http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5577 2026-05-12T15:09:02Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5826 Knowledge, technology and complexity in economic growth Rajapakse, R.M.G. Overcoming challenges in the next decade is a highly appropriate theme that should be addressed in relation to the Island’s current economic situation. Ricardo Hausmann, The director, Center for International Development and Professor of the Practice of Economic Development, Harvard Kennedy School of Government and José Domínguez, Professor of Structural Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Seville, recognize that the application of complexity science tools allows for the better understanding in the fields of economics that will gear a nation towards both social and technological development1. The application of scientific knowledge for technological developments enables forecast future trends in the global economics and to take necessary steps towards catering for future demands. Overcoming challenges in the next decade is a timely and highly relevant theme that should be addressed in relation to the Island’s current economic situation. The wealth of a country depends mainly on the correct and visionary political decisions taken to progressively improve economy in a reasonable timeframe such as a decade or more. The ad hoc and abrupt decisions taken without proper studies over a three quarter of a century have completely ruined the economy of our country pushing it towards poorest countries of the world despite its wealth of experts with diverse knowledge, talents and capabilities, and genuine desire to contribute it towards national development. Sri Lanka can be a knowledge hub earning through knowledge-based economy. Additionally, the scientific knowledge can be converted to innovative products with advanced technological developments that can be patented. The number of patents produced in Sri Lanka needs to be drastically increased and either the patents can be sold or be converted to commercial products. Sri Lanka is blessed with diverse natural resources such as high-quality minerals and varieties of endemic flora and fauna. In our research, carried out over the last three and half decades, we have been working on adding enormous value to mundane local minerals yet the minerals are still exported in their raw form without any value addition. 2022-03-02T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5824 Engineers mimicking Reinforcement Learning in the Brain Prins, N.W.J.A.L. 2022-03-02T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5820 Wet Clay Crusher Machine for Tile Manufacturing Industries Sajarupan, T.; Witharana, D.W.K.M.; Ganege, H. Tile manufacture is a leading developing industry in Sri Lanka. A tile is manufactured using ceramic, stone, metal, baked clay, or glass. It is commonly used to cover objects such as roofs, floors, walls or tablets and it has great demand in markets. Clay important material for making porcelain and ceramic tiles. When using clay, the clay needs to crush for a specific scale. There are several clay crushing machines available in markets such are traveling breaker plate mills, high tonnage hammer mills, pulverisers, impact dryer mill and others. The existing machines facing issues in crushing wet clay. The machines get sticky, and it reduces the machine efficiency. The machines need additional labour support to remove all the sticky clay from the machines. The wet clay crusher machine is proposed to the title manufacturing industries for increase efficiency, reduce production costs, and reduce maintenance costs. The proposed machine has two types of special shafts. Two shafts with ratchet wheels, it’s placed bottom of the machine and a block shaft is placed on top of the ratchet wheel shafts. Ratchet wheels use to crush the clay. Block shaft uses to push the clay into the middle of the ratchet wheel shafts. These shafts are rotating by a three-phase motor. The motor connects to the shafts through a gearbox. There is a gearbox for reducing the motor speed and increasing torque. The mechanical design avoids the sticky problem. The rates of the clay crushing process are significantly higher more than labour-power. The final shafts rotation speed is 128 rpm. This constant speed helpful the good crushing process and, this machine's power consumption is 0.745kwh. The machining process crushes 2kg of wet clay within 5 seconds and the machine maintenance cost and power consumption are lower than labour costs for the crushing process. 2022-03-02T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/5819 SWOT Analysis of Marine Ornamental Reef Fishery Sector in Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. Priyashadi, M.S.V.H.; Deepananda, K.H.M.A.; Jayasinghe, U.A.D. Marine Ornamental Reef (MOR) Fishery largely relies on the coral reef ecosystem and highly contributes to the global economy. Although MOR fishery in Trincomalee is being carried out from the beginning of the industry in Sri Lanka, comprehensive studies on the internal and external factors that affect the sector are scarce to date to a establish proper management system. The present study analysed Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of the MOR fishery in Trincomalee focusing fisher communities fishing in Sampur, Kuchchaweli and Pulmodai reefs over two years period from February 2019. Data were collected from full-time fishers (n=90) and other stakeholders of the value chain (n=36) through direct interviews, focus group discussions and participant observations. The data on average income and cost were gathered by monitoring the harvest of fishers at landing sites and using fishers’ logbooks, respectively. The monthly average gain per fisher were 101278 LKR and 114524 LKR while incurring 27172 LKR and 27367 LKR per month in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The strengths to gain such an income were Pigeon Island National Park, plenty of reefs for fishing and high biodiversity while lack of proper pricing mechanism, lack of training and knowledge, poor management system and post-harvest mortalities due to poor storage facilities were the weaknesses. In contrast, the fishers were having opportunities including global marine aquarium trend, higher income level than food fisheries and sharing knowledge & experience with researchers. Moreover, the risky nature of the occupation, coral reefs destruction through illegal fishing methods, the low market price at fishers level, lack of financial supports from the government, absence of legal background for registering fishers or operational license issuing system, collection of very small & extra-large individuals and Covid 19 pandemic situation were the threats to the MOR fishery. A proper management system and pricing mechanism of MOR fishery should be implemented to overcome the weaknesses and threats, while enhancing opportunities of the industry with the help of their strengths. 2022-03-02T00:00:00Z