Browsing by Author "Ratnatunga, K."

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Elephants in Lankan Numismatics
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Ratnatunga, K.
Images of elephants have been used in Sri Lankan coins from the earliest times. It was one of the symbols easily recognized on silver Kahapana (Punch Mark coins). In the classic large multi-strike copper coin known as Elephant and Swastika presumed to be issued to commemorate the visit of Mahinda Thero during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BCE, elephant represents the conception of the Buddha. A pair of elephants with a water pot and a trunk is seen bathing with a standing lady on coins that have been called as "Lakshmi Plaques". Elephants are also seen on many inscribed lead coins found in Ruhuna. In the early British era from 1801 to 1821, the elephant was the main symbol on the obverse of most Ceylon Government coins both in silver and copper minted both locally (dumps) and in the UK. Subsequently, the elephant was used on many tokens used to pay labor on coffee plantations in the era from 1843 to 1880's. In the post 1972 Sri Lanka era, elephants appear on few commemorative coins. The Government Treasury Sterling currency notes issued from 1827 to 1853 has an elephant with Britannia. In the currency notes issued from 1885 to 1939 the primary watermark is the elephant and Dagoba and is still used in the Sri Lanka Railways and Post Office logos. The gargantuan elephants with coconut trees are used in the official armorial ensign which appear on the back of currency notes from 1925 to 1939. A mahout on an elephant appears on the one rupee note from 1941 to 1949. The elephant in the guard stone to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic appears on Rs500/- notes from 1981 to 1990, and the late Maligawa Tusker on the Rs1000/- notes from 1991 to 2006.
A Protocol for dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic floor
(Springer India, 2013) Ratnatunga, K.; Deen, K.I.; Prasad, R.
Methods of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) of the pelvic floor vary among centers making interpretation investigator-dependent and comparison of results difficult. We describe a protocol utilizing standard MRI equipment, which achieves high image quality while remaining practical and cost-effective. Fifteen patients, with difficulty in evacuation of stool, underwent dMRI. Each patient was trained prior to the procedure. The pelvis was mapped in the sagittal plane using T2-weighted dMRI in rest, strain and evacuation phases with rectal hydro-gel as contrast. Images obtained were used to identify and quantify the dynamics of each pelvic compartment. Acquisition time for each phase was 14 seconds. Extensive patient instruction and T2-weighted dMRI with rectal contrast optimized image quality and efficiency. The evacuation phase yielded data on the extent of dysfunction and compartment prolapse, not seen in the other phases. These findings led to change in management in 67 % (n=10) of patients.