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Tsunami Response Continues
[
* ] Sri Lankan academic
community continued to be active in responding the post-tsunami
rehabilitation and reconstruction need of the nation. Activities
undertaken were multi-faceted and involve collaboration with the civil
society and with academic institutions in other countries. Studies
using multi-disciplinary approaches as well as using tools available in
specific disciplines were conducted. Seminars and workshops
facilitated learning from the experiences and sharing the
knowledge to establish the best practices in post-tsunami
reconstruction. To mention a few; academics from the University of
Peradeniya conducted a post-tsunami run-up height survey and related
that with the policy implications of the proposed coastal buffer zone;
Geo-informatics Society of Sri Lanka convened a meeting in February to
learn about tsunami experience; EUSL continued to undertake studies on
impact and appropriate measures for rehabilitation and reconstruction;
IWMI conducted a livelihood impact assessment in Hambantota district
and, the University of Ruhuna hosts a workshop " Impact of the Tsunami
& Post-Tsunami Recovery in the Southern Region of Sri
Lanka" in April.
Visit for More Information:
[ * ] Eastern University of Sri
Lanka-Information Center on Tsunami
Disaster Homepage: http://www.eusl.info/
[ * ] Ruhuna University- Center for Relief
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Studies (CRRRS)
Homepage: http://www.ruh.ac.lk/tsunami/crrrs.html
[ * ]
University of
Peradeniya Post-tsunami Run-up Height Survey
http://www.civil.pdn.ac.lk/academicstaff/Tsunami/Tsunami.htm
[ * ]
Proceeding of Geo-informatics Society of Sri Lanka
Sympoium " Tsunami in Sri Lanka: Genesis, Impact and Response "
http://www.pgia.ac.lk/GISNatSym/tsunami_book/book_tsunami.htm
[ * ]
International
Water Management Institute Report " Bringing Hambantota Back to Normal"
(in PDF) http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/tsunami/pdf/Formatted_Final_tsunami_report_30-03-05.pdf
[ * ]
2004 Tsunami
Disaster - Scholarly and Factual Analyses
Available at: http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVLPages/AsiaPages/Tsunami-Analyses.html
Edited by Dr T. Matthew Ciolek, this document is a part of the Asian
Studies WWW Virtual Library that can be accessed at: http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVL-AsianStudies.html.
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In
Search of Excellence
[ * ] Story of Vangari Maathai: Nobel Peace Price
winner 2004
Professor Vangaari Maatahi of Kenya was awarded the Nobel Peace Price
in December 2004. She was the first African woman to receive this
honor. Thirty years ago Maathai linked trees to the declining
state of the environment and guided rural women in Kenya to grow trees
as a solution for immediate nutritional needs, wood for energy and
checking the environmental decline. Since then her Green Belt Movement
has planted tens of millions of trees in Kenya and also inspired
similar movements in other parts of Africa. Her movement empowered
women and this in turn led to a larger mission to create a society that
respects democracy, decency, and adherence to the rule of law, human
rights and rights of women. Maatahi believes that this understanding
made people to think that poor and irresponsible governance cause
environmental degradation and gained their support to the pro-democracy
movement within the Green Belt Movement that joined with the larger
pro-democracy movement in Kenya.
(Extracted from IFPRI Forum, December 2004: http://www.ifpri.org/)
Read the press release from Nobel Foundation. http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/2004/
Nobel Foundation Website: http://nobelprize.org/
[
* ] Sri Lankan researcher tops in a
nine-country competition
Ajith Samarajeewa, a researcher from Coconut Research Institute, Sri
Lanka, won the first place as
the team leader in a nine-country competition on
innovative approaches in using coconut based farming systems for
poverty alleviation. The competition was a part of the research
program implemented jointly by Asian Development Bank and the
International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR). The program
included three sub themes as improving income, diversifying products
and conserving farmers’ genetic resources. Samarajeewa and his team
conducted the research in three locations in Sri Lanka and the site in
Dodanduwa was adjudged as the best research site in all participating
countries.
[ * ] Rohana Mahaliyanaarachchi appointed Vice
Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University
Dr. Rohana Mahaliynaarachchi was appointed the Vice Chancellor of the
Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Known for achievements in a
relatively short period of time despite his non-conventional
beginnings, Mahaliyanaarachchi had his initial university training in
the Eastern Europe and began his career at Tea Small Holdings
Development Authority. After earning his PhD from the University of
Peradeniya in 1996 Mahaliyanaarachchi joined the newly established
Sabaragamuwa University. He quickly rose from the head of agri-business
management to the dean of agriculture and was instrumental in bringing
the university to larger masses as the director external examinations.
Mahaliyanaarachchi is a former secretary of the SLAAS/ Social Sciences
Section.
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10th ICSLS Update
10th ICSLS organizers invite papers from
a wide variety of fields such as; anthropology, archeology,
architecture, culture and society, defense studies, demography,
development studies, economics, education, ethnic studies,
environmental studies, fine arts, gender studies, geography, history,
information science, languages and literature studies, management
studies, media studies, philosophy, political science, psychology,
religious studies and sociology.
Deadline for submission of abstracts is 30th June 2005
10th ICSLS Conference Brochure is now available. E-mail Dr. K.
Karunatillake kkaru@kln.ac.lk indicating your postal address to request one.
For more details visit 10th ICSLS Homepage http://www.kln.ac.lk/10thicsls/index.html
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Social Sciences in Sri Lanka
[ * ] Peradeniya honors Sanderatne’s contribution
to Science in Sri Lanka
University of Peradeniya conferred Dr. Nimal Sanderatne the degree
Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in December 2004. Sanderatne’s
involvement in social sciences in Sri Lanka is well beyond his
substantive career as a researcher at the Central Bank of Sri
Lanka.. In mid sixties, he
taught agricultural economics at the Vidyalankara University and was
the Founder Secretary of the Ceylon Agricultural Economics Society.
Sanderatne has chaired the NSF Working Committee on Social Sciences and
was a member of the Standing Committee on Social Sciences of the UGC.
He was also a president of the Sri Lanka Association of Economists and a
president of SLAAS/Section-F.
[ * ] Gamini Samaranayake Appointed Vice
Chancellor of Rajarata University
Professor Gamini Samaranayake was recently appointed as Vice Chancellor
of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. A well-known researcher with
experience over thirty years, Samaranayake’s research concentrates on
revolutionary movements in Sri Lanka. Admired by students on his
approachability and empathy he was the Senior Treasurer of the
Peradeniya University Students’ Union for several years including the
period of resurrection of the student unions after the late 1980s
disturbances.
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Conference Announcements
[ * ] SLAAS
Call for Abstracts
61st Annual Session of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of
Science will be held from 12th to 17th December 2005. Last date for
submission of abstracts is 20th June 2005. For more details refer
the SLAAS Website: http://www.nsf.ac.lk/slaas
[ * ] PGIA
17th Annual Congress
Seventeenth Annual Congress of the Post Graduate Institute of
Agriculture will be held on 24th and 25th of November 2005. Over the
years the event has gained recognition as an international forum for
presenting post-graduate research findings in agricultural sciences.
Research papers based on graduate level work on agricultural
social sciences and allied fields including, agricultural
economics, agriculture-environment interactions, rural sociology,
poverty alleviation, marketing of agricultural products etc may be
submitted before 31st June 2005.
For more details refer the PGIA Website: http://www.pgia.ac.lk/congress/callforpapers.html
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Young Researchers’ Corner
[
* ]
SSRC-South Asia Fellowships
Social Science Research Council of the US has announced its 2005/06
competition for South Asia Fellowships. The theme for this year is”
Long 50s”. Deadline for application: 20th May 2005.
Visit SSRC-SARN for more details: http://sarn.ssrc.org/sarfp/sarfpindex.shtml
[ * ] SLAAS Post Graduate Publications Award
Post
Graduate Publications Award recognizes the quality of research
conducted at Sri Lankan universities for post graduate degrees. SLAAS
members who present their research work at the SLAAS Annual Sessions
will be eligible for application for the competition in the
following year. Last date for submission of applications is 18th June
2005. Contact Hony. General Secretaries/SLAAS for more
information:
Telephone: 94-11-2688740
[ * ] South-South Exchange Program for
Research on History Development
SEPHIS offers fellowships for researchers with not more than five years
of experience from their doctoral degrees and employed by institutions
in developing countries. Fellowships are tenable for periods from three
months to two years. Eligibility criteria include publications in
peer-reviewed international journals.
Research
students enrolled for PhDs in the universities in the south are
eligible for grants from one to three years.
For more
information visit: http://www.iisg.nl/~sephis/htm/sephis_grants.htm
[ * ] Richard Carley Hunt Postdoctoral
Fellowships
Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research is a private
non-profit organization with major goals in advancing basic research
and to build an international community of anthropologists. The
foundation offers Richard Carley Hunt Postdoctoral Fellowships to aid
the write up of research findings. Scholars must be within ten years
from the receipt of the doctorate. Application deadlines are 1st May
and 1st November.
The
foundation also offers dissertation fieldwork grants
and post PhD research grants. Grants are offered on merit basis without
considering the nationality or institutional affiliation.
For more details: http://www.wennergren.org/programsirg.asp
[ * ] Alexander von Humboldt Research
Fellowships
The scheme aims to provide highly qualified early career postdoctoral
researchers to conduct research at a German host institution. Selection
is based on internationally published previous research of the
applicant and the quality and feasibility of the research proposal.
Applications can be submitted any time directly after agreeing with a
German host on research stay arrangements.
For More Details: http://www.avh.de/en/programme/stip_aus/stp.htm
[ * ] British Chevening Scholarships
These awards are funded by the Foreign and the Commonwealth Office of
the British Government and administered by the British Council.
Scholarships are available for talented and young scholars from other
countries for postgraduate studies or research at the higher education
institutes in the UK. It is expected that the skills gained would
benefit the respective countries. More details on eligibility and
application guidelines are available at: http://www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-education-british-chevening-scholarships.htm
or at the Chevening Webite: http://www.chevening.com/
[ * ] Queen’s University of Belfast: Post
Graduate Research Scholarships
Faculty of Legal, Social and Educational Sciences of the Queen's
University of Belfast Northern Ireland has established new awards
for research studentships leading to PhD studies in social sciences.
Awards are expected to create opportunities for scholars from
developing countries. Subject areas include, politics and international
studies; law; sociology and social policy; education; social work and
management and economics.
Last date for application is Friday 29th April 2005.
For more details visit: http://www.qub.ac.uk/faculties/FacultyofLegalSocialandEducationalSciences/Studentships/
Faculty of
Legal, Social and Educational Sciences Homepage : http://www.qub.ac.uk/flses
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Resources for Researchers
[ * ] International Network for Access of
Scientific Publications/ Program for the Enhancement of Research
Information
Program for Enhancement of Research Information (PERI) is a program
implemented by INSAP. PERI aims to support capacity building in
developing and transitional countries by strengthening the production,
access and dissemination of knowledge. PERI is a part of International
Network for Access of Scientific Publications (INSAP) INSAP’s vision is
that all people must have access to and to contribute to information,
ideas and knowledge necessary to drive sustainable and equitable
development. Its programs provide people who are otherwise
deprived of access to information. INASP supports information
creation, sharing and access through networking and capacity building
of individuals and organizations. PERI provides nation-wide access to
online information resources including full-text access to scientific
journals. Your institution might be already a part of PERI or
would be eligible. Discuss with your librarian.
For more information: PERI Home Page: http://www.inasp.info/peri/index.shtml
and browse for PERI Country Page Sri Lanka
INASP Home Page: http://www.inasp.info/info/index.shtml
[ * ] SLAAS GRC Award
for Research Excellence
This objective of
this annual award is to recognize long tem contribution by an
individual researcher to the science in Sri Lanka. Nominations or
applications from potential individuals should reach SLAAS on or
before 15th June 2005.
[ * ] The Sri Lanka Journal
of the Humanities
The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities is a bi-annual issue of the
University of Peradeniya. It is devoted to the publication of articles
based on original research in the Humanities and the Social Sciences,
which pertain mainly, though not exclusively, to Sri Lanka. SLJH
is one of the successors to the University of Ceylon Review (1943-67)
and was known as the Ceylon Journal of the Humanities (1970-71) before
assuming its present title. All submissions are scrutinized by at least
two referees. Potential contributors should send two copies of their
manuscripts to the editor with their names appearing on the title page
only. Since it publishes articles from several disciplines, SLJH does
not prescribe a single style—excepting the use of footnotes, rather
than endnotes. Any major style is allowed but the MLA format is
recommended. Articles and other communications submitted for
publication and all correspondence relating to editorial matters should
be addressed to:
The Editor,
The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities,
c/o the Department of English,
University of Peradeniya,
Peradeniya-20400
Sri Lanka
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Teaching
and Learning Resources
[
* ] Public Library of Science
Open Access Publishing ensures free flow of scientific information to
the beneficiaries. This practice has gained increasing popularity
in the fields such as medicine and is yet to be popular in social
sciences. Public Library of Science (PLoS) aims to make world’s
scientific and medical literature a public resource. Run as a
non-profit organization the venture provides scientists with
high-quality, high-profile journals while ensuring standard peer review
procedures and high quality editorial and production standards. Under
the open access model PLoS makes all published works immediately
available online. Full content is freely available and can be
redistributed without restriction.
Learn more about the initiative: http://www.plos.org/
[ * ] WWW Virtual Library
WWW Virtual Library is guide to scholarly resources on the internet . Variou internet site are
indexed by broad subject categories and are netwoked. Entrie are
quality controlled by editor of respective subjects. Resource are
hosted by institution across the globe.
Main site of the WWW Virtual Library is at: http://vlib.org/AlphaVL
WWW Virtual Library:
Asian Studies http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVL-AsianStudies.html
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SLSNET Technology Corner
[ * ] Electronic
Theses and Dissertations
Networked
Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) is an
international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption,
creation, use, dissemination and preservation of electronic analogues
to the traditional paper-based theses and dissertations. The
organization has 30 effective (active) members, 144 associated members.
Members include universities, university consortia, national libraries
and university departments. Full theses and dissertations from
several participating institutions are available through Open Public
Access Catalogues (OPAC).
http://www.ndltd.org/
National Library of Australia Preserving Access to Digital Information
: http://www.nla.gov.au/padi/topics/232.html
Digital Library and E-Scholarship Portal ( Indian Electronic Dissertations Project )
http://www.vidyanidhi.org.in/statics/about_us.asp
[ * ] Itrainonline:
Online sharing of Internet Knowledge
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is increasingly
becoming an integral part of teaching and learning, Itrain is a joint
venture by seven partners to pool each others expertise to efficiently
addresses the needs of ICT learners and trainers. The initiative
aims to assist users in the South to confront the challenges posed by
new information and communication technologies. Itrain believes that
while there is abundant information on IT on the web, locating high
quality and appropriate resources that best suits the needs of the
organizations in the South is difficult. Itrainonline is
committed to free and fair sharing of development information.
Visit Itrainonline: http://www.itrainonline.org/
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Organizational Profile
[ * ] Univerity of Kelaniya
The direct successor to the Vidyalankara
Pirivena, one of the leading center of traditional higher learning in
Sri Lanka (established in 1875), Kelaniya University has five faculties;
humanities; commerce and management studies; science; medicine; and social sciences
that involve in undergraduate level teaching and in research. The
Faculty of Graduate Studies, Post Graduate Institute of Archeology; and
Post
Graduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies involve in graduate
level research and training. Institute of Aesthetic Studies and Gampaha
Wickramarachchi Ayurvedic Institute are also affiliated to the
University. Today, University
of Kelaniya is the home for 7000 undergraduate and 500 postgraduate students. The university reaches a large segment of the society through
its external degree program
in which there are 25000
registered students.
University of Kelaniya Homepage: http://www.kln.ac.lk/
[ * ] American Association for the Advancement of Science
Established in 1848, the American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest scientific society. AAAS
history over the last 150 years is interwoven with the growth of
science in the United States. Working towards the mission “
seeking to advance science and innovation throughout the world for the
benefit of all people” the Association’s activities are organized
around 24 sections that represents all branches of science. It has
120,000 individual and institutional members and has 262 affiliated
societies and academies of science. AAAS publishes weekly, “
Science” the peer-reviewed general science journal that records the
largest paid circulation and with an estimated readership of one
million people.
Visit AAAS Website: http://www.aaas.org/
[ * ] East-West Center
The East-West Center located in Hawaii, United States, conducts programs of cooperative study,
training and research. The center provides opportunities for
professionals and students from Asian region and the US to study and
work together on research to better understand the issues of common and
critical concern and to explore mutually beneficial ways of addressing
them. The center offers, interdisciplinary research programs,
dialogues and professional enhancement programs and educational
programs to develop human resources needed in a new era of increased
interdependence.
Internet Address: http://www.eastwestcenter.org/
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New Books on Sri Lanka Studies
[ * ] Caste, Class and Social Conflict in Sri
Lanka
Kulaya, Panthiya Ha Lankawe Samaja Getum (Publication in Sinhala)
Kalinga Tudor Silva (University of Peradeniya)
The book points
out to caste and class factors underlying the ongoing ethnic conflict
in Sri Lanka.
Published: 2005
Publisher: Visidunu Publishers
Lake Road, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka
Telephone: 94-11-2518682
ISBN: 955-9170-76-7
viii + 197 PP
Author: Prof.
Kalinga Tudor Silva is Professor of Sociology at the University of
Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
[ * ] Kingship, Kingdom and Religion:
C 3BCE to C 3AD
Rajyathvaya, Rajyaya ha Agama (Publication in Sinhala)
Ven. Hanguranketa Dheerananda (University of Peradeniya)
The book is based on literary and archeological research on the
relationship between the religion and the kingship in Sri Lanka during
the period, C 3BCE to C 3AD. Adopting a multifaceted approach the
book offers a detailed and scholarly review of the interwoven and
indissoluble relationship between the religion and the kingship and its
effects on the contemporary Sri Lanka society. It describes the origins
of kingship, and kingdom, its developments and the relationship with
the religion.
Published: 2004
Publisher: Ariya Publishers
Budhhist College Mawatha. Warakapola, Sri Lanka
Telephone: 94-35-2267769
ISBN: 955-553-388-1
xx + 534 PP
[ * ] Economics and
Politics of Water Resource Development: Udawalawe Irrigation Project
Sri Lanka
F Molle and M Renwick
IWMI Research Report 87
The report describes the progressive development of the Walawe River
Basin in southern Sri Lanka and evaluates using economic methods the
costs and benefits of water resource development. Attempts are made to
integrate values generated by fisheries, homegardens and other
non-agricultural uses to those of agriculture.
Published: 2005
vi + 68 PP
ISBN: 92-9090-584-0
Publisher: International Water Management Institute
Available on the WWW as PDF: http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/pubs/pub087/Report87.pdf
[ * ] Two New additions to the
Regional Heritage Series of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The series offers an indispensable guide to visitors and also useful to
serious scholars on the culture and the present status of important
religious, cultural and natural attractions in regions of Sri Lanka.
Heritage of Rajarata: Major Natural, Cultural and Historic Sites
Chandra Wickramagamage
Published: 2004
Publisher: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
ISBN: 955-575-095-7
xxx + 324 PP
Heritage of Kandurata: Major Natural, Cultural and Historic Sites
H.A.P.Abeywardana
Published: 2004
Publisher: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
ISBN: 955-575-093-0
xxxii + 397 PP
[ * ] The Evolution of
an Ethnic Identity : The Tamils in Sri Lanka C 300BCE To C 1200 CE
K. Indrapala
The book is an attempt to describe the process of evolution of
Tamils in Sri Lanka as a group with separate ethnic identity. The book
argues that the process has completed by the time of 12th Century
AD.
Published: 2005
Publisher: MV Publications for The South Asian Studies Center, Sydney
ISBN: 0-646-42546-3
xiv + 400 PP
Author: Dr. Karthigesu Indrapala taught history at the University of
Peradeniya (1960-1975) and was the Foundation Professor of History in
Jaffna University, Sri Lanka
[ * ] Paradise Poisoned:
Learning about Conflict, Terrorism and Development from Sri Lanka’s
Civil Wars
The study- carried out over nearly twenty years - employs rigorous
political and economic analysis and a multi-disciplinary engagement of
the systemic linkages between development, governance, and civil
conflict. The author traces ten development failures that spawned
conflict and terrorism in Sri Lanka, and he proposes a comprehensive
prevention strategy summarized in ten key imperatives.
Dr. John Richardson is Professor of International Development in
American University's School of International Service and Director of
the University's Center for Teaching Excellence.
Published:
2005
Publisher:
International Centre for Ethnic Studies
ISBN: 955-580-094-4
764 pages
http://www.paradisepoisoned.com/
http://www.ices.lk/publications/launch_paradise_poisoned.shtml
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SLSNET Newsletter
is a quarterly publication of the Sri Lanka Studies Network.
( c) Sri Lanka Studies Network Secretariat
Department of Sociology,
University of Ruhuna,
Matara – 81000
Sri Lanka
E-mail: slageconr@yahoo.com
[ * ] Contribute to the SLSNet Newsletter
Please send contributions for the next issue by 15th June 2005.
Comments on
the contents of this newsletter and suggestions for further
improvements are welcome.
[Disclaimer]
Compilation and editing of this newsletter was done with best possible
care to present readers updated and relevant information.
Responsibilities on the content of the indicated websites remain with
respective website managers.
[Production Credits]
SLSNnet Newsletter
compiled by : Dushmanthi Silva/ Sri Lanka Studies Network Secretariat
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