Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the commercial property development risk factors from the entrepreneur’s point of view against social, economic, environmental, technological and political risk assessment criteria. After that, this study aims to assess the risk factors based on the analytical network process (ANP) model and to prioritize the key risk factors to identify which risk factor is highly affected to the commercial development process. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The analysis of the risk factors involved the ANP model using super decision software. Findings The results revealed that there are five major risk factors such as environmental, social, economic, technological and political risk, and 32 sub-risk factors. According to the super matrix calculation, the synthesized values for three projects were 0.0704, 0.0532 and 0.0431, respectively. It was identified that Ward City was 0.0704, indicating that it is comparatively less risky and, hence, can be categorized as the best development and considering the sub-risk factors; the results show that the highly affected risk factors for the development are: the council approval process, climate changes and natural disaster, and the least affected risk factors are confidence to the market, lifecycle value, investment return and currency conversion factor. Practical implications The paper includes implications for the development of commercial properties, risk and risk assessment criteria to make risk management strategies and policy implementation. Originality/value The research findings are helpful in improving risk management strategies in the country, and policy formulation should focus on the above identified three risk factors in order to mitigate the risk in every stage and to achieve sustainable project development while increasing the satisfaction of long-term investment goals.

Purpose Developing residential units is crucial in the socio-economic development of a country. The investor faces not only uncertain transaction price (price risk), but also uncertainties about the marketing period risk. Predicting when the incurred money is being realized is difficult because of the imperfect nature of the real estate market. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyze the variables that explain the time on the market (TOM) of housing units, identifying the relationships in-between and the effects on TOM of residential properties. Design/methodology/approach Following a multi-stage sampling process, a random sample of 120 housing units was selected. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 57 variables that can affect TOM. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to confirm some of the data and information on residential units from the developers. Direct observations were conducted to verify certain physical attributes and, finally, they were comprehensively analyzed using quantitative analysis techniques in SPSS 16.0 Statistical package. Findings Results confirmed that lesser advertising prices, attractive environment, proximity to the city center and proper shape of lands reduce the TOM. Similarly, higher prices, longer distance to the city center and irregular shape of land increase the TOM. The results strengthen the necessity of a comfortable environment appropriate to live, probably with greenery or water bodies, which is a key influential factor that reduces the TOM in Sri Lanka. Originality/value wIn the Sri Lankan context, there are few contributions to the real estate literature in this regard. Many scholars have concentrated on physical and economic characteristics, whereas this research adds the environmental factors. Therefore, this research makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in this area, as it puts more attention on including several variables, as well as newly introduced variables as determinants. Consumers can apply the research findings to assess the relative importance of housing attributes and services which they perceive most valuable, and then to make their purchase decisions. The findings also contribute to the investigations of the behavior of housing attributes and enable knowing as to what factors are to be promoted and what to be omitted to gain a shorter TOM.

After 30 years of war in Sri Lanka, the demand for real estate has increased tremendously across the nation. Similarly, numerous real estate sub-sectors have avidly participated in the worldwide boom. However, with failures and poor functioning of many investment projects, the industry's risk management reputation has been put in jeopardy, followed by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Though it is less popular among Sri Lankan property developers, risk management strategies in development projects have become a pressing requirement. This paper's goal is to look at commercial property development risk elements from the perspective of a real estate developer in relation to Social, Economic, Environmental, Technological, Political, and Pandemic Risks. The research first evaluates risk variables using a super decision software model based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), then prioritizes the most important risk factors, and lastly examines effective risk management measures for successful real estate developments. The data collection has been carried out using interviews through telephone conversations with the help of a structured questionnaire. Accordingly, 35 risk factors have been assessed altogether. For the three projects, the synthesized values were 1.0000, 0.510763, and 0.604037, respectively. Based on the analysis of superMatrix calculation, project A is regarded as the best alternative project in such circumstances. Pandemic Risk, Economic Risk, and Political Risk have all had a significant impact on the primary risk criteria. Therefore, COVID-19 Pandemic Risk Emergence, Workforce Availability, Duration, Delays in Council Approval/License Approval Process and Natural Disaster Impact were identified as the highest influenced sub-risk factors. Identifying the risk factors on this avenue will also help in making better investment decisions while increasing the unpredictable nature of the real estate field and future satisfaction of loan team investment goals within the country.

Hydro-power generation is prominent as a renewable, alternative, clean and green energy source of power generation in Sri Lanka, compared to solar power, wind and biomass. Among the available sources, Sri Lanka has many Small Hydro Power Projects (SHPPs) in rural areas. However, public protests in the recent past against the SHPPs rose because of their negative impacts on the environment. Many researchers view environmental influences as a result of activities of hydro-power plants, yet the findings deviate from the location and focus on the nature of the project. Therefore, this paper intends to analyze the residents' perceptions on environmental impacts related to three rural projects from Padiyapelella, Manakola and Elamulla areas in the Nuwara-Eliya District. The sample included sixty families and five responsible experts, purposely selected from the affected areas. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire, observations, and interviews. Descriptive statistics, average response value comparisons and content analyses were used to analyze the data. Results reveal that more negative effects are observed at the construction stage, and they diminish with the completion while a few tend to continue. SHPPs projects have a major impact on the soil structure and, secondly, the adverse effects on other environmental components such as biodiversity, water, and tranquility Findings underline the importance of preliminary studies in minimizing the harmful effects to enhance more benefits from establishing SHPPs.