http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4266 2026-10-08T19:09:35Z http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4339 Closing the Implementation Gap: A Roadmap for Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastics in Sri Lanka through Lessons from the European Union Thathsarani, A.A.D.N.; Jayawardena, U.A.; Manoj, W.D. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has emerged as an important regulatory approach for shifting responsibility for products and their post-consumer impacts towards producers. However, the rapid expansion of crossborder direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce creates regulatory challenges for EPR systems that have traditionally relied on domestic manufacturers, importers and distributors as identifiable responsible actors. The article discusses whether Sri Lanka's EPR framework is sufficient to rule out the gaps in plastic products and packaging supplied directly to Sri Lankan consumers by foreign producers through distant online selling platforms. Particular attention is given to section 23QQ of the National Environmental Act, introduced by the National Environmental (Amendment) Act, No 15 of 2026, and to the potential regulatory difficulties arising where a foreign producer has no importer, distributor or authorised representative in Sri Lanka. The article adopts a comparative legal research methodology, examining relevant Sri Lankan legislation and policy against selected European Union (EU) approaches to producer responsibility, distance selling, packaging and online commerce. There is a regulatory gap concerning the attribution, registration, monitoring and enforcement of EPR obligations in cross-border D2C transactions. EU law provides a useful comparative reference because its regulatory framework expressly addresses distance selling and, under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40, extends regulatory attention to producers supplying packaging and packaged products through distance contracts and to online platforms facilitating such transactions. The article proposes a Sri Lankan framework based on recognition of foreign distance-selling producers, authorised local representation, digital EPR registration, online marketplace due diligence, traceability and coordination between environmental authorities and Customs. Consumer responsibility should operate as a complementary component of EPR rather than as a substitute for producer responsibility. The article argues that a legally defined and digitally traceable framework could strengthen accountability for plastics entering Sri Lanka through cross-border e-commerce and contribute to more effective post-consumer plastic management and circular-economy objectives. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4330 Integrating Technology and Sustainable Practices: Developing an Eco-Friendly Framework for Sri Lanka’s Traditional Brass Craft Industry Raveesha Warshani, W. A.; Wijerathne, D.S Sri Lanka’s brass craftsmanship is an essential part of its material culture, native expertise and rural sustenance. The industry, mainly based in the Kandy region, involves casting, sheet forming, engraving, repousse, polishing and other artisanal skills handed down from one generation to the next. However, the long- term sustainability of the sector is being challenged by rising raw material costs, inefficient production techniques, changing consumer preferences, limited market access, technological barriers, and environmental impacts of metal smelting and declining interest among younger generations. This research analyses the ecological, financial, social and cultural aspects of conventional brass craftmanship in Sri Lanka to identify its viability. The study employed a mixed-method qualitative approach with emphasis on the brass manufacturing communities in the Pilimathalawa area of Kandy District. We conducted semi-structured interviews, field observations and process mapping to analyze material use, production methods, energy use, waste generation, the livelihoods of the artisans, knowledge transfer, and market dynamics. The research identifies opportunities to improve sustainability by using more brass scrap, smart material design, advanced melting systems, suitable digital fabrication techniques, responsible surface treatment methods, direct engagement with the market, skill upgrades, and generational knowledge transfer. The study proposes a sustainable crafting model, which integrates the traditional artistry with appropriate technological innovations, to preserve the cultural integrity of the Sri Lankan brassware. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4329 A Review of Dam Break Risk Assessment and Hydraulic Modelling for Climate-Resilient Reservoir Management: A Review with Application to Basnagoda Reservoir, Sri Lanka Divyanjalee, K.M.T.S.; Weerabangsa, M.Z.; Iresh, A.D.S.; Athapattu, B.C.L. Dam failures can cause severe downstream flooding, infrastructure damage, environmental impacts, and loss of life. Climate related changes in extreme rainfall further emphasize the need for robust dam break risk assessment and flood hazard modelling. This review examines dam failure mechanisms, hydraulic modelling approaches, extreme rainfall assessment, and risk-assessment methods relevant to the Basnagoda Reservoir in the Aththanagalu Oya Basin, Sri Lanka. Published studies were reviewed and grouped according to failure mechanisms, hydrological and hydraulic modelling, uncertainty assessment, and Sri Lankan dam-safety applications. The reviewed literature identifies overtopping, piping and internal erosion, structural instability, and seismic or other natural hazards as important failure mechanisms. Hydrological assessment, including probable maximum precipitation (PMP) and probable maximum flood (PMF), is relevant to defining extreme inflow conditions, while HEC-RAS 1D and 2D models are widely applied to simulate breach flood propagation and estimate inundation depth, velocity, and extent. Case specific dam break modelling and inundation information for Basnagoda Reservoir were not identified in the reviewed literature. Therefore, the reviewed evidence provides a methodological basis for a Basnagoda focused assessment that integrates extreme rainfall analysis, breach scenarios, hydraulic modelling, GIS based hazard assessment, and uncertainty analysis. Moreover, Geographic Information System (GIS)- based Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) analysis is included to assess environmentally sensitive areas and vulnerable infrastructure that may be subject to inundation. The present paper investigates a significant aspect related to dam overtopping features, which are the result of overflowing associated with excessive inflow over the normal capacity in any reservoir system in order to develop an appropriate identification procedure for assessing potential risks linked with various extreme flood scenarios and proposes a comprehensive methodology for integrating hydrological and hydraulic analyses into reservoir risk assessment While numerically simulating results is outside the capabilities of this preliminary investigation data, the suggested framework lays out a systematic evaluation for dam safety under projected in extreme weather conditions. this review is expected to contribute to improved reservoir design, emergency preparedness, dam breach, and sustainable water resource management in Sri Lanka. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4328 Machine Learning Framework for Urban Domestic Water Demand Forecasting: A Case Study of the Aththidiya South GN Division Lakmali, Dinusha; Himanujahn, Sivaperumaan; Athapattu, Bandunee This study examines domestic water demand forecasting in the Aththidiya South Grama Niladhari Division, Colombo, Sri Lanka, where urbanization, climate variability, and ageing infrastructure are straining water supply systems. Accurate demand prediction is critical for effective planning and resource management. Traditional methods such as linear regression and ARIMA are limited by assumptions of linearity and stationarity, restricting their ability to capture the complex, dynamic behaviour of urban water consumption. To address this, the study develops a two-stage forecasting framework combining machine learning with classical time-series modelling. First, a Random Forest regression model identifies and ranks key predictors of domestic water demand using socio-economic, climatic, and infrastructure-related variables. Second, a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network forecasts monthly water demand, capturing temporal dependencies and non-linear consumption patterns. ARIMA(1,1,1) and SARIMA(1,1,1)(1,1,1,7) models were developed for benchmarking. Data were sourced from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Department of Meteorology, and a household survey conducted in the study area. Results show monthly household water consumption ranging from 3–37 m3, averaging 11.3 m3. Household size was the most influential predictor (52% relative importance), followed by rainfall (25%) and temperature (22%). The LSTM model outperformed classical benchmarks, achieving an RMSE of 0.78 m3 and MAPE of 21.32% on the test dataset. As a case study, the framework offers promising practical value for water resource planning in the study area, though the limited sample and single-division scope mean that broader generalization will require validation across additional GN divisions and larger datasets. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z