University of Colombo e-Repository

UCER (University of Colombo Electronic Repository) is a collection of scientific research publications by researchers at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This e-Repository serves to manage, preserve and make available the academic works of the faculty, postgraduate students, and research groups. The collection includes faculty publications, master's and doctoral theses abstracts. This repository is updated regularly, and new works are added to collections on a continuous basis

Guidelines

Authors are responsible for obtaining copyright permission from the publisher and submitting the signed declaration to ir@lib.cmb.ac.lk.

Recent Submissions

A 10-year-old girl with a suicide attempt: Are our social services failing?
(University of Colombo, 2022) Dahanayake, D. M. A.; Samanmalee, T. H. R.
Introduction: Suicide attempts are rare under 12 years. Family conflict and lack of parental monitoring predict suicidal thoughts and acts in this age group. Data on young children with suicide attempts in Sri Lanka are scarce. This case highlights the role of psychosocial factors in suicide attempts. Case report: A 10-year-old girl from a socioeconomically disadvantaged suburb was brought to the hospital following a hanging attempt. She needed intensive care for one week. She was unhappy with her mother for bringing a cheap alternative for breakfast and after her mother left for work, leaving her with her father and two younger siblings, she hanged herself.
Development of an online home-based exercise intervention to reduce the risk of falls and to improve the mobility and gait in diabetes mellitus: A study protocol
(University of Colombo, 2022) Wettasinghe, A. H.; Dissanayake, D. W. N.
Introduction: Exercise interventions are found to be effective in reducing the risk of falls in older adults with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there are no home or clinic based interventions which can be used with minimal supervision. Furthermore, a digital intervention program based on validated data with a valid monitoring tool is not present in literature. The aim of this study is to develop a digital exercise intervention and to test its effectiveness to reduce the risk of falls, fear of falling, mobility and gait characteristics in older adults with DM. Methods: A home-based digital exercise programme will be developed based on the neurophysiological and cognitive function data already obtained from patients with DM (n=103) by the principal investigator. Intervention will be given to the study group and the control group will receive general fall prevention advice. The programme will be accessiblethrough a smartphone or a tablet. Exercises will be instructed in short video clips imaging older persons doing the exercises, and the user-interface will be clean and uncomplicated. Participants will have the opportunity to select up to 12 exercises, one from each category. Categories are upper limb strengthening (three groups), lower limb strengthening (five groups), balance training (two groups) and cognitive training (twogroups). The primary outcome measure will be the number of falls during the intervention period assessed with fall calendars. Neuropathy symptoms and examination scores, physiological profile assessment (PPA), iconographical falls efficacy scale (Icon-FES), timed up and go test (TUG), balance assessments and gait analysis will also be performed before and after the intervention
Variations in the infrainguinal anatomical distribution of critical limb ischemia according to digital subtraction angiography
(University of Colombo, 2022) Abeysinghe, A. G. A. V. J.; Gurusinghe, C. M.; Cassim, M. R. N.
Introduction: Chronic limb threatening ischemia is a global burden that results in death, amputation and impairment in the quality of life. It is caused by atherosclerosis of the limb vasculature with one-year mortality rates ranging from 10-40%. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and subsequent angioplasty are minimally invasive procedures that are currently accepted due to improved outcome and lower rates of complications. The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical distribution of critical limb ischemia. Methods: A retrospective study was done in a single unit, inclusive of 97 patients who underwent angiography and subsequent angioplasty between February 2021-June 2022. Following the procedure, DSA reporting was done by a vascular surgeon and recorded. SPSS was used to analyse data.
From Collections to Connectivity: Students’ Perceptions and Awareness of Academic Library Resources, Services, Systems, and Facilities at a Sri Lankan University
(University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka, 2026) Perera, W.P.G.L.; Johoran, S. Shabnam; Ayomi, P.M.; Adhikari, H.I.S.M.
This study was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to enhance service quality at a state university in Sri Lanka, focusing on students’ perceptions of the library’s services and resources. Understanding users’ perspectives is essential to ensure that library services align with users’ academic and informational needs. The study was conducted under the purview of the Library Quality Assurance Cell (LibQAC), with a specific focus on user services and feedback. The research employed a random sampling method, targeting both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires distributed via Google Forms, and the analysis was conducted using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The survey examined five key areas: perceptions of the library information management system, electronic resources, physical and digital collections, library training programmes, and infrastructure facilities. Findings identified that students generally held a favourable view of the library’s services and infrastructure. The library information management system and electronic resources, such as e-books and e-journals, were well received. However, awareness of the Institutional Repository and the International Monetary Fund collection was notably low. Similarly, students were satisfied with the physical collections and staff support, except for resources for visually impaired students, which require further development. The study also highlighted a need for improved promotional strategies for library training programmes and digital services, particularly the library website. The results underscore the importance of continuous user engagement, awareness initiatives, and system enhancements to ensure inclusive, accessible, and effective library services. The study provides actionable insights for library administrators seeking to strengthen the alignment of services with user expectations in a rapidly evolving academic environment.
Leveraging Google Analytics to Enhance User Engagement: A Case Study of a State University Library Website in Sri Lanka
(University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka, 2026) Senanayake, S.G.N.C.; Liyanage, R.D.; Ramanan, T.
This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a university library website using Google Analytics, which tracks and analyses website traffic and user behaviour to inform performance optimisation. With the Global Site Tag integration, data were collected over a twenty-four-month period from July 2022 to July 2024. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were employed to examine user behaviour patterns, traffic sources, and engagement metrics. The analysis revealed approximately 46,000 users, of whom approximately 44,000 (94.9%) were new users, indicating that a high proportion of visitors were first-time users. Engagement metrics included an engagement rate of 61.06% and an average engagement time of 1 minute and 53 seconds. The website also recorded a bounce rate of 42.7%, which warrants consideration alongside other engagement indicators. Correlation analysis identified significant relationships between selected variables. A moderate positive correlation was reported between device category and average engagement time (r = .560, p = .002), while strong positive correlations were observed between new users and sessions (r = .925, p < .001), event count and average engagement time (r = .780, p < .001), and engaged sessions and average engagement time (r = .926, p < .001). The findings indicate that device type, user interactions, and session characteristics were significantly associated with website engagement. The recommendations include (i) mobile optimisation for the substantial mobile user base, (ii) enhanced search engine optimisation strategies to increase organic traffic, (iii) website redesign with improved navigation, (iv) targeted marketing initiatives, and (v) continuous performance monitoring through Google Analytics. Overall, the study demonstrates the value of web analytics in informing data-driven decisions to enhance digital library service effectiveness.