https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3808 2026-04-08T10:28:50Z 2026-04-08T10:28:50Z De Silva, Banuka Buddhdasa, Anuruddhika Rathnayake, Sunil https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/9029 2026-03-11T04:41:28Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Social Vulnerability and Property Crime Victimization: Risk Factor Analysis in Urban Colombo De Silva, Banuka; Buddhdasa, Anuruddhika; Rathnayake, Sunil Urban property crime victimisation patterns are complex interactions of individual vulnerabilities and environmental risk factors. This study considers social factors that lead to property crime victimization in Colombo Municipal Council area. The study utilised a mixed-methods approach to analyse victims of property crime. And six major themes representing social vulnerability factors were identified: absence of formal social control mechanisms; breakdown of informal social control; environmental and situational vulnerabilities; social isolation and living arrangements; routine activities and lifestyle exposure; and social trust and risk awareness. Key findings showed that living alone (58.3%) and absence of CCTV surveillance (58.3%) were the most important vulnerability factors, but routine working hours (50%) and unattended houses (50%) were the crime opportunity factors. Police officials unanimously cited routine lifestyle patterns and predictability (100%) as the major victimization risk factor. The nexus of social isolation, environmental vulnerabilities and routine activity patterns represent constellations of risk exploited by motivated offenders. These results confirm the Routine Activity Theory, Social Disorganization Theory, and Environmental Criminology frameworks in the Sri Lankan urban context that show effective crime prevention depends on multi-pronged strategies that address multiple social aspects simultaneously instead of concentrating on individual risk factors in isolation.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z R.G., Anuradha https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/9028 2026-03-11T04:43:41Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Exploring the harassment against working women:Katunayeke Free Trade Zone R.G., Anuradha Women working in Free Trade Zones continue to face violence and harassment in and outside the workplace without adequate recourse and redressal mechanisms. Sri Lanka‘s total labor force participation is 49.8%. Females' contribution to the labor force is only 32.1%. The Free Trade Zone’s women employees face harassment in the world of work, thus applying to harassment in the course of work, which is linked with or arises out of work. “Accordingly, the research problem of this study is: What forms of harassment are faced by working women in the workplace?”. To study the research problem, women employees in the Katunayake FTZ were considered the target population; 50 women employees were selected from a population of 200. The sample was chosen by using purposive sampling. This study employs a mixed-methods research approach. The finding reveals that 60% of women were reported as Manpower workers. Katunayake factories consist of women workers, especially in the age group of 18-28 years. They do not have permanent residency in Katunayake. Relatively high rates of secondary education among them notwithstanding, these women have been committed to low-paid and insecure jobs without specialization. 38% of working women are victims of psychological abuse. 52% of employees have expressed dissatisfaction regarding health, safety, and hygiene. To reduce this situation, it is essential to formalize the protection of women under labor laws and enhance their welfare and safety at the institutional level.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Rathnayake, Sanduni https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/9027 2026-03-11T04:44:50Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Premenstrual Syndrome in Sri Lankan Criminal Law: An Expedition to Strengthen the Legal Future for Our Sisters in Crime Rathnayake, Sanduni This study critically examines the possibility of introducing Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) into the adjudication of criminal cases involving female offenders in Sri Lanka. The increasing use of syndrome-based evidence, particularly in relation to defences such as insanity and diminished responsibility, has generated considerable legal and medical debate. PMS, which explores the correlation between women’s menstrual cycles and behavioural, psychological and physical changes, has been judicially acknowledged in certain comparative jurisdictions. This study interrogates whether PMS or its severe variant, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), may fall within existing criminal defences under the Sri Lankan Penal Code, justify the creation of a separate defence, or instead operate as a mitigating factor. It argues that while severe PMS/PMDD may influence behaviour, they do not doctrinally satisfy the threshold requirements of insanity, unsoundness of mind, or automatism under Sri Lankan law. Accordingly, the most coherent and sustainable approach is to recognise medically substantiated cases at the sentencing stage as a mitigating factor.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Solomons, T.H Jayasekara, P. Govindapale, D. Wijesekara, I.T https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/8982 2025-12-11T10:22:01Z 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z

Cross Culture Adaptation of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) to Sinhala Solomons, T.H; Jayasekara, P.; Govindapale, D.; Wijesekara, I.T Purpose:ThepresentstudyaimedtoadapttheBigFiveInventory(BFI)intoSinhalaandevaluateitscontentvalidity and comprehension. Methods: Following WHO guidelines, the scale was forward - translated, reviewed by an expert panel (n=3), back -translated, and tested for comprehension among 11 participants with varied educational backgrounds. Content Validity Index (CVI) scores were calcul ated. Results: Thirty - one items required minor linguistic modifications. Two items scored low (ICVI = 0.3 –0.5) and were revised with linguistic consultation. Eight items scored moderate relevance (ICVI = 0.6) and were modified with expert input. The majori ty scored 1.0. The overall S - CVI was 0.88, indicating acceptable content validity. All items were rated “easy to understand” in the comprehension test. Conclusion: The Sinhala BFI demonstrates acceptable content validity and comprehension. Further psychometric validation (e.g., reliability, factor structure) is required before clinical and occupational use.

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