http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/122 2026-06-04T13:23:05Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/12698 Title: Green Finance and Rural Entrepreneurship Development: Evidence from Sri Lanka on the Mediating Role of Perception of Green Finance Authors: Tharshiga, P.; Vijayakumaran, R. Abstract: Green finance has emerged as a central policy and financial tool for promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, particularly in rural economies dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Rural entrepreneurs in post-conflict and agrarian regions such as Jaffna District, Sri Lanka, face structural constraints in accessing formal finance and adopting sustainable business practices, thereby limiting the effectiveness of green finance to financial availability alone. This study examines the relationship between green finance and rural entrepreneurship development in Sri Lanka, with a particular focus on the mediating role of green finance perception among rural entrepreneurs in Jaffna. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was adopted, with primary data collected via a structured questionnaire from 152 rural entrepreneurs (out of 200 distributed) across divisional secretariat areas in Jaffna. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) employing a two-step approach encompassing measurement model and structural model assessment. The results demonstrate that green finance positively influences rural entrepreneurship development both directly and indirectly through perceptions of green finance, with a total effect and an R² of 0.62. Green finance strongly shapes entrepreneurs’ understanding, trust, and valuation of environmentally oriented financial products, while perceptions of green finance have a substantial positive impact on entrepreneurial development. The mediation analysis confirms that perception functions as a critical behavioural channel through which green finance translates into entrepreneurial outcomes, indicating that financial resources alone are insufficient to drive sustainable entrepreneurship without accompanying awareness, trust, and understanding. By providing context-specific empirical evidence from a post-conflict and environmentally vulnerable region, this study contributes to the literature on green finance and sustainable entrepreneurship and offers policy-relevant insights for designing inclusive, perception-driven green finance initiatives that support rural development. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/12697 Title: Liquidity Risk and Asset–Liability Dynamics in Sri Lankan Licensed Commercial Banks Authors: Tharshiga, P.; Subramaniam, V.A. Abstract: The study examines the relationship between asset–liability structure and liquidity risk in Sri Lankan commercial banks. Unlike prior South Asian banking studies, this study specifically focuses on Sri Lanka’s licensed commercial banking sector, leveraging its monthly data frequency and extended sample period to capture both post-global financial crisis and post-Easter Sunday attack structural dynamics, thereby offering a differentiated empirical contribution. Liquidity management is a critical aspect of banking sector stability, particularly in economies where banks play a dominant role in financial intermediation. The primary objective of this study is to analyse how lending behaviour, funding structure, and balance-sheet adjustments influence liquidity risk over time. For analysis purposes, it employs monthly balance sheet data from commercial banks spanning January 2010 to December 2023, covering a long observation period. Liquidity risk is measured using the loan-to-deposit ratio as the primary balance-sheet-based indicator, capturing funding liquidity risk. This measure is preferred over regulatory proxies such as the LCR and NSFR, given data availability over the full sample period. Key explanatory variables include the loan-to-deposit ratio, borrowing dependence, and loan growth. An autoregressive distributed lag modelling framework is adopted to capture both short-run dynamics and long-run equilibrium relationships among the variables. ARDL is selected over VAR/VECM given the mixed order of integration among variables, confirmed by unit root tests. Seasonality and structural breaks in the monthly data are addressed through appropriate dummy variables. The potential for reverse causality between loan growth and liquidity risk is acknowledged and addressed through the ARDL framework's lag structure and robustness checks. The empirical findings reveal that liquidity risk exhibits strong persistence, indicating gradual adjustment following shocks. Lending expansion and rapid credit growth are found to exert immediate pressure on liquidity conditions, while subsequent adjustments reflect banks’ balance-sheet rebalancing. Borrowings are shown to provide short-term liquidity support; however, their lagged effects indicate increased vulnerability, suggesting that reliance on borrowing as a liquidity management strategy is not sustainable in the long run. The long-run results confirm the existence of a stable equilibrium relationship between liquidity risk and bank balance-sheet characteristics. The study highlights the importance of prudent asset–liability management in maintaining banking sector liquidity. The findings provide policy-relevant insights for bank managers and regulators, emphasising the need for balanced credit growth and stable funding structures to enhance financial stability in Sri Lanka. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/12426 Title: Impact Of Micro Finance On Women’s Empowerment Evidence: From Anuradhapura District In Sri Lanka Authors: Tharshiga, P.; Chandrasena, H.M. Abstract: The present study aims to analyse the impact of microfinance on women’s empowerment in the Anuradhapura District of Sri Lanka. For the analysis purpose, microcredit, micro savings, and microinsurance are the measures of microfinance that serve as independent variables influencing women's empowerment, which is measured by decision-making power, income generation, education, health, and well-being. Guided by Empowerment Theory, the research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 150 women beneficiaries selected through stratified random sampling across three divisional secretariats: Madawachchiya, Mihinthale, and Rambewa. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the structural relationships between microfinance services and empowerment dimensions. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the women beneficiaries of the microfinance program across three divisional secretariats: Madawachchiya, Mihinthale, and Rambewa. The study's findings reveal that microfinance plays a significant and positive role in improving women’s empowerment. Among the microfinance components, microcredit and micro savings emerged as the key drivers, enhancing financial independence and household decision-making. The findings emphasise that while microfinance facilitates economic empowerment, persistent socio-cultural and institutional barriers limit women’s full autonomy. The study highlights the importance of integrating financial services with financial literacy and social inclusion programs to ensure sustainable empowerment outcomes. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and development agencies seeking to strengthen gender-responsive microfinance frameworks in Sri Lanka. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/12416 Title: Understanding Behavioural Intention Toward Cryptocurrency Use Among Gen Z in Sri Lanka Authors: Mithila, G.; Lingeshiya, K.; Attygalle, S. Abstract: Cryptocurrency has emerged as an influential element within global digital finance. However, adoption patterns differ across countries. This study investigates behavioural intentions of Generation Z users in Sri Lanka to adopt cryptocurrencies by applying the Technology Acceptance Model. The model incorporates perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, trust, and awareness as key determinants of intention. A quantitative survey of university students was conducted, and responses from 261 participants were analysed using established statistical techniques. The results indicate that all four factors have a significant positive effect on behavioural intention, with trust emerging as the strongest predictor. The model explains a substantial proportion of the variation in intention, demonstrating the importance of both technological and psychological drivers in shaping adoption behaviour. The findings emphasize the need to improve user awareness, strengthen trust in digital financial systems, and enhance usability and perceived value of cryptocurrency platforms. These insights offer practical implications for policymakers, educators, and industry practitioners aiming to promote responsible and informed adoption of cryptocurrency technologies in emerging market contexts. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z