http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/5659 2026-04-08T19:56:13Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2256 Title: Youth Participation in the Informal Labour Market: The Case of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka Authors: Balamurali, N.; Dunusinghe, P. Abstract: Informal economy (IE) plays a major role in employment creation, production and income generation while the formal sector of the country cannot absorb all the labour force of the country. More than 70 per cent of Sri Lanka's labour force is employed in the informal sector (Arunatilake, 2010). This study aimed at assessing the nature and characteristics of IE with reference to youth employment in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. We extracted data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) of four years from 2011 to 2014, conducted by the Department of Census Statistics of Sri Lanka. This study was started with the research problem with the notion that, Larger share of employed youth in the Northern Province engage in Informal Economy. Hence, the researcher wanted to identify 'the characteristics of youth who engage in the Informal Economy in the Northern Province'. According to this study, Contribution of IE in the Northern Province continuously declines during the last four years. In addition, the share of IE among female youth declines faster than males during the study period. However, IE still plays a significant role as 43.9 per cent of employed youth participate in the IE in the Northern Province where it is 35.2 per cent in the country in 2014. Except the Mannar district, all the other districts in the Northern Province show the decline in the share of IE during the period from 2011 to 2014. As the level of education increases, participation of youth in the informal sector decreases and this is opposite for formal sector. IE increases as age increases. Particularly it is relatively higher among the youth who are between 25 to 29 years old. Skilled agricultural and fishery workers; Craft and related workers; Plant and machine operators and assemblers; and Elementary occupations are the four dominant economic activities of the informal workers. This study found that although IE plays an important role in reducing unemployment rate, the economic condition of informal workers is lacking behind formal workers. Poor level of education, Poor economic strength, Physical and Mental incapability, Absence of vocational training, Gender deprivation etc. are some causes that make a larger workforce to engage in IE. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2255 Title: Variability Assessment of Morphological Characteristics of Selected Sri Lankan Traditional Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties Authors: Bandara, M.M.K.; Herath, H.M.V.G.; Wickramasinghe, H.A.M. Abstract: Rice is one of the most studied plants due to high genetic variation and being the major food for more than half of the world population. Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties are rich in genetic diversity and important characteristics. Before studying the genetic background of characters, a preliminary study on morphological characters is needed. This study was aimed to evaluate variability of selected Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties with respect to morphological characters. Seeds of 24 Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties and IR64 were selected. A pot experiment with complete randomized bock design was used and five replicates were prepared. Fifteen characters were measured using standard evaluation system for rice and descriptors for rice, published by International Rice Research Institute and analyzed by multivariate analyzing tools using principal component analysis (PCA) and single linkage cluster method provided by IBM SPSS 16.0 statistical software. Selected rice varieties were grouped into 5 clusters at 15 minimum distance between clusters. Cluster I comprises twenty one varieties and other four clusters comprise single variety in each. Clustering of 21varieties (Goda heenati, Thawalu, Al wee, Goda el wee, Pachchaperumal, Godamanel, Goda wee, Kottiyaran, Kara el, Batapola el, Pokkali, Hetada wee, Moddai karuppan, Vannam villai, Kalu heenaty, Sudu heenaty, Pola el, Kalu bala wee, Kahatawalu, Dahanala and Niyan wee) into one cluster shows the homology of the varieties. Clustering of IR64, Gonabaru, Rathl and Ma wee in different clusters indicates their significant difference from cluster I. Five principle components (PCs) were identified as significant according to PCA. They account for 79% of total variation. PC1 accounts for 30% and PC1 and PC2 together account for 51% of variance. Selected varieties show a significant difference according to the clustering pattern. Out of descriptors used in this study, significant descriptors of PC1 to PC5 can be used to differentiate selected varieties. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2254 Title: Trend analysis of Annual and Seasonal Rainfall Data of Kilinochchi Authors: Haranrajah, J.; Thushyanthy, M.; Srivaratharasan, T. Abstract: Rainfall is a scarce and an important hydrological variable in dry zone areas. The need for water in these areas increases daily due to population growth, economic developments, and urbanization and consequently, water management using all the available resources is becoming increasing crucial. In order to develop an effective water management strategy for Kilinochchi, trend analysis of annual, monthly and seasonal rainfall is important. Hence the objective of the study was selected as trend analysis of annual, monthly and seasonal rainfall of Kilinochchi district. Monthly rainfall data of Killinochchi district from 1921 to 1981, 1999 to 2007 and 2012 to 2014 was collected from the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka. Altogether 73 years of data were used in this analysis. The annual total rainfall in Kilinochci is normally distributed. The average value of rainfall was 1372 mm and there were no cyclic changes or linear trends observed during the study period. The highest rainfall of 2132 mm and the lowest value of 574 mm were observed during 1965 and 1974, respectively. The trend suggests a fluctuating and general decline in rainfall values in recent times over the study period but not significant. Results of the dependable rainfall and probability of exceedance of 80% rainfall was positive in the months of January, March, April, May, October, November and December. This value ensures that on average, there will be enough water to meet the crop's need four out of every five years during the above months. Trend of moving average of 3-Point for annual rainfall, first inter monsoon, Southeast monsoon, second inter monsoon and Northeast monsoon showed negative trend and the modal was not significant in all cases. The logarithmic model was fitted for the relationship between return period and rainfall amount for annual, first inter monsoon, Southwest monsoon, second inter monsoon and Northeast monsoon. Overall Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) values that lied on the dry event symbolize a significant increasing trend where as all SPI values that lied on wet events have shown an overall decreasing trend. The result of the analysis could be used for water management strategies. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2253 Title: The Suitability of (MOAAS) for Small Scale Agro Enterprise Development in Sri Lanka Authors: Fernando, W.H.R.E.; Hitinayake, H.M.G.S.B.; Widanapathirana, C.U.; Kotagama, H.B. Abstract: One of the constraints associated with the general farming community of Sri Lanka is inability of farmers in adapting to the volatile market situations. Market oriented Agricultural Advisory Services (MOAAS) are knowledge based prediction systems that is successfully used in many countries as effective advisory services in strengthening the peasant farmer to identify and cater the market need, considering current market pattern with multiple approaches, focusing the development of overall production chain through securing new markets. This preliminary study intends to develop an operational tool using simple linear mathematical programming to predict commercial information to use it as supportive equipment for MOAAS to assess the use and suitability of MOAAS under practical farming operations based on a randomly selected small groups of small scale farmers from four areas of Sri Lanka. MOAAS was used to find the best crop animal combination with the lower and upper limits, reduced cost, allowable increase and decrease, practical alternative agricultural options. Farming activities were intensively studies to compare the commercial aspects of the venture before and after the programme was implemented and to evaluate the progress. It was concluded that the MOAAS programme offered promising results in cost reduction and increasing the average income per unit. The results show that the MOAAS programme can be continued with improvements suggested, expecting positive outcomes. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z