Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
Welcome to the University of Moratuwa Digital Repository, which houses postgraduate theses and dissertations, research articles presented at conferences by faculties and departments, university-published journal articles and research publications authored by academic staff. This online repository stores, preserves and distributes the University's scholarly work. This service allows University members to share their research with a larger audience.
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Recent Submissions
item: Conference-Full-text
Bridging the gap: an nlp-based comparative analysis of commerce stream degree and professional qualification curricula in Sri Lanka
(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2025) Fernando, WSR; Kabilashika, T; Gunawardana, A; Ranaweera, U
Selecting a suitable career path is a challenging task for students in Sri Lanka, particularly after the Advanced Level Examination. The student has multiple choices, like pursuing a degree at state universities, professional qualifications, or non-state universities. These decisions are influenced by their cultural backgrounds, peers' opinions, and a lack of knowledge about the skills needed for their desired jobs in the market. This can create a mismatch between the skills that the graduates have, and the skills required by the employers. This study systematically analyses 598 modules from eight state university accounting and finance degrees and compares them with 128 modules from six professional accounting programs. The aim is to identify the similarities, gaps, and opportunities for better alignment. Utilizing Natural Language Processing techniques, especially the Sentence-BERT tool, this study analyzed the module names, descriptions of programs for content similarity, thematic relevance, and alignment with the skills needed in the accounting job market with extracted from 20 job postings. Our analysis reveals that professional programs cover about 92% of the necessary technical and soft skills, while university curricula address only 8%, which derived from semantic skill tag matching, where each module was compared with industry skills using SBERT based similarity scoring. This study offers a roadmap to guide students in making informed choices about their educational paths, based on their career goals.
item: Conference-Full-text
Operationalizing a relationship-centric model of high-performance culture: a conceptual precursor for scale development
(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2025) Gunathilake, GGTY; Jayasooriya, SD
This concept paper advances the conceptualization of High-Performance Culture (HPC) using a relationship-centric model by integrating a newly validated Employee Work Focus (EWF) and a set of established constructs. We first synthesize the literature on culture–performance links, anchoring the selected model of HPC in Denison’s Mission–Consistency–Involvement–Adaptability model and the Great Place to Work (GPTW) trust-based perspective while clarifying distinctions from high-performance work systems. Building on this synthesis and our earlier grounded work, we define HPC as a socially constructed pattern of desired employee–system interactions; indexed by five measurable domains: Focus (employee–job), Accountability (employee–management), Collaboration (employee–colleagues), Subjective Well-Being (employee–ideal self), and Perceived Organizational Support (employee–ideal organization). We then conceptually operationalize HPC by (a) adopting the validated three-factor EWF instrument for the Focus domain, (b) borrowing established items for Collaboration, Accountability, POS, and SWB from widely used scales, and (c) assembling a content validity matrix that maps items to sub-dimensions and theoretical rationales. Finally, we outline a rigorous scale development plan for constructing an integrative HPC instrument. The contribution is twofold: (1) a theory-consistent conceptualization of HPC as a relational construct, and (2) Providing an operational foundation for its future empirical measurement.
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Innovative energy recovery system design for locomotives: advancing technology management for sustainable rail transportation
(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2025) Madhumal, HKKK; Subasinghe, LU; Jayasekara, JGAS; Sapumanage, NC
In Sri Lankan railway, dynamic braking energy from Diesel-Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs) are currently wasted as heat, unlike electrified railways around the world, which recover and reuse this energy. This research proposes to design an innovative and sustainable system to harvest and reuse dynamic braking energy in S14 DEMUs operating on the upcountry railway line, planning to reduce operational costs and support environmental sustainability. Based on past research studies, energy losses during a 20-hour round trip from Badulla to Colombo were estimated around 3.5 MWh. Braking intervals and energy peaks were analyzed to identify optimal energy recovery points. A Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery system was selected for its proven safety, reliability and feasibility in transport applications. The suggested innovative design integrates a 1 MWh battery pack, capable of utilizing dynamic braking energy, primarily during the downhill section. The stored energy is then reused to power up the auxiliary systems during the return journey. This solution provides significant economic benefits. Over a 10-year period of battery lifetime, each train could save more than Rs. 87 million and reduce diesel consumption by approximately 550,800 liters. These savings not only reduce fuel costs but also reduce carbon emissions, contributing to a greener, more sustainable rail transport system. This novel system's expansion over the upcountry railway fleet could have a multiplied positive impact on the economy and environment. The results show that innovative energy recovery in non-electrified railroads is both economically feasible and ecologically sound.
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The Impact of FinTech adoption and green banking practices on bank sustainability performance: green financing as a mediator
(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2025) Suruthishagaran, S; Munasinhe, MADMO; Rajakarunanayake, S
This study explores the influence of FinTech adoption and green banking practices on the sustainability performance of banks in Sri Lanka, with a particular focus on the mediating role of green financing. It seeks to address the research gap related to the interaction between digital transformation and sustainability in the Sri Lankan banking industry. This study uses a positive research approach and a survey-based methodology to gather data from 250 managerial-level staff members of Sri Lanka's systemically important institutions. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is used to examine the gathered data in order to evaluate the connections among green banking practices, FinTech uptake, and sustainability performance. The findings reveal that both green banking practices and FinTech adoption significantly positively influence bank sustainability performance. Moreover, green financing serves as a mediator in these relationships, amplifying the effects of green banking and FinTech adoption on sustainability outcomes. The study offers valuable insights for Sri Lankan banks, urging them to integrate FinTech and green banking practices into their operations to improve sustainability. The findings suggest that green financing is crucial for supporting sustainable projects for attracting socially responsible investors and enhancing bank performance in line with sustainability goals. This study is among the first to examine the combined effects of green banking, green financing, and FinTech adoption in Sri Lanka. By extending the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory and offering strategic advice for financial institutions operating in emerging economies, it adds to the body of knowledge in academia.
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Applications of sustainable practices in maritime logistics sector
(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2025) Silva, CMUD; Kavirathna, CA
Maritime logistics is a cornerstone of international trade, yet the transition toward sustainable operations remains difficult, especially in developing and emerging economies. Although many global studies discuss green technologies and regulatory initiatives, there is still limited understanding of how these ideas are implemented in regions of the Global South and what obstacles they face. Typical challenges include high capital requirements, fragmented or unstable regulatory environments, and insufficient infrastructure to support sustainable technologies. This study conducts a systematic examination of how sustainable practices are applied within the maritime logistics sector. It pursues four objectives: (1) to identify and classify the barriers that influence the application of sustainable practices; (2) to map the indicators used to evaluate the extent of sustainability adoption; (3) to review trends and descriptive patterns in the implementation of sustainable practices; and (4) to uncover major research gaps in the existing literature. A systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, covering 43 peer-reviewed publications issued between 2015 and 2025. The review shows that financial constraints, technological and operational limitations, and regulatory issues are the most frequently reported barriers to sustainable practices in maritime logistics. It also highlights key performance indicators such as reductions in carbon emissions, improvements in energy efficiency, and the uptake of renewable energy as central measures of sustainable performance. Moreover, the findings point to an increasing emphasis on digitalization, cleaner energy solutions, and other green technologies, particularly in large port settings. Overall, the study offers an integrated picture of current sustainable practices in maritime logistics and outlines directions for future research aimed at strengthening the sector’s transition toward more sustainable operations across different regions.