Champika D. Dharmasena

Doctoral Student, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya

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ABSTRACT

In both developed and developing countries across the world, SMEs form an important fragment of the local economic system. In Sri Lanka, for instance SME contribute about 75% percent of businesses and contribute 52% percent of GDP. With the technological development, developed and developing societies are stepping by themselves into an era of a knowledge-based economies, indicating knowledge as the most important capital for all nations to propel socio-economic development. Having understood this fact, successive governments in Sri Lanka have taken various steps, from time to time, to promote this vital sector since independence. But, when analyzing the present contribution of this sector in the national economy, it is clear that the sector has not achieved desired level of contribution when compared with other developed and developing countries in the region. This is because of the lesser opportunities in adapting disruptive innovations by SMEs including agri based SMEs with the knowledge demanding society.  So, there seems to be a vast opportunity for Sri Lanka to harness the opportunity by developing this vital sector through inventing on disruptive technologies. So, the objective of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the disruptive technology in agri based SME sector in Sri Lanka, and to make suggestions for enhancing the technological enhancement of agri based SMEs for a sustainable agriculture development in Sri Lanka.

Keywords: Digital Agriculture, Disruptive Technology, Small and Medium Enterprises

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Wimalana, N.

Doctoral Student, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

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 Prof. Dhammika, K.A.S.

University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Prof. Fernando, W.R.P.K.

 University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka 

ABSTRACT

Leader –Member relationship (LMX) has been identified by many scholars as an antecedent towards the Organizational Commitment (OC) of the employees. Many academics have concluded that OC is the strongest predictor towards employee turnover. This theory has been tested in the Western world but unfortunately very little literature is found in the Asian Context. When you look at more specifically in the Sri Lankan context with a focus on the sales force in the FMCG industry, the theoretical support on the relationships amongst these variables is almost zero. Few research conducted in this arena has identified that the sales force turnover is a critical issue faced by the FMCG industry during the post-war era in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study intended to enlighten the knowledge on the antecedents towards the sales force turnover in the FMCG industry in Sri Lanka with a clear focus on the organizational commitment of the members in the sales force influenced by the leader member relationship. The discussion of empirical thoughts supports the managers in the industry to consider sale force motivation strategies holistically rather limiting to financial perspectives. Paper concluded the future research directions addressing to the key empirical contents discussed. 

Keywords: FMCG, Leader-Member Relationship, Organizational Commitment, Sales Force Turnover, Sri Lanka

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Manoj Jinadasa

University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

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Roshan Priyankara

 Postgraduate Student, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to elaborate some aspects and specificities of different epistemologies in order to facilitate the researcher in determining which epistemology can be effectively applied for their research projects. First, this paper involves with discussing what epistemology contrary to the ontology is. Second this paper describes positivism, post- positivism, realism, critical realism and empirical realism, and Interpretivism as some of the key epistemologies that are used in the research projects.

Keywords: Critical Realism, Empirical Realism, Interpretivism, Positivism, Post- Positivism, Realism

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Bimali Wijesundara

University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

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B.L. Sanjaya Thilakarathne

University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

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ABSTRACT

This paper concentrate on how far commercial banks in Sri Lanka have been adapted to online banking facilities and its impact on brand loyalty among professional customers. The main research objective of the study is to identify the level of influence made by online banking facilities on brand loyalty of the professional customers in commercial banking sector. The findings revealed that perceived value and trustworthiness influence the brand loyalty among professional customers than the customer satisfaction on brand loyalty. This is in line with an empirical study supporting the notion that trust and other security beliefs influence consumers’ intent to purchase goods over the internet and that perception of internet security influence potential purchasing behavior. Bank management can transform their branches with technology to serve their customers better. This could strengthen the bond with customers and make them more committed to continuing to use the online banking services. 

Keywords: Bank Management, Brand Loyalty, Internet Security, Online Banking, Professional Customers

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