• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.9
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between diversification and the performance of commercial banks, while taking into account the ownership status of these banks in Sri Lanka. Two-way relationship between diversification and performance was scrutinised by employing the 2SLS regression technique. The data consists of 17 registered commercial bank in Sri Lanka between 2001-2016. The results show a strong significant bidirectional relationship exists between diversification and bank performance. The performance of Sri Lankan banks has been significantly improved by their diversification attempts. In other words, the banks whose incomes are more diversified from various sources, they are more profitable and successful in long-term. On the other hands, the results also reveal that bank performance positively and significantly affects diversification. This finding suggests that the banks with great profitability are more capable in diversify their operations. Furthermore, private sector banks, both listed and unlisted, are significantly more diversified than their government-owned counterparts, but their performance is not necessarily superior to government-owned banks. This may be the result of the economic environment and the perception of the public, which have allowed the government-owned banks to entertain significant market power over the private sector banks in the country.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 2024

This study explored the potential and implementation of renewable energy sources in Sri Lanka, focusing on the theoretical potential of solar and wind energy to develop self-reliant energy models. Using advanced climate data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and Global Solar/Wind Atlas provided by the World Bank, we assessed the renewable energy potential across Sri Lanka. This study proposes off-grid and minigrid systems as viable solutions for addressing energy poverty in rural regions. Rural villages were classified based on solar and wind resources, via which we proposed four distinct energy self-reliance models: Renewable-Dominant, Solar-Dominant, Wind-Dominant, and Diesel-Dominant. This study evaluates the economic viability of these models considering Sri Lanka's current energy market and technological environment. The outcomes highlight the necessity for employing diversified energy strategies to enhance the efficiency of the national power supply system and maximize the utilization of renewable resources, contributing to Sri Lanka's sustainable development and energy security.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.701-709
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• 2017

One of the components that used in the satellite thermal control subsystem is the Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop (MPFL) system; this system mostly used in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, and can transfer heat from a hot point to a cold point using the fluid which circulated in a closed loop. Heat radiates to the deep space at the cold plate to cool down the fluid temperature. In this research, the radiative heatexchanger (RHX) for a MPFL system is optimized. The genetic algorithm has been used for minimizing the total mass and pressure drop by considering a constant transferred heat rate at the heat exchanger. The optimization has been done in two cases. In case I, two parameters are considered as a goal function, so optimization is performed using NSGA-II method. Results of optimization are shown in the pareto diagram. In case II, the diameter of pipe is considered constant, so the optimized value for distances of the parallel pipes is obtained by using the genetic algorithm, in which the system has the least total mass. Results show that in the RHX, by increasing the pipe diameter, pressure drop decreases and total mass increases. Also by considering a constant value for pipe diameter, an optimum distance between pipes and pipe length are obtained in which the system has a minimum mass.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.124-130
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• 2007

RFID technology is considered as a promising solution to increase efficiency of port logistics. Especially active RFID technology, such as e-Seal for container security, is receiving attention nowadays. If active RFID system is combined with passive RFID and legacy bar-code system overall efficiency of port logistics can be improved However, due to the device dependent control interface of RFID readers, there are many difficulties in making active-passive combined RFID system environment. In this paper, we introduce Smart Reader Interface (SRI) system, which provides a device independent RFID reader interrace to control different kinds of RFID readers by hiding device dependent control interface through adapter architecture which is similar to device driver of conventional operating systems. The key design objectives of SRI are the followings; conformance to the related standard. efficiency in processing, easy addition of an adapter for a new RFID reader. Actually, the implemented SRI system can support various kinds of commercial RFID readers, and through the test carried out not only in laboratory but also in the container terminal in the GwangYang Port, its practicality is verified.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.74-77
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• 2012

A new catalytic system has been developed in the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes using cyclic phosphonic acid anhydride(T3P). Short reaction time, simplicity of isolation, safe catalyst and high yields of product are the features.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2011

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a new concept of increasing the yield of rice produced in farming. Therefore, we investigated the impacts of planting density on nutrient uptake as affected by SRI under no-till cropping system. The field was prepared as a randomized complete block design with three treatments: $10{\times}10$ cm, $20{\times}20$ cm and $30{\times}30$ cm planting densities. The root dry mass was significantly increased in the wider planting densities (p<0.05%). The highest grain yield was obtained in $20{\times}20$ cm planting density plot (p<0.05%) due to higher plant density per unit area and spikelets number per panicle. The total uptake amounts by rice plant were significantly higher in $20{\times}$20 cm planting density plot as 94.8 kg $ha^{-1}$ for T-N and 29.9 kg $ha^{-1}$ for P than other planting densities plots, but K and Mg uptake were significantly higher in $10{\times}10$ cm planting density plot (p<0.05%). In this study, our findings suggest that SRI should be considered as a new practice for the rice productivity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.426-435
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• 2016

Objectives: The major objective of this study was to analyze stress response after a change to consecutive day shifts from day and night shifts in a motor assembly factory. Methods: Using a survey conducted by a labor union, we collected data on stress response index(SRI), lifestyle factors, work-family conflict and job stress before and after a shift system change. We analyzed the transition on the SRI among 222 workers. The cut-off point for the SRI was a T-score over 60. Results: The high risk stress response group was 20.3% of the population before the shift system change. After the shift system change it decreased to 11.3%. After the shift system change, social support improved, leisure time became more sufficient, work-family conflict declined, and sleep quality in the night shift week improved. In multivariable linear regression, among workers under 40 years old sleep quality on night shift, leisure time sufficiency, social support and work-family conflict contributed to the improvement of stress response. Among workers over 40, work-family conflict contributed to the improvement of stress response. Conclusions: The change to consecutive day shifts improved stress response and mediated with improved nighttime sleep, decreased work-family conflict, increased leisure time and improved work-family conflict.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.266-278
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• 2008

Erythrina stricta, a deciduous tree widely used traditionally in indigenous system of medicine for various ailments such as rheumatism, fever, leprosy, epilepsy etc. The leaves of Erythrina stricta was extracted with ethanol (70%) and used for the evaluation of various in vitro antioxidant assays which includes H - donor activity, nitric oxide scavenging, superoxide anion scavenging, reducing ability, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant activity by thiocyanate and phosphomolybdenum method, metal chelating, $\beta$-carotene bleaching, total peroxy radical assays. The pro-oxidant activity was measured using bleomycin-dependent DNA damage. Ex vivo models like lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte haemolysis were also used to study the antioxidant property of the extract. The various antioxidant activities were compared with suitable standard antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyl toluene, $\alpha$-tocopherol, curcumin, quercetin and Trolox. The generation of free radicals viz. $O_2^{{\cdot}-}$, $OH^{\cdot}$, $H_2O_2$, $NO^{\cdot}$ and peroxyl radicals were effectively scavenged by the ethanolic extract of Erythrina stricta. In all the methods, the extract offered strong antioxidant activity in a concentration dependent manner. The total phenolic content, flavonoid content and total antioxidant activity in Erythrina stricta were determined as microgram (g) pyrocatechol, quercetin and $\alpha$-tocopherol equivalent/mg respectively. The extract did not exhibit any prooxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid. The results obtained in the present study clearly indicates that Erythrina stricta scavenges free radicals and reduces lipid peroxidation, ameliorating the damage imposed by oxidative stress in different disease conditions and serve as a potential source of natural antioxidant.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.3
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• 2015

Pharmacovigilance is the study of the safety of drugs under the practical conditions of clinical usage in large communities. Aim of this study was to assess the pharmacovigilance awareness among a focus group of Ayurveda physicians in Sri Lanka who participated for their postgraduate studies. A questionnaire which was suitable for assessing the basic knowledge, attitude and the practice of pharmacovigilance was designed and submitted among group of Ayurveda physicians (n = 30) who participated for postgraduate studies in Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Among participants30% of the subjects knew the term pharmacovigilance, 20% were aware of the unavailability of the National Pharmacovigilance Program for Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine in Sri Lanka, 70% believe about Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) may be occurred from Ayurveda medicine, 60% indicated that Most labeled counterfeit drugs, inappropriate use and standardization problems as the most important causes of ADRs associated with Ayurvedicdrugs, 70% physicians accepted their ignorance about pharmacovigilance and admitted that there was a need for better training of this subject and 90% admitted that there should be a national pharmacovigilance programme for Ayurveda medicines in Sri Lanka. We strongly suggest that there is an urgent need for a regular training and the introduce ADRs reporting system among the Ayurveda physicians. Also systematic pharmacovigilance programme is essential to build up for reliable information on the safety and effective practice of Ayurveda medicine in Sri Lanka.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2009

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various diabetic complications and small intestine is vulnerable to damage resulting in morphological and functional changes. In this study, the effects of Asystasia gangetica leaf extract (AGLE) on oxidative stress status in small intestine of diabetic rats were examined. The leaves of Asystasia gangetica was extracted with 70% ethanol. Oral administration of AGLE once daily (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days to diabetic rats significantly (P < 0.05) increased antioxidant levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, GSSH, carbohydrate metabolizing enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The increased levels of protein carbonyl content, lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase in diabetic rats were reverted back to near normal levels on treatment with AGLE. Both doses of AGLE offered significant activity (P < 0.01) against oxidative damage and were comparable with standard, glibenclamide. The results revealed the occurrence of oxidative stress in small intestine during diabetes and suggest the potential of AGLE as an antioxidant in protecting the tissue defense system against oxidative damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.