http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/3298 2026-04-23T11:30:48Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/3350 Problems Faced by Preschool Teachers When Using Teaching Aids in the Teaching Learning Process Rajapaksha, P.L.N.R.; Chathurika, P.R.D. This study attempts to find out the problems faced by the preschool teachers when making and using teaching aids in the process of teaching and learning, and to identify their perception on using teaching aids. The study employed quantitative method of research. The sample of this study comprised of 60 Sinhala medium preschool teachers and 40 English medium teachers who have registered in the Diploma in Early Childhood & Primary Education programme in the Colombo regional center, at OUSL. The study employed the survey research design. A questionnaire was adopted to collect data. The data were analyzed using simple quantitative statistical methods. The study revealed that the teacher have precise perception of teaching aids and its functions. However they face problems such as lack of time for making teaching aids for each lesson, lack of training on using electronic teaching aids, lack of knowledge on relating teaching aids to the lesson in the teaching learning process. Thus, the study recommends enhancing more emphasis by providing awareness, knowledge on using teaching aids effectively among preschool teachers. 2016-10-26T07:46:12Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/3349 A Comparative Study of Demand for Medical Care on Non Communicable Diseases Western vs. Alternative Samaraweera, P.D.G.L.; Wijesinghe, M.D.J.W. Medical care is an input to the production of health. People get treatment for their health issues under western medicine , complementary and alternative medicine. Western medicine can be identified as the most famous and modern medical care system in the world. Complementary and alternative medicine refers to a variety of health practices as ayurveda, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbs, yoga, etc . Considering Sri Lankan context, with the rapid increase of ageing population, there is a growing trend in non communicable diseases. Most of people tend to use these two systems to recover from non communicable diseases as asthma, cholesterol, hypertension, arthritis, etc. The main objective of this study was to distinguish between the demand for alternative medicine and western medicine related to non communicable diseases. It was considered socio demographic and economic factors for demand in medical care for both sectors. Primary data was based on Arogya private hospital and Siddhayurvedini private ayurvedic care institution in Gampaha. It was selected 100 non communicable disease patients using systematic sampling method. Logistic regression model was mainly used to distinguish between the alternative and western medical care. According to the findings of this study, females are more likely to demand for both medical cares. Middle age, unemployed, arthritis patient and duration of disease 2-5 years cause to raise demand for alternative medical care. Diabetic patient, employed, believing health status as serious and having employer provided insurance cause to raise demand for western medical care. Relative to the demand for alternative medical care, living in rural area and lower educated people are negatively associated with demand for western medical care. 2016-10-26T07:44:15Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/3348 Life Cycle and Fixed Portfolio Allocation Strategies-A Performance Comparison for Emerging Market Pension Funds Kumara, Ajantha Sisira; Pfau, Wade Donald This study compares the performance of various fixed and lifecycle portfolio strategies for the accumulation phase of retirement planning in emerging market countries. With an expected utility framework and a bootstrapped Monte Carlo procedure, we find that the majority of emerging market investors with varying attitudes toward risk can maximize their expected utility by using lifecycle strategies instead of fixed allocation strategies. Most commonly, emerging market investors maximize expected utility with a lifecycle strategy using a 30 percent average equity exposure, though the results vary among countries. 2016-10-26T07:42:54Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/3339 Model-Based Analysis of International Tourist Flow to Sri Lanka Konarasinghe, K.M.U.B. Sri Lanka entered the international tourism market in the late 1960s. Forecasting of international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka is immensely important and it’s a timely requirement. Hence, finding the most appropriate forecasting technique is essential. In view of the above, objective of the study is to forecasting international tourism flows to Sri Lanka. Annual data on arrivals obtained from annual statistical report 2013 of Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority from 1968 to 2013. Moving Average smoothing model, Single Exponential Smoothing (SES) model and Double Exponential Smoothing (DES) models are tested on monthly arrivals. The best fitting model was selected by comparing Mean Absolute Percentage Errors (MAPE). Results revels that the single Moving Average of order 2 (MA 2) model has the least MAPE which is 19%. SES of Alpha 0.9 has the least MAPE which is 17%.But the residuals were not normally distributed. Double Exponential of Alpha 0.8, Beta 0.9 and Alpha 0.9, Beta 0.9 has the least MAPE which is 17%. In these model residuals were normally distributed. Double Exponential of Alpha 0.8, Beta 0.9 and Alpha 0.9, Beta 0.9 are the suitable models for forecasting international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. Smoothing techniques can be used only for forecasting one period ahead. Therefore, it is recommended to test various trend models on forecasting tourist arrivals. 2016-10-26T06:02:48Z