Browsing by Author "Liyanage, T."

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Impact of threshing, blanching, and drying on piperine content in “black pepper” (Piper nigrum L.)
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2023) Lakmali, H. M. R. P.; Liyanage, T.; Subasinghe, H. M. P. A.; Kirthisinghe, J. P.
All spices exported from Sri Lanka are tropical aromatics used in human foods for flavoring. Among them, black pepper is valued for its distinct biting quality attributed to the alkaloid, piperine. The amount of piperine content can be influenced by alterations in conditions of the black pepper processing chain. Therefore, the study aimed to find the variation in piperine content in black pepper via the facilitation of different threshing methods and processing procedures in the black pepper processing chain. Three types of threshing methods (Hand threshing, foot threshing and machine threshing), two types of blanching (Blanching and without blanching) and two types of drying methods (Sun drying and mechanical drying) were used as treatments and the piperine content in black pepper was determined by spectrophotometrically. Piperine content was measured in triplicate samples after solar drying and mechanical drying. According to the results, there was no significant difference (p>0.5) in the threshing method for piperine content. However, the majority of the black pepper samples showed that there was a significant difference in piperine content in blanched samples than the un-blanched samples implying that the piperine percentage increases with the increase in blanching. Further, piperine content was significantly lower (p
The lack of translation of sexuality based (erotic) novels in Sri Lanka
(Proceedings of the Undergraduate Research Symposium (HUG 2019), Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Liyanage, T.
The depiction of sexual terms in translation has been a controversial subject in Sri Lankan culture. Sex is without a doubt one of the most intimate indicators of identity as in conjures up images of sexual actions, eroticism, pleasure, taboo, fantasies, and desires, where the language is considered to be the most intimate medium of expressing sentiments of sex. The problems that lead to the discourage of Sri Lankan translators are the Sinhala language does not have sufficient vocabulary on expressing sexual terms, the government interference in banning erotic novels and Sri Lankan cultural beliefs. The main objective of this study is to encourage the Sri Lankan translators to embrace the beauty in translating erotic novels despite seeing the word “sex” as a socio-cultural and political act with serious theoretical and ideological implications. This study was conducted using the methodology of quantitative content analysis based on controversial novels. The used study sources are “Ma:gam So:liya” by Mohan Raj Madawala, “Lowe:na” by Mohan Raj Madawala and “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E .L. James which all are novels that are not yet translated. Studying and researching about the eroticism, the relationship between the translator and the erotic writings and researching about why the local translator is demotivated to translate erotic novels while selftranslating the content regarding sexual terms to the English language which is present on local controversial and erotic novels and vice versa. The study shows that the lack on translation of erotic novels in Sri Lanka is due to its cultural barrier, the fear of the translator to expose the colloquy sex in its pure nature because of the courteousness and discourteousness beliefs and the insufficient vocabulary of Sinhala language which is the main obstacle to convey the real erotic taste to the society.
Polymerase Chain Reaction and mosquito dissection as tools to monitor filarial Infection levels following mass treatment in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka
(Elsevier, 2008) Wijegunawardana, N.D.A.D.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Manamperi, A.; Bandara, K.B.A.T.; Liyanage, T.; Abeyewickreme, W.
BACKGROUND: Mass Drug Administration (MDA)-based Global Lymphatic filariasis (Lf) eradication programmes are aimed at stopping transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti by its mosquito vector. The study was designed to compare one year post treatment (mass distribution of Diethylcarbamazine-Albendazole) infection rates of Wuchereria bancrofti in Culex quenquifaciatus, the main vector of Lf in Sri Lanka using Conventional dissection techniques and a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay based on parasite specific Ssp1 repeat which amplifies a fragment of 188 bp. METHODS: Field study was conducted in 45 sites in all Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka; identified by the Anti Filariasis Campaign (AFC) as having high-risk for bancroftian filariasis transmission. Indoor-resting mosquitoes were collected by aspiration from 20 houses per each site. Part of the mosquitos were used for dissection and the remainder was used for PCR to detect the filarial parasites in mosquito. RESULTS: Mosquito dissection data revealed 42.22% (19/45) of the sites were infested with mosquitoes positive for Wuchereria bancrofti, indicating 8 transmission active MOH areas (53.33%; 8/15). An infection rate of 5.26% was observed among the mosquitoes caught from households and the larval density was 8.7 per positive mosquito. PCR investigation revealed that 46.67% (21/45) of the sites were positive for W. bancrofti DNA, indicating 11 transmission active areas (73.33%; 11/15). The PCR was found to be more sensitive compared to microscopy in detecting the filarial parasite in field collected mosquito samples with respect to the MOH areas. CONCLUSION: The PCR technique employed offers scope for detection of the filarial parasites with higher sensitivity and specificity; is efficient and rapid. This technique applied for the first time in Sri Lanka, can be adopted as a diagnostic tool for the detection of filarial parasites in the vector population in surveillance to enable effective control of filariasis in the country. Acknowledgements: Authors acknowledge the WHO/SEARO/TDR (grant no. SN 1152) and University of Kelaniya (Research grant no. RP/03/04/06/01/2006) and to Ms. H.M.Renuka and Mr. H.P.Anura U. Pathirana, Mr. M.I.M.Peris and Mr. Y.L.Rassapana for their support during field study activities. © 2008 Elsevier Inc.
The Quality of interaction between Public Health Nursing Sister and Public Health Midwife during supervision in maternal and child health care settings in Sri Lanka
(Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, 2014) Samaraweera, N.Y.; Abeysena, H.T.C.S.; Liyanage, T.; Taft, A. J.
Objective To measure the quality of interaction between the Public Health Nursing Sister (PHNS) and the Public Health Midwife (PHM) during supervision. Methods This was a cross-sectional study, using triangulation of data obtained from structured observations and audio tape records of supervisor-supervisee interactions and written records of all supervision activities. Twenty four PHNS participated in the study. This study was undertaken in the district of Kalutara. Results Supervisors spent less time on supervising client care issues than on supervising facility level issues and interacting with clients. The weakest skills among the PHNS were ‘seeking client input’ and ‘discussing the next visit’ and the strongest skills were ‘giving feedback’, ‘discussing/interpreting data’ and ‘developing rapport’. Skills of supervision increased with the service duration of the PHNS but none were able to achieve the cut-off mark for satisfactory overall quality of interaction. Conclusions This study indicates that the overall quality of interaction between the PHNS and the PHM during supervision was poor. PHNS lacked skills in prioritisation of supervision activities and time management. They also lacked other necessary skills that ensure a higher quality of PHNS-PHM interaction. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jpgim.7607