http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/756 International Conference on Harmony and Reconciliation Sun, 21 Jun 2026 15:46:44 GMT 2026-06-21T15:46:44Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2104 Peacebuilding through Literature Education: An Analysis of Poems, Drama, Novels, and Prose among Pre-Service Teachers at Jaffna National College of Education Muguntthan, S. Sri Lanka presents an interesting and complex landscape for peace education, rooted in its rich tapestry of languages, religions, and ethnic identities. This study examines how literature in poems, drama, novels, and prose can function as a pedagogical resource for peacebuilding among pre-service teachers at Jaffna National College of Education. Drawing on peace education, Social and Emotional Learning, critical literacy, narratology, and drama theory, the study explores how literature-based pedagogy fosters empathy, critical reflection, nonviolent communication, and inclusive classroom practice. A qualitative narrative inquiry supported by mixed-methods procedures was conducted over approximately twelve weeks with Bachelor of Education pre-service teachers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Findings indicate that literaturebased activities enhanced perspective-taking, peaceful communication, classroom community, critical literacy engagement, and pedagogical confidence. The study argues that multilingual and culturally responsive literary education provides a locally grounded and ethically transformative pathway for preparing future teachers as agents of reconciliation, social justice, and durable peace. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2104 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2103 Digital Literacy as a Driver of Social Inclusion in E-Governance: A Survey of Households in Coimbatore City Bhavaramtharini, M.S.; Sankara, V.R.; Uma Devi, N. A modern administrative paradigm is becoming more characterized by the shift of the traditional bureaucratic system towards complex digital systems of governance. Although the "Digital India" campaign has greatly contributed to the development of technical infrastructure to deliver of services to the citizens, the actualization of inclusive governance is subject to the adaptive ability of the citizenry. This study explores how digital literacy can be one of the key determinants in social inclusion in e-governance with emphasis on the households of Coimbatore City, which is a major tier-II industrial and technological centre in the state of Tamil Nadu. Based on the Capability Approach presented by Amartya Sen, the research approach conceives digital literacy not as a technical proficiency but as a key individual conversion factor that facilitates citizens in changing digital resources to produce substantive liberty and engagement consequences. The stratified random sampling method was used to sample 384 households in the five administrative zones of Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation. The study uses a two-step Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method to examine the correlations among the five domains of the DigComp 2.1 framework of Information and Data Literacy, Communication and Collaboration, Digital Content Creation, Safety, and Problem Solving, and the indexes of social inclusion, such as civic participation and independence in exercise of rights. The results indicate that digital innovation is useful in increasing the quality of e-government services that, in its turn, can increase the quality of participatory decision-making in the formation of a public policy. Nevertheless, the findings also highlight that there remains a second-level digital divide in the sense that socio-economic factors like education, occupation, and age introduce significant differences in the capacity to transact in the digital arenas. The structural model shows that the most effective predictors of the civic engagement and institutional trust are safety awareness and information literacy. Finally, the paper finishes off with the evidence-based suggestions on how to make critical digital literacy a significant part of the civic education curriculum and implement the principles of universal design to make e-governance a means of fair social change and not a means of further marginalization. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2103 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2102 The Social Impact of Network Surveillance Technologies in Smart Cities Anoshan, Y.; Sabani, A.M.J.; Sawjanya, S. The accelerated speed of smart city projects around the world has listed network surveillance solutions, or AI-powered CCTV, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and predictive policing algorithms as prominent elements of city infrastructure. Although they can greatly improve cybersecurity and community safety as they can deliver an opportunity to detect threats in real-time and organize responding efforts, the widespread use of such systems provokes serious social and ethical issues. This study discusses social effects of such technologies, which is the balancing act between state-controlled security and personal civil rights. The study examines the negative effects of constant surveillance on the loss of privacy and the over-surveillance of marginalized populations using a mixed- methods approach. The evidence indicates that physical confrontations can be averted with the help of surveillance, but, at the same time, the social tensions can be aggravated by creating the effect of a digital panopticon and weakening the citizens’ confidence in the local authorities. The study throws the light on the Surveillance Paradox, when the need to feel safe may lead to the lack of social belonging and freedom. The paper presents the argument in favor of the need of Ethical-by-Design architectures through an assessment of current governance frameworks between 2023 and 2025. It concludes that the shift towards smart urbanism means that information must be transparent in data practices, accountable in algorithms and participatory in policy development in order to make sure that technology leads to social peace as opposed to structural exclusion. The paper is a roadmap that can be used by policymakers to incorporate effective cybersecurity solutions without exposing the basic rights of the citizenry in the ever-digitized urban environment. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2102 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2101 The Role of U.S. Mediation in Inter-State Conflict Resolution: A Study Focusing on the 2025 India–Pakistan Crisis Jeevarajah, D. India and Pakistan are two nuclear-armed neighbors in the South Asian region whose bilateral crises are frequently subject to regional and international intervention. Historically, the mediation of U.S. President Richard Nixon and the strategies of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during the 1971 war underscored Pakistan’s reliance on U.S. foreign policy. Conversely, during the Cold War, India maintained a distant relationship with the U.S. as a strategic ally of the Soviet Union, with Indira Gandhi’s leadership often characterized by a unique anti-American stance. This study examines the evolution of this dynamic, focusing on the U.S. intervention in the May 2025 India-Pakistan ceasefire. By 2025, the geopolitical landscape had fundamentally shifted within a unipolar-influenced but transitioning global order, both nations have been absorbed into a U.S. policy of complex engagement. Simultaneously, India’s rising economic and strategic status has increased its influence within the Global South. However, the 2025 crisis sparked by India’s "Operation Sindoor" counter-terrorism strikes and concluded via a U.S.-mediated ceasefire has raised critical questions regarding Indian strategic autonomy. This paper argues that the recent crisis demonstrated how the Narendra Modi-led government’s handling of the conflict provided an opening for a superpower to influence Indian sovereignty. While India has traditionally rejected third-party mediation, international assessments suggest that the indirect intervention of the United States remains a decisive factor in preventing a full-scale nuclear escalation. Pakistan, meanwhile, continues to largely welcome American and international diplomatic roles. Drawing on Critical Realism and Neo-realism, this paper utilizes descriptive analysis and comparative methodologies to argue that U.S. actions in 2025 were primarily driven by national interest, regional stability, and nuclear deterrence rather than purely humanitarian objectives. The 2025 crisis serves as a pivotal event revealing both the limitations and opportunities of U.S. mediation, concluding that while a temporary peace was achieved, substantive, long-term resolution remains elusive under current U.S. leadership. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2101 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z