The Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka recently launched the Faculty Journal named Asian Journal of Management Studies (AJMS). As an "A" graded faculty in the Sri Lankan state university system, FMS always attempts to be a knowledge hub for the nation by connecting to a broader network. AJMS, a double-blind peer-reviewed scholarly journal in business and management, reflects the FMS’s attempt to benchmark the faculty's contribution to the growth of the body of knowledge in business and management. AJMS aims to promote and provide convenient access to publish and disseminate research works in business and management in the local, regional and global arena.
The ceremonial launch was held at the Auditorium of the Staff Development Center, the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, where Professor Udaya Rathnayake, Vice-Chancellor, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, attended as the Chief Guest. Prof. Saman K. Herath (Dean, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka) and Mr. Manil Jayesinghe (President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka) attended the ceremony as the Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the physical gathering was limited to very few dignitaries, including the Heads of the Departments of FMS. Academic, non-academic, and administrative staff members and the students joined the session via online platforms, including Zoom and Facebook Live.
Sharing his thoughts at the launch, Professor Udaya Rathnayake stated that “It is indeed a great pleasure to see that the Faculty of Management Studies has taken a step forward by launching the faculty journal”. By appreciating the effort made by FMS in launching this journal, the Vice-Chancellor further stated that “The importance of journals in academic life goes beyond providing a means of communication and a permanent record. Journal articles are the final output of most research, and a researcher's performance and productivity are judged largely on the number of publications as well as where they appear.”
The editorial team of AJMS comprises an eminent panel of academics representing the Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Professor MSM Aslam (Dean – Faculty of Management Studies) heads the journal as the Editor-in-Chief. Dr. Thilini Chathurika Gamage (Senior Lecturer) and Dr. HP Rasika Priyankara (Senior Lecturer) act as the Managing Editors of the journal. The inaugural issue of the journal consists of six articles and a book review by eminent scholars in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the launching of the journal, Prof. MSM Aslam, Editor-in-Chief/ AJMS and President/ Research and Publication Unit of FMS, stated that “As journals are inevitable scientific communication channel for academic and research institutions, AJMS aims to provide a platform to publish new, high-quality and original research papers in the Management discipline in local, Asian, and global contexts. Although the initial concept of AJMS is a couple of years old, I am glad that as a faculty, we could launch the journal parallel to the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.”
Addressing the gathering, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies Prof. Athula Gnanapala stated that “As an academic institution, we believe that it is our primary responsibility to work towards the betterment of the society through new initiatives such as journals and magazines to disseminate the new knowledge.” He also appreciates the effort rendered by the editorial team of the journal in making the journal a success.
Sharing his views about the journal, Mr. Manil Jayesinghe (President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka) stated that “It is a great initiative taken by the Faculty of Management Studies in providing a platform to the development of economy where the community can learn from others’ experiences and generate new knowledge.” He further necessitated the importance of close cooperation between academic institutions and the private sector in commercializing the research outputs.
Prof. Saman K. Herath (Dean, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka) stated that academic journals enhance the global visibility of the state universities and provide a platform for knowledge dissemination. Most importantly, he has highlighted the importance of research ethics in scientific communication. He emphasized that “Given the competitive nature of research, it has become increasingly challenging for scientists to report unique and pioneering research. Nevertheless, the practice of misreporting data and scientific results continues to be followed by some members of the research community.”
Delivering the vote of thanks, Managing Editor of the journal, Dr. Thilini Chathurika Gamage, expressed her sincere gratitude to the distinguished dignitaries who have graced the ceremonial occasion and share their invaluable thoughts despite the busy schedules. Further, she delivered her heartfelt obligations to the editorial team, eminent reviewers, and authors who have contributed immensely to the journal's success.
The journal's future issues will focus on contemporary issues in management while providing some solutions and recommendations to overcome such issues.
The journal can be easily accessed through https://www.sab.ac.lk/ajms/
