|
|
|
From the Coordinator's Desk
Over the
past fifteen months Sri Lanka Studies Network has accomplished
humble yet remarkable achievements. We circulated six issues of the
SLSNET Newsletter. Many of our colleagues found the newsletter as
informative and it as a facilitator for dissemination of news and
valuable ideas.
The network continued to support the 10th ICSLS organizers to make that
event a success by hosting the
10th ICSLS homepage at the initial phase and later functioning as
a mirror site of the conference homepage at the University of Kelaniya
website. In 2004, we organized Leonard Woolf Memorial International
Conference at the University of Ruhuna which showed remarkable
success.
Network activities are currently steered by the National Advisory
Committee for the two previous conferences and steps are being taken to
establish the network as a formal institution. SLSNET will begin a new
initiative for indexing all doctoral thesis/ dissertations done on
social science disciplines on topics related to Sri Lanka.
I take this opportunity to thank you all and I promise that the future
would be brighter and also solicit your invaluable corporation in
carrying out and developing activities in the future. I reierate from
my inaugural words " our doors are always open".
[
Back to Top ]
|
|
|
|
SLSNET Activities Update
[ * ] SLSNET
PhD Dissertations Project
SLSNET has initiated a new activity to document and index all PhD
theses/dissertations based on social science related research on topics
related to Sri Lanka. This exercise will bring together to a
single place all related work and will facilitate further dissemination
of results. More details will be available at the Sri Lanka Studies
Network Homepage shortly.
[ * ] SLSNET
New Website Address
In
December 2005, Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Resources Homepage
(SLAGECONR), the hosting website of SLSNET acquired a new domain name http://www.slageconr.net/ and
also upgraded to an ad-free website. This change will help
quicker access and also avoid distractions making visits to the
site more effective. As a result website address of SLSNET has
now changed to http://www.slageconr.net/slsnetindex.html.
SLAGECONR was initially launched in 1999 to function as an information
site for agricultural economists. In 2000, the website made an
outstanding contribution to the science of Sri Lanka by making the Sri
Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics (SJAE), the first academic
journal based in Sri Lanka to offer full-text access online.
[
Back to Top ]
|
|
|
|
| In
Search of Excellence
[ * ] Top
Asian Social Science Universities
According
to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2005, twenty
two Asian universities are among the top 100 social science
universities in the world. Four of them, Indian Institute of
Management, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Malaya and
Mumbai University moved to the top hundred list only last year.
According to the list, National University of Singapore ranks 13
among top 100 social science universities and shows the highest rank
among Asian universities. Indian Institute of Management
(rank 17 with a tie with Monash University) leads the five
South
Asian universities and Jawaharlal Nehru University reports the rank 51.
http://www.thes.co.uk/worldrankings/
[ * ] Coconut
Research Institute of Sri Lanka Homepage
The Coconut Research Institute of
Sri Lanka (CRISL) is a part of Sri Lanka’s National Agricultural
Research System. It is the first ever research institute
established in the world to conduct research on coconut. CRISL
recently launched a new homepage that places it in the lead among all
other research institutes in Sri Lanka. The website is an example the
use of appropriate web technology. The design is simple yet
elegant and provides information of the institute’s services and
publications as well as a list of contacts of its staff.
CRI Homepage: http://www.cri.lk/
[
Back to Top ] |
|
10th ICSLS Update
The
10th ICSLS was held from 16th to 18th of December 2006. Dr. K.
Karunatilake of the University of Kelaniya coordinated the conference
with the support of local and national organizing committees and the
international advisory committee. The conference had three
plenary sessions and thirty-eight contributed paper sessions.
Organizers received 230 abstracts of which 183 were presented.
Hon Susil Prem Jayanth, Minister of Higher Education of Sri Lanka was
the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. At the
plenary sessions, Jan Nederveen -Pieterse , Professor of
sociology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA spoke
on " Empire and Emancipation: power and liberation on a world
scale"; Dr. Shrikant Y. Ramani on "How Goa Resisted
Culturally for 500 Years: Local Indian Culture in a Harsh Environment"
, while Dr. Susantha Goonatilake, Fellow of the World Academy of Arts
and Sciences, on "Sri Lanka from 500 years of Western
dependence to an Asian future".
Scholars gathered at the 10th ICSLS business meeting reviewed the
progress of the activities since the 9th ICSLS and also discussed in
detail about the future activities. 10th ICSLS is a landmark
achievement in social sciences in Sri Lanka as it was entirely
sponsored by funds generated by sri Lankan sources. 10th ICSLS
abstracts will be available through the Sri Lanka Studies Homepage
shortly
[
Back to Top ] |
|
Social
Sciences in Sri Lanka
[ * ] Social
Scientist becomes SLAAS General President
Dr. K.
Lochana Gunaratne was elected as the 62nd General President of the
Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science ( SLAAS) for the
year 2006. He is seventh SLAAS general president from social
sciences section. Dr. Gunaratne, a geographer and a town planner by
profession earned his PhD in geography from the University of Colombo.
He was the president of the SLAAS/Section-F in 1996 and actively served
in many SLAAS committees and also hold the office of the secretary
international relations. He is a past president of the town planers
association of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects.
[ * ] Sri
Lanka National Library and Documentation Center Thesis and
Dissertations Acquisition Project
Sri Lanka National Library and
Documentation Center has started a new initiative to acquire
theses/dissertations by Sri Lankan scholars for PhD/M.Phil or MLS
(Master of Library Science) degrees. The program covers all academic
disciplines including social sciences. Work should be authored by a Sri
Lankan based on research at any university in Sri Lanka or abroad. The
subject should be
relevant to Sri Lanka. Only work after 1980 will be accepted..
The NLDC will make a payment of 5,000.00 SLR to cover costs of
reproduction.
For more details please contact:
Head/Acquisitions Division,
National Library and Documentation Centre (NLDC)
14,
Independence Avenue
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka.
Tel. 094 11 2685200, 2698847
E-mail : acq@mail.natlib.lk
Website Address: http://www.natlib.lk/
[
Back to Top ]
|
|
Young Researchers’ Corner
[ * ] New
Route PhD
The
NewRoutePhD™ is a national initiative within the United Kingdom to
equip PhD students with the skills they need to pursue successful
careers as leaders in universities, companies, government or the public
services. The program aims to provide doctoral students with the
highest quality of taught materials and practical experience alongside
advanced research. This integrated approach offers students a learning
environment to broaden and deepen subject knowledge and
professional skills while providing the opportunity for
interdisciplinary study to extend their expertise in new directions.
NewRoutePhD™ has the full support of the UK government and many
other key supporting bodies. The program meets academic quality
standards and the principles laid down by the Quality Assurance Agency
of the UK, including normal quality assurance mechanisms such as
assessment hurdles and the provision of external examiners. Many
research students find this program as a landmark in the provision of
education excellence.
Find more at: http://www.newroutephd.ac.uk/
[ * ]
Christian-Albrechts University of Keil in Germany: International
Doctoral Program in Quantitative Economics
This three-year full-time program
offers high level post graduate education with an aim to prepare for
academic careers or leading positions in government or business. The
program offers a comprehensive set of courses in core areas of
economics in the first year followed by a project leading to the
dissertation under the guidance of renowned scholars in the second and
third years.
Language of Instructions is English. There are no tuition fees. A
limited number of scholarships to cover living expenses is also
available.
Application Deadline: 30th April 2006
Application forms and more details at: http://www.bwl.uni-kiel.de/phd/index.php
[ * ]
Association of Commonwealth Universities: Course Finder
Association of Commonwealth
Universities is a network of academic institutions in the member
countries of the Commonwealth. These institutions come together
voluntarily under the umbrella of the ACU to build on their historical
links, shared traditions and common purposes in order to further
international understanding and collaboration.
ACU Course Finder provides the links to help students identify courses
and areas of study at its member universities. Nearly 500 universities
in 30 separate countries are included in this release of ACU's Course
Finder.
ACU Homepage: http://www.acu.ac.uk/
[ * ]
National University of Ireland Galway Scholarship Program for Sri Lanka
The
National University of Ireland at Galway International Scholarship
Programme provides a number of postgraduate scholarships for
outstanding students from South Africa and Sri Lanka, who would
otherwise be unable to finance their studies in Ireland. Priority will
be given to applicants who demonstrate that the knowledge they acquire
from their studies will be utilised subsequently to support development
in the students’ home countries.
The scholarship amount will be up to €15,000 for one academic year
towards the cost of travel and accommodation. In addition, relevant
tuition fees will be awarded by NUI Galway. Selection criteria will be
based on academic merit and financial need.
Applicants should complete a postgraduate application form,
downloadable from the web-site;
http://www.nuigalway.ie/admission/postgrad/postgradforms/
Applications should be received on or before April 30th.
For more details visit: http://www.nuigalway.ie/international_affairs_office/fees/scholarships.html
[
Back to Top ] |
|
Resources for Researchers
[
* ] Sociological Research Online
Sociological
Research Online is a peer reviewed journal with a focus on theoretical,
empirical and methodological discussions which engage with current
political, cultural and intellectual topics and debates. Articles in
the journal apply sociological analysis to a wide range of topics in
order to demonstrate the value and relevance of sociology today.
Beginning in march 1996, the journal functions as an electronic
journal and also contains an on-line debating forum that
encourage the rapid exchange of arguments following publication.
Issues are published quarterly, on the last day of the respective
quarter. It is available through institutional subscriptions or
free of charge to those who are unable to subscribe.
http://www.socresonline.org.uk/home.html
[ * ] South
Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies
South
Asia is a refereed journal with the mission to provide a forum for
scholarly research, comment and discussion on the history, society,
economy, culture and international relations of the South Asian region
from the earliest times to the present day.
The journal
is published three times a year by Ruthledge for the South Asian
Studies Association of
Australia. There are two general
issues and one thematic issue per year. The journal is currently
edited
by Ian Copland of the Monash University. It is available in print as
well
as online.
For more information visit the journal homepage: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/00856401.asp
[ * ] Sri
Lanka Country Study by the US Library of Congress
SRI
LANKA: A COUNTRY STUDY is an online versions of a book from a series
previously published (1988-98) by the Federal Research Division of the
United states Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area
Handbook Program.
The publication attempts to treat in a concise and objective manner the
dominant social, political, economic, and military aspects of Sri
Lankan society. Sources of information included books, scholarly
journals, foreign and domestic newspapers, and numerous periodicals.
Chapter bibliographies appear at the end of the book, and brief
comments on some of the more valuable sources recommended for further
reading appear at the end of each chapter.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/lktoc.html#lk0000
[
Back to Top ] |
|
Teaching
and Learning Resources
[
* ] Webbook of Regional Science
Based on the Regional Research Institute of the West Virginia
University, the web book of regional sciences consists of seventeen
online books on various social science subjects.
Authored by leading professionals from universities and research
centers across the world, this is a valuable resource for both teachers
and practitioners. Aimed primarily at upper level undergraduates,
graduate students or practitioners, publications are categorized based
on the relevance to methodological and empirical studies or policy and
practice oriented contributions. Topics range from analysis of land use
changes o spatial econometrics.
The latest addition to the Web Book is Poverty, Inequality and
Social Justice in Nonmetropolitan America, by Don Albrecht, Professor
of Natural resource and environmental sociology at the Texas A&M
University.
http://www.rri.wvu.edu/regscweb.htm
[
Back to Top ]
|
|
Organizational Profile
[ * ] Sri Jayawardena Pura
University of
Sri Lanka
University
of Sri Jayawardenapura is the successor to the Vidyodaya Pirivena, one
of the two leading higher education institutes of the pre-independent
Sri Lanka. The university has since expanded into new areas and
introduced new nationally relevant subjects as criminology and
estate valuation and management among others into the curricula.
It is now considered as the leading center of excellence in management
studies in the country.
At present there are around 7,000 students. Faculties of Applied
Sciences, Arts, Management Studies and Commerce, and Medical
Sciences concentrates on undergraduate studies. Faculty of Graduate
Studies and Post Graduate Institute of Management concentrates on
graduate education.
http://www.sjp.ac.lk/index.htm
[ * ] British
Association of South Asian Studies
South
Asia Institute at University of Texas at Austin is one of the eleven
National Resource Centers for South Asia funded by the US Department of
Education. Formerly known as the Center for Asian Studies,
the mission of the SAI is to foster understanding and exchange with
South Asia which is becoming increasingly influential in the global
affairs in terms of culture, economics and politics. The Institute is
currently headed by Professor James Brow , Professor of social
anthropology who is specializing on Sri Lanka.
SAGAR is an annual journal sponsored by the SAI. The journal includes
faculty and graduate research methodology, reports from the field, and
book reviews.
South Asia Institute Homepage: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/southasia/
SAGAR (South Asia Graduate Research) Website: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/southasia/publications/sagar/
[ * ]
European Association for South Asian Studies (EASAS)
The
European Association for South Asian Studies (EASAS) is a professional,
non-profit organization of scholars engaged in research and teaching
concerning South Asia with regard to all periods and fields of study.
The objectives of EASAS are to support and promote South Asian Studies
in all countries of Europe. The activities of the association are
governed by a board consisting mainly of elected members. The board is
expected to represent the diversity of subject areas and regional
specialization. EASAS secretariat is located in the Netherlands.
EASAS organizes bi-annually the European Conference of Modern South
Asian Studies.
EASAS Homepage: http://www.iias.nl/host/easas/
[
Back to Top ] |
|
Conference Announcements
[ * ] 9th
Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological
Economics (ISEE)
The
Ninth Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological
Economics (ISEE) will be held in New Delhi,
India from the 15th to the 18th of December 2006. The main theme of the
conference will be 'Ecological Sustainability & Human Well-Being’.
The conference is held in collaboration with The Indian Society for
Ecological Economics (INSEE)
The conference is being organized in the South Asia for the first
time and expects to discuss pertinent ecological issues
faced by the South Asian nations and wil also be an occasion for
young researchers from South Asia to meet colleagues
from other parts of the world.
Last date for abstract submission: July 31, 2006
Further details can be found at the conference website http://www.isee2006.com
[
Back to Top ]
|
|
| New Publications on Sri Lanka
[ * ] The
Institutions of Ancient Ceylon from Inscriptions Volume II, Part II
Economic and Religious Institutions (from 831 to 1016 AD)
Author: Lakshman S Perera
Prepared for Publication by Sirima Kiribamune and Piyatissa
Senanayake
xlix + 348pp
Published: December, 2005
Publisher: International Center for Ethnic Studies
The final part of the three-volume work of an exhaustive study of the
gradual evolution of the island's institutions (political, economic and
religious) beginning from the 3rd century BC to 1016 AD, i.e., the
Anuradhapura period of Sri Lankan history. This path-breaking
dissertation on which it is based was the first to use epigraphical
sources in writing the history of ancient Sri Lanka. Equally important,
the author's interpretations of the institutional structure in his
dissertation on early Sri Lanka continue to be part of the current
historical debate in the country and many of his insights have still
not been challenged.
Details at: http://www.ices.lk/publications/inscriptions_vol2_part3.shtml
[ *
] Woolf in Ceylon: An Imperial Journey in
the shadow of Leonard Woolf 1904-1911
Author: Sir Christopher Ondaatje
328 pages
Published: November , 2005
Publisher: HarperCollins (Canada) Ltd
ISBN: 0002007185 (HB) 0006395252 (PB, in Press)
This book opens up a new space for re-evaluating the career of Leonard
Woolf. Ondaatje pays rare attention to Woolf as a narrator and a master
craftsman who turned his own experience as a colonial bureaucrat into
one of the most compelling works of fiction ever to be produced about
the British Empire. (From author’s website)
Book homepage: http://www.woolfinceylon.com/
Amazon UK : http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0002007185/026-3873675-5418817
[ *
] Attaining the Millennium Development Goals in Sri
Lanka
Published
by the World Bank, this report finds that, the success of the
country in achieving millennium development targets is based on five
key criteria. They are maintaining strong growth, ensuring education to
all, health and nutrition, infrastructure. The report draws the
need for addressing the inter-regional disparities of
development.
The report has six chapters and related data appendixes. Can be
downloadable at:
Can Be downloadable at: http://www.worldbank.lk/
[ *
] Pollution Control in Industrial Estates in
Sri Lanka: Private Sector Participation for Sustained Environmental
Performance
Authors:
H.M.B.S. Herath and R.P.L.C. Randeni
Publisher: International Development Research Center
This report is an attempt to incorporate the methods of private sector
participation in environmental pollution control activities. Based on a
research supported by Environment Economics Program for South East
Asia, and conducted by practicing environmental economists.
http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-43181-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
[
Back to Top ]
|
|
SLSNET Newsletter
is a quarterly publication of the Sri Lanka Studies Network.
Website Address: http://www.slageconr.net/slsnetindex.html
( c) Sri Lanka Studies Network Secretariat
Department of Sociology,
University of Ruhuna,
Matara – 81000
Sri Lanka
E-mail: srilankastudies@slageconr.net
[ * ] Contribute to the SLSNet Newsletter
Please send contributions for the next issue by 01st April 2006.
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
[
Back to Top ] |
|
|
 April 2005_files/visit.gif){kind=small}
