S.P Premaratne | University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (original) (raw)

Papers by S.P Premaratne

Sri Lankan Journal of Banking and Finance

Poverty consists of two types: monetary poverty and multi-dimensional poverty. Monetary poverty i... more Poverty consists of two types: monetary poverty and multi-dimensional poverty. Monetary poverty is measured by determining whether income of a person falls below the poverty line while multidimensional poverty is measured using a method where it measures whether a person satisfies a set of specified basic needs. In 2010, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) in collaboration with the United Nation’s Development Program’s Human Development Report Office developed the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to measure multidimensional poverty under certain assumptions. Applying the Equal Weighting System by taking unit as the household, to compute MPI is one of the important assumptions which needs to be improved. The aim of this study is to propose an unequal weighting system taking unit as the individual to address the research problem of applying the equal weighting system taking the unit as the household. This study makes a significant contribution by offe...

Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

The proportion of the elderly population is increasing rapidly. This trend demands measures and a... more The proportion of the elderly population is increasing rapidly. This trend demands measures and actions that enable elderly people to stay active and self-sufficient as long as possible. However, in cities, elderly people are more vulnerable to climate change, and socioeconomic changes since most city environments are designed to support the working population. Therefore age-friendly living environments and facilities are necessary to promote active ageing. Sustainable cities and ageing populations have been researched widely as separate concepts, but these two have not been researched together. The paper provides a review of empirical research on sustainable cities and urban ageing by giving a special focus on challenges and opportunities for developing countries. The review identifies eight domains in age-friendly cities: (1) outdoor spaces and buildings; (2) transportation; (3) housing; (4) social participation; (5) respect and social inclusion; (6) civic participation and employ...

Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies

This paper aims to investigate consumer choices among different segments of people when purchasin... more This paper aims to investigate consumer choices among different segments of people when purchasing fresh products and it further explores how visual appeal, price, and information play a role in consumer choice. A quantitative study with an online choice experiment was carried out on a convenience sample of 90 respondents. A chi-square test for independence was used to find if the product choice is dependent upon visual appeal and price, a McNemar Test to find if an information nudge can change a consumers' choice, finally, a linear regression analysis was performed to see how purchase decision varies between the segment groups of age, gender, education, income, and household composition. This study reveals that Sri Lankan consumer preferences for optimal products over sub-optimal products. Further, the price (discount) of fresh produce has an impact on the consumers' choice and consumers can be influenced (nudged) to make certain purchase decisions. Moreover, consumers' purchase decisions of optimal or sub-optimal products are not influenced by certain socio-demographics (gender, age, income, household composition). These findings provide an important insight into the choice of fresh produce among for organic produce and offer useful suggestions in designing marketing strategies for that particular product. Further, the study also shows how nudges can be used to make consumers choose better options. This is one of the first studies done in Sri Lanka that looks at consumer choices among different segments of people when purchasing fresh produce. The study has the potential to make an impact in consumer choices in encouraging organic consumption and sets the platform to the broader subject, wastage of fresh produce.

Journal of Economics Development, 2015

It is customary to include all economic activities that are not officially regulated as informal ... more It is customary to include all economic activities that are not officially regulated as informal sector activities. The usual definitions used to distinguish the informal sector from the formal one appear to be problematic or fussy at their edges. This dichotomy is not mutually exclusive as often thought but is in fact interdependent in many respects. It is also argued that informal enterprises often move upwards in a hierarchy of organizational forms and finally end up as formal sector units through vertical linkages. The informal sector provides jobs for very vulnerable lowincome groups in rural and urban sectors while contributing to the GDP immensely in developing countries. This paper critically examines the nature of the informal sector in Sri Lanka and studies the links between the informal sector and its economy. The analysis entirely employs secondary data and information. The findings of the study demonstrate that the domestic (traditional) agriculture and related activities in Sri Lanka are dominated by the informal sector, which in turn is further strengthened by underworld activities. The fear of tax burden, bribes, bureaucratic bungling, archaic rules and regulations, and lack of dividends in formal activities drive many people from the formal sector to the informal one. The informal sector provides jobs and reduces unemployment and underemployment, but in many cases the jobs are low paying and job security is poor. It bolsters entrepreneurial activities, but at the detriment of state regulations' compliance, particularly regarding tax and labor regulations.

Colombo Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Research

European Business & Management, 2017

The study explored how information accessed through Social Capital (SC) affect the improvement of... more The study explored how information accessed through Social Capital (SC) affect the improvement of rational ability of Owner Manager Small Enterprises (OMSEs) in Sri Lanka. Data were collected from 373 Small Enterprises (SEs) located all the Provinces in Sri Lanka, conducting face to face interviews with respondents. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling. The results provided sufficient evidences to conclude that information access through different dimensions of SC (structural, relational and cognitive) have significant positive effects on the improvement of rational ability of OMSEs in Sri Lanka. The empirical results expand the understanding the relative efficacy of SC and rational ability in the context of SEs in a less develop country and deliver an alternative insights for policy makers to develop SEs by creating a conducive environment for strengthening SC of SEs in order to access more information.

Literature on peace building and reconciliation emphasizes the need for stakeholders in all level... more Literature on peace building and reconciliation emphasizes the need for stakeholders in all levels of society to be engaged. Policy makers strategically employ micro entrepreneurship, to economically empower post-conflict communities. Researchers in entrepreneurship have identified 'networking' as important for success. Entrepreneurs lack finance, entrepreneurial competence, marketing, government support and technology. In post conflict regions they also face isolation, division, prejudice, polarization and mistrust. Will these entrepreneurs be willing to work together if they perceive the economic benefits? This paper examines the development of business and social linkages between entrepreneurs in Northern Sri Lanka. The objective of the paper is to identify whether micro entrepreneurs in post conflict communities use their social and business linkages to promote their enterprises. The case study method is used for the study and covers all five districts of the Northern Province. Findings indicate that a majority have commenced after the war as people attempt to regain their livelihoods. The income and investment levels remain low, but they show initiative and commitment to grow. Social relationships are high as opposed to their business linkages that are comparatively low. They depend on networks within their village for obtaining inputs and marketing their products/services. They are active in social and cultural events but hesitant to join business networks. The paper examines five entrepreneurs supported with business development services to expand their markets and collaborate with each other to implement joint activities to develop their enterprises. The understanding of how entrepreneurs collaborate with each other would contribute to the identification of strategies to promote mutually beneficial networks.

Journal of Business Studies, 2021

Journal of Business and Economic Development, 2018

The study aimed to identify the determinants of the technical efficiency of Smallholder Tea Farme... more The study aimed to identify the determinants of the technical efficiency of Smallholder Tea Farmers (STFs) under UTZ certification system in Sri Lanka by employing stochastic production frontier using a sample survey of 75 STFs supported by the UTZ programme conducted between January and March in 2016. The results showed that a small number of STFs (11.8 percent) were over 90 percent efficient and the level of efficiency was found to be negatively related to coefficients of UTZ certified STFs and positively related to number of years with the same plants. The results further showed the labor and fertilizer were the significant factors that determine the tea production of STFs.

The success of small business enterprises depends on informal personal networks. This paper exami... more The success of small business enterprises depends on informal personal networks. This paper examines the impact of the entrepreneurial external resources (information, money and other non-material supports) on small business growth, and argues that entrepreneurial personal networks have an impact on the growth of a small enterprise through the support of external resources. The empirical evidence of the study is based on the extensi ve int er views wi th 325 small business entr epr eneur s in Sri Lanka. The result encourages the net work form ati on approach for the development of sm all enterpr ise sect or apart fr om the tradit ional support ing appr oach.

Market mechanism particularly in developing countries provides asymmetrical information which lea... more Market mechanism particularly in developing countries provides asymmetrical information which leads to Results of multiple case study show that SEs have ability to access low cost, reliable and quick information and information about exchange partners together with their reliabilities using their Social Capital (SC). Such information facilitates SEs to improve their rationality in decision making process. SEs usually get support from network members to assess information which leads to improve the rationality in decision making

Sri Lankan Journal of Banking and Finance

Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies

Journal of Economics Development, 2015

Colombo Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Research

European Business & Management, 2017

Journal of Business Studies, 2021

Journal of Business and Economic Development, 2018

The government has taken several steps to address unemployment problem among youths in Sri Lanka.... more The government has taken several steps to address unemployment problem among youths in Sri Lanka. Many authors have identified entrepreneurial intentions as a mean to better explain and predict entrepreneurship. One strategy is to promote entrepreneurship education and to encourage to start their own enterprises. However, despite of the fact that most of Sri Lankan state universities have initiated entrepreneurship courses in their curricular, little research has been undertaken to examine whether a relationship exists between students taking courses in entrepreneurial development and their intention of becoming entrepreneurs. The objective of the paper is to examine the entrepreneurial intentions of Sri Lankan undergraduates in the state universities.

Given the environmental and economic importance of the lagoon fishery sector, governing and prote... more Given the environmental and economic importance of the lagoon fishery sector, governing and protection of lagoons have been a challenge, especially with increasing populations that put pressure on these natural ecosystems. As a governance measure, the co-management approach was introduced into lagoons in Sri Lanka by the PRACTICAL ACTION in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries. The approach provided a framework through which environmental managers could evaluate the applicability of alternative approaches for governance common property. No study has been conducted in Sri Lanka to examine the new system. This paper examines some of the challenges in the governance of lagoon and the efficient usage of their resources including fisheries, especially of those who have experienced a shift from centralized to co-management approach. It further examines how the co-management system produces maximum sustainable yield (MSY) results.

The article identifies the pros and cons of the Sri Lanka Microfinance Bill 2016 focusing on how ... more The article identifies the pros and cons of the Sri Lanka Microfinance Bill 2016 focusing on how the regulation affects MFIs and their clients. Information for this study was gathered from published documents and papers, and discussions with practitioners and expertise in the field of microfinance and micro and small enterprise sectors. It is not clear whether the authority in Sri Lanka can achieve their objectives by implementing the legislation. Rather than promoting the growth of the micro finance sector and increasing access to financial services for micro and small enterprises and for low income households as intended, the results of the analysis indicate that the passing of the micro finance regulations is more likely to have the opposite effect. The impact of a legislative framework in terms of 'regulatory burden' on the sustainability of development MFIs and the poverty alleviation requires careful thought. The supervisory authority must study the possible areas for inefficiency of the regulatory instruments and regulatory-substitutions, and adverse effects of the regulation on microfinance institutions and their clients.