https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/5740 2026-04-23T10:01:01Z 2026-04-23T10:01:01Z Wijetunge, MADCK https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/5753 2023-04-26T11:02:55Z 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z

Maritime search and rescue operations of Sri Lanka: air diplomacy framework and way forward Wijetunge, MADCK The term air diplomacy first came into the limelight in the first half of the 20th century amidst the advent of air power. Air diplomacy is the employment of air power elements in support of the foreign policy of a country. The study explored how an air diplomacy framework could be incorporated into the air strategy to strengthen Maritime Search and Rescue (MSAR) engagements in Sri Lanka, which in turn would benefit in bolstering the tangible and non-tangible capabilities of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The contemporary world has seen that regional/global air forces have been attempting to leverage air power in quest of protecting national interests and human capital beyond its seashores. However, it is observed that Sri Lanka has not been exploiting the air diplomacy to the fullest extent as done by other regional counterparts. The SLAF being the only air arm capable of providing aircraft assistance to air crash Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in Sri Lanka has a unique role to play whilst bearing a huge responsibility in aircraft Search and Rescue operations within the Colombo Search and Rescue Region (SRR). Thus, it is imperative to fill the critical gap between existing capabilities/capacities and structure of MSAR units within SLAF and integration with external maritime agencies locally/regionally to facilitate effective MSAR services within the SRR. Hence, the researcher has derived the conceptual framework on a par with the study objectives, which enables the finding of dependent and independent variables. This exploratory study resorts to the inductive approach and interpretivist research philosophy while conducted as a qualitative research. Eventually, the researcher developed an air diplomacy framework that could schematically be embedded into SLAF's air strategy. The study results indicated the development of a joint maritime-air architecture through an integrated system comprising all aerial and maritime stakeholders. Hence as a remedy smart, stretched refleeting of assets, formulation of joint/combined maritime-air command structure, multinational cooperation and conduct of joint training are recommended to address challenges pertaining to conducting effective and efficient MSAR operations in the future.

2022-07-01T00:00:00Z Somarathne, EDT Wijayakulasooriya, JV Karunasinghe, DSK https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/5752 2023-04-26T11:26:38Z 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z

Application of artificial neural network for short term electricity demand forecasting Somarathne, EDT; Wijayakulasooriya, JV; Karunasinghe, DSK Many researchers around the world work on short term electricity demand forecasting (STLF) in order to establish an accurate power planning and generation system in their countries. This research, with its focus on short-term load forecasting, aims to fill this gap by implementing two methodologies based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) applied on a set of half an hourly load demand data of six years, provided by Ceylon Electricity Board in Sri Lanka. The data of first five years (~70% of the dataset) were used to train the algorithms and those of the last year (~30% of the dataset) were used for testing. The effect of historical load demand patterns on making the prediction of the next 24 hours were studied. Moreover, with the historical data, unlike in most literature which forecasts only one value (either peak load demand of the day or only the load demand of the next half an hour), the demand of the entire day (48 values for each half an hour) is forecasted at once. The predictions obtained by the application of ANN were compared with those of ARIMA methodology which is a benchmark of comparing predictions in STLF. None of the applications provided deviated predictions compared to each other and ANN can be used to predict the next day half-hourly electricity demand since the application was successful in grasping the periodic patterns that exist in half hourly series.

2022-07-01T00:00:00Z Senadeera, KPGW Piyasiri, S Nandalal, KDW Chandrajith, R Rantunga, K https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/5751 2023-04-26T11:28:29Z 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z

Assessment of groundwater quality using multivariate statistical methods at Nagadeepa area in Badulla district, Sri Lanka Senadeera, KPGW; Piyasiri, S; Nandalal, KDW; Chandrajith, R; Rantunga, K The study area, Nagadeepa is situated in Badulla District within the dryer parts of the country. Groundwater is the main drinking water source in the area. The study was carried out from 2013 to 2016 and the main objective of the study was to examine the chemical status and pollution levels by examining of 25 water quality parameters namely Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Pb Mo, Cr, Cd, Mg, Hg, As, Al, Zn, Se Cl-, F-, NO3-, HCO3-, SO42-, PO43-, DO, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and water hardness in 28 wells. The results of the factor analysis indicated that conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, Calcium, Fluoride, Mo, Cr and Cd have a strong impact on the water quality compared to the categories of moderate and weak loadings. The parameters namely; Mg, Na, As and Al, Zn, Se and Water Level, Se, Cl, pH and DO, Pb have a moderate impact on water quality based on the moderate loadings indicated by the PC analysis. The weak impact on water quality is indicated by Cl-, SO22- and K, PO4, Hg, Se and Hg, Se, Al and Temperature, Cl-, pH and PO43-. Analysis indicated that; (i) significant and positive correlation with alkalinity, hardness, Ca2+ and Mg2+, (ii) positive and significant correlation only with hardness and Ca2+, (iii) Hardness shows positive and significant correlation only with Ca2+, (iv) Fluoride has a positive and significant correlation with Mo2+ and (v) Na+ has a positive and significant correlation only with Mg2+. Cluster analysis indicated, cluster 1 with less polluted water in 9 wells, cluster 2 with moderately polluted water in 11 wells, cluster 3 with highly polluted water in 7 wells, and cluster 4 with very highly polluted water in one well. Factor analysis indicated that pH, conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, chloride, and sulfate are the major factors that affect the quality of the water. In the majority of the sampling wells, the correlation coefficient revealed a geogenic nature. Cluster analysis revealed that 29% of wells are unsuitable for drinking purposes.

2022-07-01T00:00:00Z Saumyadi, HAD Jayawardane, VPT https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/5750 2023-04-26T11:31:03Z 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z

Motivations to choose engineering; perspectives of young women engineers in Sri Lanka Saumyadi, HAD; Jayawardane, VPT From its inception to today, engineering has been a profession in which male engineers dominate. Although technology and education have developed to a higher level, there can still be seen a hesitation among young female students to choose engineering as their future career. The masculine nature of the engineering profession is further reinforced with the belief that engineering is not meant for women but men. Numerous factors like balancing worklife conflicts, existing discriminatory practices on women engineers, lack of role models, and the demanding nature of the engineering profession have demotivated young female students to choose engineering and young female engineers to sustain in the engineering profession. Still, the literature is not saturated with studies on women engineers who could sustain in the gendered industries in various contexts. Hence, this study aims to investigate the perception of the self-confidence of young women engineers in the Sri Lankan context and to recommend staying strategies for future women engineers based on their industrial experience, which will motivate young female students to choose engineering. A self-administered questionnaire comprised of several close-ended questions with five-point Likert-type responses and an open-ended question was designed to achieve this study's objectives. It was circulated among a conveniently selected sample of 250 young women engineers in Sri Lanka via email & Facebook. 82 responses were received. Responses for Likert-type questionnaires were analyzed using a simple graphical method, while open-ended responses were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. Analysis revealed that most respondents were confident in discharging their duties as women engineers. Further, they recommended that future women who wish to become engineers should choose the engineering discipline wisely, be passionate, and be dedicated to the engineering profession if they want to sustain themselves in it. The findings of this study will motivate and guide future young women engineers to succeed in the profession.

2022-07-01T00:00:00Z