in the modernity are more towards the use of the efficacious tool of ‘strategic communication’ on achieving their propaganda goals. ‘Public diplomacy’ is a part of strategic communication which is an alternative process to traditional diplomacy. Every government needs to develop a public diplomacy arm to address target audiences in order to deliver its national narrative. The recent military defeat created bewilderment in the LTTE friendly Tamil Diaspora and created problems for their existence. Since then the LTTE strategy was changed and the use of media and cyberspace increased against the Sri Lankan national interest. Sri Lanka is a tourist destination. There are many visitors coming to Sri Lanka from those countries where LTTE operate their propaganda mechanism. The author perceives tour guiding as an area with a significant potential to send across a countering message to the communities of those countries. An effective tour guide has the ability to become the most reliable and friendly individual to the tourists in a strange land. He who wins the hearts and minds of his clients will be able to convey a more grass root level idea about his motherland with a credible sense. This paper intends to discuss the constructive role that tour guides can play in building Sri Lankan image in the International arena. The author suggests seeking ideas from the stakeholders in tourism industry and defence and foreign policymakers in order to build a national narrative for Sri Lanka. The methodology of the paper will be based on a qualitative approach by analyzing the opinions and experiences of tour guides and other relevant stakeholders. The outcome of this paper would open new avenues in countering anti-Sri Lankan propaganda.
Defence full-text article
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZThe impact of non rational elements on strategy and warfareWithane, D SVoyer, Peterhttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/10282023-04-26T11:12:59Z2013-01-01T00:00:00ZThe impact of non rational elements on strategy and warfare
Withane, D S; Voyer, Peter
As the world-famous critic of Strategy and Warfare General Von Clausewitz argues, much could be learned about strategies of warfare from a careful analysis of war; it could always be a highly unpredictable affair shaped by factors such as friction, uncertainty and chance as well as non- rational factors such as psychological, moral and creative factors that influence the strategists’ behavior. The point of the rational approach is that strategists should try to use systematic procedures to arrive at good decisions. However, research into strategic decision making shows that strategists often are unable to follow an ideal procedure. Also the time pressure, a large number of internal and external factors affecting a decision and the ill-defined nature of many problems make systematic analysis virtually impossible. The focus of the paper is to examine the limits of rationality and the impact of non-rational elements on strategy and warfare and to present a multifaceted conceptual model to that affect. In particular, the paper illustrates the impact of non-rational elements such as intuition, experience, emotion and imagination of the strategists in shaping the overall strategy. Critics of war, strategy and intelligence argue that the logic of war and its paradoxical nature are best understood through the analysis of military history with cautious reference to personal experience of military leadership in war. In view of the theoretical underpinnings and experts’ insights, this paper suggests a conceptual model and it argues that strategies of war cannot be studied accurately following a scientific procedure.
Defence full-text article
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZEliminating disability digital divide in Sri LankaWedasinghe, NWicramarachchi, RYapa, YMSKhttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/10252023-04-26T11:49:21Z2013-01-01T00:00:00ZEliminating disability digital divide in Sri Lanka
Wedasinghe, N; Wicramarachchi, R; Yapa, YMSK
Differently-abled People are not having equal opportunities to access information technology and systems compared to the normal population in Sri Lanka. The purpose of this research is to find reasons behind the digital divide among the people with disabilities in Sri Lanka and propose a set of guidelines to bridging the gap to eliminate disability digital divide in Sri Lanka. The first phase of this research discusses literature behind the digital divide, disability digital divide, the information age, and the development of ICT in Sri Lanka. In the second phase in order to collect information in the Sri Lankan disability digital divide, interviews were conducted with a range of government representatives and 85 disabled computer users and trainers of them in the Ranawiru Sewana Ragama and Abimansala. Collected data were analysed based on qualitative approach according to four themes. In addition to that frequency analysis was used to find the most important accessibility problems and issues faced by this community. Experimental design is based on a four-dimensional framework. It includes training and development, low-cost software and technology, awareness programmes and improving quality of life. The outcome of this research indicates that Sri Lanka has taken several actions to eliminate the issue. Nanasala project via ICTA, improvements of telecommunication infrastructure and other development projects in private and public sectors are similar to solutions in developed nations. Survey results indicated that many more Sri Lankan people with disabilities are reluctant to use these systems and technologies due to poverty, lack of awareness, lack of interest and English language issues. Most of the differently-abled people who are using Nanasala do not have their own computers. The high cost associated with licence software, lack of screen reading software and other supporting software and lack of training for them are the main issues. Lack of special trainers for training them is another considerable factor. The research proposes four main areas of implementations under the tested four dimensions to eliminate the Sri Lankan disability digital divide. These main areas are 1.) training and development, 2.) economic infrastructure development of disabled community, 3.) awareness and 4.) encouragement programmes. The above proposed implementations will be advantageous to the differently-abled community. By implementing these recommendations, they can be actively involved in the process of making Sri Lanka acknowledge and commerce hub in Asia.
Defence full-text article
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZA universal appraisal system for the promotion of officers in the militaryHettiarchchi, Gaminihttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/10222023-04-26T11:22:56Z2013-01-01T00:00:00ZA universal appraisal system for the promotion of officers in the military
Hettiarchchi, Gamini
Violence is a common phenomenon in any country especially in developing countries with multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies. However, it is essential for a country to do away with violence and establish peace and security, which is vital for development and economic progress which will ultimately eradicate poverty, improve living standards and usher prosperity to the nation. Peace and security could be brought about by a highly efficient and professional military force whilst safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Combat effectiveness is the ability to fight and win. This centres on the capabilities of officers and soldiers, their professional knowledge, managerial skills, leadership qualities, morale and equipment etc. Military needs to have a very sound professional development programme and a promotion system to produce professional leaders of high character, integrity and calibre. Promotion is an elevation to a higher rank. With promotion come increased authority, responsibility, status, financial remuneration and recognition. Therefore, promotions are very critical for the military and its promotion system has a direct bearing on its combat effectiveness. A promotion System based on seniority and which does not consider capabilities of officers is highly counterproductive. Accordingly, this paper discusses a suitable appraisal system for the promotion of officers of the military in order to have efficient military officers for the betterment of the country.
Defence full-text article
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