Chemistry
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Item Ground water regime in Tsunami affected Southern coastal area of Sri Lanka(Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 2006) Piyadasa, R.A.D.; Weerasinghe, K.D.N.; Liyanage, J.A.Item Physiochemical characteristics of ground water in out-skirt of Tsunami affected area; case study in Denipitiya, Southern Sri Lanka(Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 2006) Weerasinghe, K.D.N.; Piyadasa, R.U.K.; Wijayawardhana, L.M.J.R.; Liyanage, J.A.Item Quality of water consumed by chronic kidney patients in North Central province of Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Gunawardhana, S.M.; Liyanage, J.A.The population of the North Central Province (NCP) is about 1.2 million and geographically it is the largest province in the country. Majority of rural population living in the area are farmers and they largely depend on the ground and surface water sources for their day to day life. At present, over 5,000 patients in NCP are on treatment for Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) and the etiology for this disease still remains a mystery. ‘Heavy metals’ are chemical elements with a specific gravity that is at least 5 times the specific gravity of water. Living organisms require trace amounts of some essential metals but excessive levels can be detrimental to the organisms. Toxic metals have no known vital or beneficial effect on organisms, and their accumulation over a period of time in human bodies can cause serious illnesses like CKD. In addition, some potential triggering factors for CKD are PO43-, SO42-, F- and Mg. According to the surveys done in Anuradhapura and Madawachchiya renal clinics, two affected areas Wewalkatiya and Nikiniyawa villages in Anuradhapura district and a reference village, Kohalwila, where no CKD patients were found were selected for water quality testing. The water distribution reservoir in Kekirawa affected area, Malawa tank, was selected as the surface water source. Sampling was done from ground water wells in patient houses, Malawa tank and reference village in dry and wet seasons by collecting 3 samples at a point totally 20 points from a site. The concentrations of Fe, Al, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ca, Mg, Ni, Mn and Pb were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The concentrations of total phosphorous, available phosphate, available sulphate and fluoride were determined by standard methods, pH was measured and total soluble ions were determined by conductivity measurements. The mean concentration of the analyzed metals in water samples from Anuradhapura district show very higher values than the reference site. Dissolved metal concentrations in analyzed water samples in affected areas do not exceed the Maximum Contaminated Levels set by the WHO for drinking water except for Al, Mn and Ni. The triggering factors of CKD, Mg, P, SO42-, PO43- and F- accumulated in water in the affected area are very high compared to the reference site. Although these concentrations reduce in wet season, these values are always higher than the values obtained for the reference site.Item Soil and groundwater salinity variation in Matara district coastal belt- Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Dharmasena, T.H.Y.; Piyadasa, R.U.K.; Weerasinghe, K.D.N.; Liyanage, J.A.; Weerasinghe, W.A.D.C.S.The present research study identifies changes in salinity of soil and groundwater in tsunami affected and unaffected areas in Matara district. Within study area a total of 21 auger holes were drilled representing both tsunami affected and non-affected areas. The auger holes were distributed within approx 0.5 to 0.7 km distance from the coastline. Auger holes are selected to maintain perpendicular transacts to the coastal line. From each auger point, soil samples were taken from the surface layer and followed by each 50 cm depth until groundwater table is reached. Groundwater samples were also taken from auger holes and from dug wells near to auger holes. Soil physical parameters such as specific gravity, soil moisture, were determined. Soil chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity were measured using pH and EC meters. The electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil in the tsunami affected area varied from 100 μS /cm to 422 μS/cm and groundwater salinity changed in between 400 to 2000 μS /cm. A direct relationship between EC and soil depth was detected. The prepared maps confirm that soil salinity, pH and EC variations were directly related with groundwater salinity. Additional salinity levels are related with morphological factors and soil physical parameters.Item Adaptation of hydroponics technology in Matara district –Case study in Beralapanathara(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Weerasinghe, K.D.N.; Abeysekara, I.K.; Chandima, H.H.; Wickramasinghe, I.; Liyanage, J.A.Department of Agric Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna commenced an industrialization program of the Hydroponics technology developed by the Department for farmer groups in Beralapanathara along with SEEDS (Sarvodaya Economic Enterprise Development Services) and ITDG (Intermediate Technology Development Group of Sri Lanka) in 2001. Initially 10 farmers were grouped in to a company and technology was transformed to the members in the company by employing a Graduate for a period of one year, and providing necessary inputs, technology, and know how by the project. Present study was conducted from April to May in 2008 to assess the success of the program after seven years of its existence. The main objective of the study was to assess the economy of the Bell pepper and hydroponically grown Cucumber in Beralapanathara green houses. Survey results revealed that, at present total number of green houses in Beralapanathara were increased up to 16 by grouping 15 farmers. About 76.92 % of farmers have tunnel floor area over 1000 sq.ft; 23.08 % of farmers have floor area less than 1000 sq.ft. Majority of the green houses are dent shape and used the technology innovations for the construction. Bell pepper and Cucumber are the dominating vegetable crops that grown hydroponically in Beralapanathara green houses. 38.46 % of farmers grow only Bell pepper due to its high demand and high market price. Olympus, King Arther, Adino, Golden Bell and Twingo are the commonly grown Bell pepper varieties. Among them, King Arther is better adapted for the area and gives a higher yield compare to other varieties. Cucumber, variety Efdal and variety Sakura have better adoption to this area. Results revealed that, hydroponically grown Cucumber and Bell pepper in a 1000 sq.ft tunnel provides more profit compare to tea. Limiting factor for further expansion of Cucumber appears to be the transport problem, even though profit gain from Cucumber is twice that of the Bell pepper.Item Behaviour patterns of chronic kidney patients in North Central province of Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Gunawardhana, S.M.; Liyanage, J.A.North Central Province (NCP) is a major part of the dry zone of Sri Lanka. An increasing trend in admission of patients with renal diseases to hospitals is shown in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala and Badulla administrative districts. In NCP itself, over 5,000 patients are on treatment for Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) with unknown etiology. Hence a survey was conducted to collect information related to socio-economic factors and behaviour patterns of the patients who attending the renal clinics in Anuradhapura and Madawachchiya hospitals. The total number of patients questioned was 240 and they were found to be suffering from early stage of the disease. According to the results 89% of the patients who participated in the survey are farmers and their helpers. The age group of patients is the other most significant finding. That is 61% of the total patients are in the age between 30 and 60 years. This shows that unidentified factors related to CKD are not suddenly affected the individuals. They are functioning or accumulating in the human body for a long period of time. The survey showed that exposure to agrochemicals including chemical fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides is common for 55% of the CKD patients. Of the patients 69% do not consume alcohol but most of them have stopped consuming alcohol after the CKD symptoms appeared. It also showed that the prevalence of the disease is more common in males (69%) than in females and 93%t of the patients use groundwater for the drinking and household purposes.Item Usage of groundwater resources in some tsunami affected areas of the Indian Ocean tsunami after 2 years: a case study from Southern Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2009) Wijayawardhana, L.M.J.R.; Piyadara, R.U.K.; Weerasinghe, K.D.N.; Liyanage, J.A.Item Identification and mapping the distribution of water quality parameters in Gandara Devinuwara area in Matara district(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2009) Chandena, C.G.; Piyadara, R.U.K.; Weerasinghe, K.D.N.; Liyanage, J.A.Item Microbiological quality of Aravindasava used in Ayurveda(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2009) Weerasooriya, W.M.B.; Liyanage, J.A.; Jayaratne, D.L.Item Determination of the concentrations of copper and iron in selected Ayurvedic preparations(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2009) Maduwanthi, J.A.H.; Weerasooriya, W.M.B.; Liyanage, J.A.