Meet Sri Lankan Researcher- Rangana Shalika

What are you currently working on or worked on before?

I am currently working on research areas relating to COVID 19 and its impact on the Tourism and Hospitality sector.

What encouraged you to pursue your research topic?

As I mentioned my research interest area is Ecotourism practices in Sri Lanka. Though we are promoting this concept in Sri Lanka, We are unable to attract Eco-tourists to the destination. We are receiving less than 1% of Eco tourists. Though UNWTO is suggesting eco-tourism is a very sustainable tourism practice that is suitable for developing countries like Sri Lanka. To find out the issues of fewer Eco-tourists arrivals I conducted research on that area.

If there is any tourism-related issue faced by the Tourism and Hospitality industry locally or globally, I pay my attention to that and try to provide solutions or recommendations based on my research findings.

What is the name of your current institute?

Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?

From my university. That is the place we share our thoughts on the current issues faced by the industry.

Can you share with us some of your publications?

Please visit the links below for some of the research I published on Eco-Tourism (That is my interesting and specialized area) and tourism-related areas.

Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4, Link5, Link6, and Link7.

What’s one of your biggest personal achievements so far?

I have been recognized as one of the few research scholars in the field of Ecotourism. Also, I am the youngest Ph.D. holder in Tourism in public universities in Sri Lanka.

What lessons would you share with a budding researcher?

Conducting research is not an easy task. we have to sacrifice our time, cost sometimes personal life also. Until you start to research, you will not identify the way of conducting it. Therefore, I always encourage young scholars to do your research from your interest areas. Then you will be motivated to do it.

What motivated you to be a researcher?

Since I am an academic, I am always motivated to find new knowledge and update my knowledge. Therefore, I do research.

If there is a chance, will you help build research in Sri Lanka?

Definitely. I am as an academic, that is my responsibility

According to your opinion, what are the changes that the Sri Lankan education system needs to do, in order to meet the requirement of the international industry and academia?

We should create entrepreneurs rather than followers. That is the main area we have to address. There is no point in teaching theoretical aspects of the subjects if it is not a practical base. We should promote innovators, researchers, and explorers if we need to match the requirements of the international academia. Mainly a research culture of the country should be developed and encouraged.