http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/7389 2026-04-06T19:19:49Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/15391 “OMG! I Quit the Job”: Sexual Bribery and its Impact on Women’s Productive Work Life Udayanga, K.A.S.; Thilini, M.G.; Chamathya, O.A.Y.; Perera, B.N.G.; Batuwanthudawa, S.D.T.; Ruwanpathirana, N.; Bellanthudawa, B.K.A.; De Zoysa, H.L.S. The quality of work life serves as a motivating factor for individuals to fully engage in their professional and personal lives. The Sustainable Development Agenda recognizes the importance of adopting appropriate approaches to promote decent work and work-life balance, ultimately leading to overall well-being. However, gender inequality can hinder women from attaining the happiness they seek in life, as they face barriers to securing productive employment within an unequal environment. Sexual bribery can create an unfavorable environment where women are denied equal access to services and hindered from pursuing productive work lives. This study, therefore, aims to uncover how institutionally ingrained sexual bribery affects women’s ability to achieve a high-quality work life. A case study design was employed, conducting five individual case studies featuring women over 30 years old employed in the public health sector. The study utilizes the Glass Ceiling Effect theory to frame research questions and thematically analyze the collected data. Key findings reveal that the presence of actual or perceived sexual bribery poses a threat to the work environment, jeopardizing feelings of safety and protection from violence. Consequently, women are less likely to seek help or receive support from their peers, leading to a decrease in work productivity. This can also manifest in neglecting certain mandatory tasks in the workplace due to startled behavior. The fear of sexual bribery disrupts the balance between work and family life, resulting in women disconnecting from the workplace and focusing solely on their families. Despite their capabilities and desired professional goals, the fear of actual or perceived sexual bribery prevents women from learning and thriving in their jobs, ultimately diminishing their overall performance within the institution. Gender identity plays a crucial role as an intervening determinant in determining the quality of work life, specifically regarding the subjective evaluation of the value of labor. To ensure fair treatment, women often seek assistance from healthcare and justice systems. However, as highlighted by the findings of this study, the presence of institutionally embedded sexual bribery practices can hinder women from securing a productive work life. 2023-10-12T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/15390 The Market Cult of God Skandhakumara: Consequences of Faith Marketization in Kataragama Shrine De Zoysa, H.L.S.; Udayanga, K.A.S.; Thilini, M.G. Beliefs are the most potent influence on behavior of their adherents. Kataragama inhabitant s lifestyle is deeply rooted in the cult of God Skandhakumara. Numerous social problems were identified in Kataragama such as teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, child labour and prostitution. Anthropological investigations revealed that social problems are ingrained in their daily lives, as they justified as normal occurrences. Therefore, this study investigated why Kataragama residents justify their existential lifestyles, which foster deviant behaviors as part of their daily lives. Near Kataragama shrine, ethnomethodological research including 50 in-depth interviews were conducted in Gothameegama and Nagahaveediya villages. Data was analyzed thematically and narratively. Certain harmful behaviors are recognized as normal and a part of daily life. The belief in the god Skandhakumara has transformed into a commercial commodity. Kataragama dwellers tend to foster an irreligious market landscape, which contradicts accepted religious principles. Their primary source of income is a faith-based economic organization, their cognitive orientation coincides with the connection between religious faith and its market value. These belief systems, rituals and totems create a cult that obscures the economic process within, indirectly fostering social issues. Overall, faith commercialization and the commodification of religious values reshape the cognitive orientation of peasants; promote culturally justifiable but socially unhealthy behaviors. Thus, the Kataragama shrine is viewed as a place of worship, but a cult that influences the behavior of those who depend on the market value of the Kataragama faith. 2023-09-21T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/14962 Social networking and subjective well-being among Sri Lankan youth immigrants in South Korea Udayanga, S.; Chamathya, Y.; Perera, N.G. Labor migration is often seen as a means to offer economic stability to prospective migrants, especially in developing countries. However, the desire for migration becomes less favorable in the absence of the supportive framework fostered by social networks among immigrants. Sri Lankan youth from rural areas who frequently experience financial hardships are being encouraged to migrate to South Korea. This article investigates how social networking influences the subjective well-being of those Sri Lankan labor immigrants in South Korea. In-depth interviews, case studies, and the retrieval of social media data were used to collect data. According to the analysis, the capacity for social networking influences the outcomes of migration. In addition, migration to South Korea has been promoted not as an alternative to existing financial stability solutions, but as a mainstream strategy for enhancing life satisfaction, particularly for young rural men in Sri Lanka. In addition, it is discovered that the host country must provide an environment conducive to the operation of migrant networks. Overall, the article demonstrates that having access to migrant networks is a fundamental element in ensuring the well-being of immigrants. 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/14382 Challenges in Implementing Climate Change Adaptation Policy in Bhaktapur, Nepal: A Case Study on Reluctance to Adapt Perera, B.N.G.; Udayanga, K.A.S.; Thilini, M.G.; Chamathya, O.A.Y.; Batuwanthudawa, S.D.T.; Ruwanpathirana, N.; Bellanthudawa, B.K.A.; Perera, E.C.D. The impact of climate change produces disruptive effects that are unpredictable and context-dependent. The negative impact of climate change on the developing world is severe, and studies indicate that robust and sustainable approaches to resilience are vital for those countries. For example, Nepal, being a land-locked country in the Himalayan region, is often subjected to climate change. Strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of climate-vulnerable communities, such as land-locked areas, would bring about favourable opportunities globally. However, some communities in the developing world encounter difficulties in establishing appropriate adaptation policies. Thus, this study was conducted to understand why people in the most climate-vulnerable communities fail to actively incorporate themselves with such climate change adaptability policies. The case study design was employed, and data were collected through in-depth interviews (n=15, 10 women and 5 men mainly employed in agriculture) and two focus group discussions with individuals who had experienced the devastating impacts of climate change in Bhaktapur, a remote village in Nagarkot, Nepal. Data were analyzed thematically using MAXQDA. The analysis revealed five themes that describe why people in the said vulnerable community are not ready for climate change adaptation. Firsly, people are unaware of the impact of climate emergencies because information about climate change emergencies is not properly communicated to them, and they receive information only through informal sources. Secondly, as a result, particular focus is not given to communities facing such emergencies, in Bhaktapur. Thirdly, people are bound by certain cultural values and traditional normative structures that are not aligned with climate change adaptability programs, making them less likely to change. Fourthly, migration to a another location within Nepal is not considered as a viable solution, since many places in Nepal also experience the same climate change impacts. Finally, despite the strengthening of internal social networks among people (social capital), it is not effectively incorporated into implementing climate change adaptation policy due to inadequate connection with external policy organizations (disparaging linking social capital). Overall, the research found that implementing climate change adaptation policies in the most vulnerable communities can be jeopardized when people are not empowered before the adoption of policies. 2023-08-25T00:00:00Z