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Daniels, B. C.; Dissanayake, S. T. M.; Trees, B. R. “Synchronization of coupled rotators: Josephson junction ladders and the locally coupled Kuramoto model”. Physical Review E Volume: 67, Issue: 2, February 01, 2003. pp. 026216-026216-14.

Presentations

The Annual 2001 Summer Research Symposium, Ohio Wesleyan University.

The Annual Seminar on???

The Annual American Physics Society Meeting.
http://www.eps.org/aps/meet/MAR02/baps/abs/S3330002.html

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This paper presents an economic analysis of civil conflicts focusing on four issues: economic causes of civil conflict, economic cost and consequences of civil conflict, the vicious cycle of civil conflict and methods of escaping the cycle. The methods of estimating the costs of civil conflict are exemplified with a case study of Sri Lanka

Though it is commonly assumed that ethno-linguistic fractionalization is a leading cause behind civil conflict, we find there may be more significant variables contributing to the conflict. Namely: low levels of natural resources, high poverty (low levels of GPD per capita), and lack of strong democratic institutions. The analysis conducted by economists clearly showed that strong institutions have the ability to decrease the probability of incidence of war, for a given level of fractionalization in a society. Additionally, high levels of fractionalization and high levels of homogeneity are negatively related to the possibility of civil conflict, while average levels of fractionalization increase the chances of civil conflict. Furthermore, it is possible that strong government institutions have the ability to stop the oppression and any civil violence associated with it, effectively breaking the cycle.

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Today, information and communication technologies (ICT’s), including the Internet, have been transforming the global economy and society. The advent of newer technologies has also resulted in a widening global and national digital divide. This paper presents and analyses the viability of bridging the digital divide as a means of attaining higher levels of development.

Underdeveloped region and countries do not have access to ICT’s and Internet. The underdevelopment in these regions is mainly due lack of proper education, technology and political instability. The digital divide can be bridged by infrastructure development, and proper IT education. Bridging the divide would result in an increase in technology diffusion, increase in education, and increase in productivity and income. Thus eliminating the divide will eliminate some of the reasons hindering economic development and also create new avenues for growth. Therefore it is possible to achieve development by bridging the digital divide. Practically there has to be significant infrastructure development and forward looking government policies aimed at bridging the digital divide if development is to be achieved. Also it is very unclear who should be responsible for bridging the divide. What is clear is that if the divide is not bridged it will result in an increasing disparity of living standards globally leading sever human consequences.

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This paper analyzes the demographic transition of the Sri Lankan population, the current trends in food consumption, economic growth in the recent years and discusses land fragmentation and child malnutrition as issues of concern. .

Sri Lanka is a developing country with 20 million people and a rich history of over 2500 years. In comparison with other developing countries, Sri Lankan has very high demographic indicators with high literacy rates, low infant mortality rates and good health indicators. Sri Lanka is nearing the end of its demographic transition, the population growth rate has slowed down and the CDR is increasing and will soon converge with the CBR. Unfortunately the ever present 20 year old civil war has held back the Sri Lankan economy which is growing slowly than the economies of its neighboring countries.
Much of Sri Lanka’s traditional exports of tea, rubber and coconuts have changed over the years. On the contrary, agriculture in Sri Lanka has changed very little over the years in terms of mechanization. One of the pioneer countries to make use of Green Revolution varieties of seeds, yield growths in Sri Lanka have started to slow down. Sri Lanka already uses a significant amount of fertilizer and pesticides to improve yields and the lack of extensification opportunities mean alternate means of improving yields are necessary. Sri Lanka is currently facing a problem of with land defragmentation, with smaller plots leading to a decrease in productivity and yields.
Malnutrition has been a significant food security issue affecting the country, especially among children where about one third of all children are malnourished. Successful food distribution campaigns by the government as well organizations like World Food Program are ensuring that many children are getting at least one healthy meal day. Sri Lanka is going through a rapid period of change, much of its agricultural, social and economic policies are changing and a possible peace dividend over the next few years means there is much hope in Sri Lanka’s future.