Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'National Library of Sri Lanka'

This thesis concerns the theoretical issues that arise in the application of the constitutional model known as the plurinational state, developed through the experience of such Western liberal democratic states as Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom, to non-Western contexts of national pluralism through the case study of Sri Lanka. There are two closely intertwined and complementary objectives to the thesis. Firstly, to provide a fresh analytical and prescriptive framework of understanding and potential solutions to the constitutionally unresolved problem of national pluralism in Sri Lanka that has so far only generated protracted conflict. Secondly and more importantly, to contribute in more general terms to the theoretical literature on plurinational constitutionalism by way of the comparative insights generated through applying the model to an empirical context that is fundamentally different in a number of ways to that from which it originally emerged. In this latter, comparative, exercise, there are three key empirical grounds of difference that are identified in the thesis. Firstly, the difference between the sociological character of nationalisms in the two contexts, defined at the most basic level by the civic-ethnic dichotomy; secondly, the different meanings of democratic modernity in the present, determined by colonial modernity and post-colonial ethnocracy; and thirdly, the differences in the substantive content of democracy as between liberal and nonliberal democracies. The thesis argues that the plurinational state may be adapted to have a role and relevance beyond Western conditions, by addressing the theoretical issues that arise from these divergences. In doing so, it seeks to demonstrate that ethnic forms of nationalism are not necessarily inconsistent with the plurinational logic of accommodation; that an exploration of pre-colonial history reveals indigenous forms of the state that are more consistent with plurinational ideals than the classical modernist Westphalian nation-state introduced by nineteenth century colonialism; and that plurinational constitutions may be based on a broader conception of democracy than political liberalism. Building on these discussions, the principal normative contribution of the thesis is the development of a constitutional theory for the accommodation of national pluralism that is based on the norm of asymmetry, as distinct from equality, between multiple nations within the territorial and historical space of the state.

This thesis constitutes the first critical analysis of representation in the Colombo National Museum. It is also the first museum studies doctoral thesis to emerge from and address Sri Lanka. In addition to outlining the historical and modern day contexts of the Colombo National Museum, its displays are analysed in relation to Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and contemporary cultural diversity. Representation of identities and histories is a complex and potentially sensitive issue in national museums in heterogeneous societies. Displays within national institutions are often subject to criticism as a result. Museums in Sri Lanka started with the colonial establishment of what is now the Colombo National Museum in 1877. Moreover, the country has a convoluted history, particularly since independence, of ethnic tensions and civil war. The thesis delineates the histories and distribution of ethno-cultural and religious groups within Sri Lanka, and indicates interactions and conflicts between them. It also summarises the history of and issues within museums in Sri Lanka. Using a case study approach, the core of the thesis describes and analyses research undertaken within the Colombo National Museum. A databank summarising the numbers of objects affiliated with different Sri Lankan groups, was compiled. Object affiliations were identified through museum ascriptions, archaeological, historical and contemporary data, and the artefacts’ inherent characters of signification. Quantitative analysis of this databank, together with the author’s development of the notion of ‘cultural quality’, was used to critically interpret the permanent displays, producing an assessment of the degree of cultural representation in the museum. The objects in the store collections are also taken into consideration when discussing the fairness of the representation. Through the findings, the author suggests a new display framework potentially applicable to the Colombo National Museum in order to facilitate a more equitable representation of Sri Lanka’s heritages and cultural identities.

Implementing Aquatic Animal Health Management programs is of crucial importance to any country meaning to achieve and maintain the development and sustainability of their aquaculture sector. The initial approach to implementing an efficient Aquatic Animal Health Management program in Sri Lanka will rely on the development of two of its key components, namely aquatic animal disease surveillance, monitoring and reporting and the enhanced coordinated response to aquatic animal disease emergencies. The drafted framework for these two components was built upon the results from surveyed and consulted laboratories and institutions involved in aquatic animal health diagnostics and through two stakeholder meetings in order to achieve general consensus for the proposed components, focusing on maximizing the existing resources for cost efficiency. Initial drafting of a list of diseases of concern to Sri Lanka, concentrating on the diseases affecting major finfish and crustacean cultured species, and the proposed framework for a coordinated, joint approach to aquatic animal disease surveillance, monitoring and reporting will help to describe the aquatic animal disease profile in Sri Lanka, fulfilling international OIE reporting obligations while attempting to determine disease free status and the defining disease free zones, and inclusively ensure the early detection of new exotic diseases. The information generated through the surveillance program will also support applied risk analysis and improved quarantine for imported aquatic animals. Establishing a database for reporting diagnostic findings from surveillance and monitoring, along with the reporting of other routine and quarantine diagnostic findings, is crucial for up-to-date description of the countries aquatic animal disease profile and for the early detection of an aquatic animal disease emergency. Improving the existing arrangements for intervening in an aquatic animal disease emergency is fundamental for successful disease control or eradication, achieved through a much needed here proposed contingency plan for a coordinated response on behalf of the countries institutions and laboratories managing and diagnosing aquatic animal diseases, supervised by a Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources appointed committee of aquatic animal health specialists; Resumo: A implementação de programas de gestão de sanidade de animais aquáticos é fundamental para qualquer pais que queira atingir e manter o desenvolvimento sustentável do sector da produção aquícola de animais aquáticos. A implementação de um programa de gestão de sanidade de animais aquáticos no Sri Lanka deve se apoiar no desenvolvimento inicial de dois componentes fundamentais do mesmo, nomeadamente a “Vigilância, Monitorização e Notificação” de doenças em animais aquáticos e a resposta optimizada a situações urgentes de doença nestas populações seguindo as directrizes estabelecidas num “Plano de Contingência”. A estrutura geral para a implementação destes dois componentes é aqui apresentada nesta dissertação de natureza científica, baseada na informação recolhida através da consulta e avaliação dos laboratórios e instituições envolvidas no diagnóstico de patologias afectando os animais aquáticos e através da realização de duas reuniões com os seus membros mais relevantes. Desta forma pretende-se maximizar os recursos existentes para a implementação destes componentes com o consenso de todos os futuros participantes. O programa de vigilância de sanidade em animais aquáticos terá como objectivo declarar a ausência de doença a nível nacional para um grupo de doenças e, deste modo motivar a exportação de animais aquáticos e seus produtos ou, permitir o identificar de infecções outrora desconhecidas. Desta forma, consegue-se uma descrição mais precisa do estado de saúde das populações de animais aquáticos no país sendo possível declarar a presença ou ausência de doença às autoridades internacionais da Organização Internacional de Saúde Animal- OIE. Para as doenças já estabelecidas nas populações de animais aquáticos, o componente “Vigilância, Monitorização e Notificação” determina que sejam reconhecidas zonas livres de doença para promover a translocação segura de animais a nível nacional e internacional. Inicialmente, redigiu-se uma lista de doenças importantes para o país, passíveis de afectar as espécies de crustáceos e peixes, de acordo com os registos de notificações submetidos à OIE e através da informação recolhida pela consulta local de peritos em sanidade de animais aquáticos. Desta lista foram seleccionadas as doenças para intervenção inicial, com base no potencial impacto da sua incursão nas populações produzidas em aquacultura de crustáceos e peixes, ou que, no caso de estabelecidas no país, possam causar surtos de doença e graves perdas de produção. De seguida, atribuíram-se áreas geográficas a cada laboratório que participará no programa de vigilância, por província e de acordo com a sua proximidade geográfica. A informação gerada pelo programa de vigilância deve ser reportada numa base de dados que servirá igualmente para a notificação de achados de diagnósticos rotineiros ou resultantes das actividades de quarentena. Através desta base de dados é mantido um perfil actualizado do estado de saúde das populações de animais aquáticos, sendo também possível por este meio a identificação e intervenção atempada de situações de doença que requeiram intervenção urgente. A informação gerada pelo programa de vigilância servirá também para a implementação de um programa de análise de risco para as importações de animais aquáticos e seus produtos e o melhoramento das práticas de quarentena. É fundamental para o Sri Lanka melhorar a resposta actual, face à ocorrência de surtos de doença nas populações de animais aquáticos, para garantir o sucesso destas intervenções. Tal pode ser realizado através da formulação de um plano de contingência que, baseado nos procedimentos actualmente legislados, venha a assegurar uma resposta coordenada entre os diferentes laboratórios, com base em metodologias determinadas no programa de vigilância e a assistência de uma Comissão de Consulta para a Gestão da Sanidade em Animais Aquáticos.

Despite the pivotal influence of customer loyalty on retailer performance and profitability, the effect of national culture and industry structure on customer loyalty in grocery retailing has been thinly researched. This PhD is the first to investigate the influence of these factors by examining two culturally and structurally disparate markets; the UK and Sri Lanka. A sequential mixed methods research design was used where a qualitative phase (three focus groups in each country) preceded a large scale survey (n= 550). The preliminary inductive phase generated new knowledge in the absence of adequate existing theory and guided the development of the survey instrument which was used to further investigate the preliminary findings. This study finds that national culture has an indirect influence on customer loyalty via customer service and loyalty programmes. These findings make a significant contribution to theory by challenging the limited existing literature that suggests a direct influence. A direct influence of industry structure is identified in both countries; UK customers are more ‘truly’ loyal to their main retailer and this is influenced by a common focus on quality by retailers. Similarly, greater spurious and latent loyalty is evident in Sri Lanka where customers prefer retailers offering higher standards of customer service and product quality. An indirect influence is also highlighted by the aversion to tracking in the UK and openness in Sri Lanka which reflects the level of loyalty programme maturity and customer familiarity in the two countries. These findings provide the first focused insight of the influence of industry structure on customer loyalty. Findings further highlight that national culture influences customer perceptions of loyalty programme attributes where Sri Lankan customers are more open to tracking and tiered schemes whilst expecting preferential treatment and soft benefits. Whilst supporting the limited existing literature, these findings provide novel insights that will guide future research on the influence of national culture on loyalty programmes. The theoretical framework provided in this study is the first detailed depiction of customer loyalty in relation to national culture and industry structure. This framework will act as a valuable theoretical base when future research is undertaken in this area. From a practical perspective, this research will enable domestic grocery retailers in Western markets to understand how national culture influences customer loyalty, thereby, allowing them to cater to culturally disparate customer segments more efficiently. Similarly, international retailers can obtain a greater understanding of cultural and structural influences when developing their strategies by focusing on key elements such as customer service, product quality and loyalty programmes.

The research investigates in what extent and how communication for meeting feelings is provided in Truth Commission work. It examines if and in what way feelings are addressed in the communication officially published by the Truth Commissions in East Timor, Ghana and Sri Lanka, occurring between 2002-2011. The research is also looking at the healing processes in a time perspective to find out if there is a communication for Societal healing to be continued in a longer term. My conclusion is that two cases of three in my research, the TRCs in Ghana and East Timor, have communication clearly directed to meet feelings caused by the war. One of the three cases (East Timor) has a communication with a clear ambition to heal over a longer period, to continue after the existence of the Truth Commission. The research suggests that communication with a clear ambition to reach out widely in the society, a communication directed to meet and process feelings over a longer period, can make Societal healing more effective. It also concludes that, in the future, Societal healing, as a field in conflict resolution, will be more based on representational media than today, provided through web communication.

This thesis analyses the Tamil minority problem in Sri Lanka in the light of self-determination and state sovereignty. State practice with respect to self-determination is discussed, in particular cases of Aaland Island, Katanga, Biafra and Bangladesh. Historical background, location and composition, as it relates to the Tamil minority problem in the country, are described, and the specific issue of self-determination in the Sri Lankan context of secession is dealt with. The research attempts to ascertain the legal conditions which would warrant secession.
Master of Laws (Hons.)

The aim of the master thesis is to determine factors that contribute to peace settlement of separatist conflicts. It compares two separatist conflicts with different forms of termination. The Indonesian government signed a peace agreement with separatists in province of Aceh and offered them greater autonomy, whereas the government of Sri Lanka decided on military suppression of Tamil separatists. The analysis of the conflicts is based on six factors that are built on the study of Barbara Walter about the concept of reputation building. According to the concept, governments are less likely to go for peace settlement when facing more imperilling separatist groups, seeing that governments have to invest in reputation building. The comparative case study is based on following factors: potential future separatists, value of land currently under dispute, proportion of total population and territory, balance of power between separatists and government, political system with focus on democracy, degree of centralization/ federalism. The evidence seems to be strong that the theory of reputation building does not apply to selected cases because the peace settlement was achieved in Indonesia which has far more potential separatist groups than Sri Lanka. In conclusion, the thesis identifies following factors...