Project Reports
http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1362
2024-03-28T20:35:38ZPoverty Reduction in Sri Lanka Evaluating the Impact of Public Policy with Reference to the Samurdhi Programme
http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1374
Poverty Reduction in Sri Lanka Evaluating the Impact of Public Policy with Reference to the Samurdhi Programme
Fernando, R. Lalitha S
Poverty in developing countries, if not addressed urgently, could be regarded as a
violation of human rights and a denial of the most basic needs of the poor. How to reduce
poverty is the most pressing issue of the development community, Sri Lanka has no
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excuse. Even though, Sri Lanka has implemented various poverty alleviation programmes
for last several decades, the incidence of poverty still exists. "Samurdhi programme" is
another major effort introduced by the previous government of Sri Lanka, aiming at
ensuring the country's prosperity through poverty reduction, job creation and
development of human resources among the poor. Since 1996, this programme IS
considered as one of the major national development policies of the country. To date the
prog~amme has completed the io" year of its operation. In order to accelerate the
effectiveness and efficiency of the programme, an evaluation at the participant level
rather than aggregate level would provide more detailed picture of both successes and
drawbacks of the programme. This research is an effort to examine the effectiveness of
the Samurdhi programme in terms of its intended objectives at the participant level.
Main objective of this study is three fold; to find out whether the Samurdhi
programme has achieved its intended objectives, to find out what benefits and changes that
the beneficiaries actually have received and to discover any success or drawbacks of the
programme. The Quasi-Experimental type design was used for the evaluation of the
Samurdhi Programme. Two groups were compared in this approach, one having being
exposed to the programme and the other have not been. If the exposed group shows a
significantly higher incidence of the desired condition or behavior, it is assumed to be
attributable to the programme. In this regard, the data was gathered from a sample consisting
of two hundred ten Samurdhi beneficiary families and another two hundred ene families
from non-beneficiary group selected from ten villages in Panadura Divisional Secretariat in
Kalutara District. The success of the programme was measured in terms of the relationship
among the objectives of the programme and its performance.
The data was analyzed mostly by using both quantitative and qualitative descriptive
methods to examine whether there was any improvement have achieved by the Samurdhi
beneficiaries than non-beneficiaries. The Chi-Square test was also used to examine any
significant difference attributed to the beneficiary group. The study revealed that even the
income level, consumption level and the living standard of the Samurdhi beneficiary families
have been increased, these cases are of limited in number. Majority of the selected families
still depend on the Samurdhi benefits and remain in poor. The study concluded that the
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Samurdhi programme has not been achieved its.jndented'tobjectives at a satisfactory level.
Any poverty reduction policy needs a multiple approach in which several activities such as
delivering cash benefits for improving their consumption, empowering and awakening the
poor community could be envisaged. In this respect, the theory behind the programme could
be considered as good, as a multiple approach, in which attempts to get the poor involved in
to the participative mechanism with a component of community development, but is bad in
practice due to various drawbacks revealed by the study. By recognizing its major
drawbacks, finally, the study proposes policy measures to increase the effectiveness of the
poverty reduction policy in Sri Lanka.
2014-01-02T06:04:25ZDeterminants of Managerial Innovation in University Administration in Sri Lanka
http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1368
Determinants of Managerial Innovation in University Administration in Sri Lanka
Fernando, R. L. S.
Universities as higher educational institutions are expected to playa crucial role in
shaping and developing human resources required for the development process in
a country. Universities are expected to provide employable graduates who must
possess the required knowledge and skills with positive attitudes. Thus, providing
quality graduates would be one of main purposes of any university. The
government of Sri Lanka provides education facilities from grade one to the
university level and the total expenditure incurred for the education has been
provided from the General Treasury. In this context, the education is imparted free
of charge for students. This situation has long been contributed for empowering
nation's human resources. The government of Sri Lanka allocates 2.08% ofthe GDP
(Gross National Product) (Central bank of Sri Lanka:2009) to maintain the entire
education system (the school and the university education). However, lack of
financial resources is one of main constraints being faced by State universities. This
situation is severely affecting on the student performance. Even though, there
remain financial and other constraints, authorities of the state universities could not
reduce or terminate the expected service delivery. Under this situation University
authorities face several difficulties in implementing their plans and in achieving
their targets. However, this paper argues that despite the financial and other
constraints, university administration has to find alternatives to achieve its
intended objectives. As an alternative, this study also argues that if the authorities of
the university perform in innovative ways in managing their educational
programmes, that would lead to improve the quality and the relevance of the output
of the universities leading to more effective and efficient administration. Thus, this
study examines the utility of innovation theory in university administration in Sri
Lanka.
The study attempts to answer several research questions; 1) What would count
"innovation" in the university administration? 11), What is the level of innovation
in the university administration?, 111). What are the factors affecting innovation in
the university administration? and iv). What can be done to improve innovation in
university administration in Sri Lanka?
Both quantitative and qualitative data have been utilized to address the research
questions posed in this study.
For the qualitative data, a purposive sample of 20 administrators was selected to
explore innovative practices initiated by them. The sample was selected based on
mainly a reputed snowballing technique. Descriptive analysis was undertaken to
answer the research questions posed in this study.
For the quantitative data, a random sample consisting of 166 (coordinators, heads,
and deans) of the public universities in Sri Lanka was selected. Both descriptive and
inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
The findings confirmed that innovation is possible and already functioning within
the university administration. Innovation in university administration means
introducing and implementing systems of management by using new ideas to
improve efficient and effective degree programs, departments or the faculties. The
respondents' assessment of behavioral patterns of managerial innovation indicates
a higher level. The study presents several innovative practices initiated by the
selected university administrators which have potential benefits to the universities
in terms of students and the university as a whole. Nearly 60 percent of the sample
responses are in the scales of strongly agree to support for innovative behavior.
The study identified that the administrators' motivation to achieve is the significant
determinant of the managerial innovation in the university administration. This
factor alone explains nearly 20 % of the variance of managerial innovations in the
university administration. The other determinants are; supportive environment,
support ofthe external environment, skillful human resources, and the
administrators' age. These factors altogether explain nearly 37% of variance of the
dependent variable. The in-depth interviews also confirm the research findings
except the age of administrators. In contrast to the quantitative data analysis, the
in-depth analysis reveals that the factor, "administrators' age" does not seem to be a
problem. More experienced administrators involve in innovative activities with
much confidence. Improving efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of the educational
programmes are the direct benefits of the innovation. Based on the findings of the
study, policy measures are proposed to improve innovation in the state university
administration in Sri Lanka.
2014-01-02T05:46:22ZAn Evaluation of Criteria for Planned Community Resettlement in Sri Lanka, Social, Physical and Economical Impact Assessments from Resettlement Projects in Hambantota District
http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1363
An Evaluation of Criteria for Planned Community Resettlement in Sri Lanka, Social, Physical and Economical Impact Assessments from Resettlement Projects in Hambantota District
Perera, T G U P
2014-01-02T05:36:08Z