Sabaragamuwa University Journal 

Abstract: This paper discuses the basic managerial deficiencies of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka with special reference to the SMEs in Ratnapura District The study is mainly based on primary data gathered from 57 of SMEs, which were selected from 287 SMEs using stratified random sampling method Data was gathered using a structured questionnaire and interviewing labourors, officers of various SME supportive organizations and observing SMEs The study was supplemented with the data collected from secondary sources as well Data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative techniques The study found that even basic management functions like planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling are not properly practiced in most of the SMEs Most SMEs do not have clear plans for future development, production process, marketing, financial activities etc Owners (entrepreneurs) of most of SMEs act as managers handling all the responsibilities, which are not delegated to others Therefore, most of the SMEs do not function efficiently due to the delay of decision-making process, poor organization, poor staffing, weak controlling and directing Financial management of most of the SMEs is found to be very weak Most SMEs do not calculate total expenses, total revenue, profit etc, for they do not keep any account systematically Most SMEs do not provide any welfare facilities and retirement benefits like EPF and ETF to encourage labourers Poor production planning and production process, weak practices of marketing and poor quality of the products are the other deficiencies of SMEs Performance of many SMEs is very poor due to the deficiencies in management Poor knowledge in management of entrepreneurs causes the managerial deficiencies Therefore, SMEs cannot judge problems and barriers coming from internal and external industrial environment The paper concludes that the growth of SMEs can be accelerated by developing managerial knowledge of entrepreneurs of the SMEs

Abstract: Today commercialization of agriculture is an inevitable reality throughout the whole world. There are a number of factors affecting the commercialization process in agriculture. Some of them could be named as rapid growth of economies in the both developing and developed countries, introducing of new technologies, market expansion, market liberalization, urbanization, rapid increase of demand for food, decreasing of farming population, liberalized and open economic policies, bilateral and multilateral economic agreements, developed infrastructure facilities in farming areas and government agricultural policies. However, commercialization in agriculture is not a new phenomenon and it is not a surprise to the farming community. Since the nineteen fifties, farmers in most of the countries have moved towards commercial agriculture. Their major objective was surplus production aiming market prospects. Agricultural extension plays a major role in agricultural production. Role of agricultural extension in a commercialized agricultural system is different from such service in subsistence farming system. In the commercialized agriculture the extension service will mainly concentrate on the resourceful big farmers, with favorable environmental conditions and higher socio-economic status. Under the commercialized agriculture the number of farmers is to be reduced and the size of the farm land should be increased. This is a generally accepted concept in commercial agriculture. Do we have to accept this concept under each and every situation? We think the answer is "no". By using improved technologies farmers can move towards commercial agriculture without considering the size of land. Under protected agriculture, farmers follow concepts of the commercial agriculture. Commercial livestock farming does not rely on the farm size except diary farming. However, the role of agricultural extension in the commercialized agricultural system is mainly dependent on the type and way of commercialization in a given society. We have to expect that agricultural extension services are supposed to fulfill many aims, from reducing rural poverty and improved livelihoods for rural households to increasing the overall production and contributing to foreign exchange earnings from exports. But the level and percentage of this contribution may vary from one situation to another. DOI: 10.4038/suslj.v6i1.1686 Sabaragamuwa University Journal , vol 6, no. 1, pp 13-22

Abstract: Similar to many developing countries, pesticide related issues in Sri Lanka have become a major concern in the recent past. Many researches were conducted to evolve technical alternatives for eco-friendly agriculture, but very less emphasis was given to the knowledge and behaviour of the farmers. Having recognized the need, present study was conducted to assess the farmers' knowledge level on pest management practices and socio-economic factors influencing the existing pest management practices. Ordered Probit model was used to analyze the data from 50 vegetable farmers who were randomly selected from Pampaimadu, Agricultural Instructor range in the Vavuniya district. Nearly 60% of the farmers had medium level of knowledge of plant protection practices. Only 6% of the farmers had good level of knowledge towards the recommended plant protection measures. Almost all the farmers depended on chemical pesticides for the management of pest and diseases but at 35% higher concentration than recommended level. Farming experience and social participation were positive and significantly contributed to farmers' knowledge on safe pesticide use. Education, income, age and family size of farmers had showed no relationship with the knowledge level of pest management. Increased social participation and, effective extension programmes are important to improve farmers' knowledge on proper use of pesticides and its effect on their health and environment. Key Words: Farmers Pest Management Knowledge; Ordered Probit Model DOI: 10.4038/suslj.v8i1.1852 Sabaramuwa University Journal Vol. 8(1); December 2008, pp 79-89

Abstract: Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) is one of the major health issues in Northern part of Sri Lanka that recorded highest mortality and morbidity rates. The main responsible reason for the CKDu has not yet been identied and hence many scientists have suggested number of certain risk factors where the CKDu-mfo (CKDu multi-factorial origin) term derived. However it relates with certain drinking water quality parameters strongly. This study was focused on evaluating the drinking water quality of Ulagalla cascade in Anuradhapura district with admiration to CKDu. Thirty wells and twenty tanks were selected as sampling locations for groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) respectively from the cascade. Water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, Sodium (Na+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Calcium (Ca2+), Potassium (K+), Arsenic (As2+), Lead (Pb2+), Cadmium (Cd2+), Ammonium Nitrogen (NH4+-N), Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3 - -N), alkalinity, Sulphate (SO4 2-, Chloride (Cl-) and Phosphate (PO43-) were analysed and observed parameters were compared with drinking water quality standards. In GW turbidity, Mg, Cl- and Cd were not signicantly dierent from the maximum permissible level (p>0.05) while SW has shown signicant dierence only for the turbidity (p>0.05). Both well and tank water samples from Thodamaduwa were polluted by Cd which exceeded the maximum permissible level standards. It was recorded as averages of 0.15, 0.13 and 0.019 ppb for 3 identied polluted wells in GW and 0.01ppb in tank water. Accordingly the study it can be suggested that cumulative levels of heavy metals (such as Cd) may be aggravating the CKDu in the Northern Central Parts in Sri Lanka.