Browsing by Author "Gamage, P."

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Knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19 among tea plantation owners in Balangoda, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Dharmalingam, L.; Chandrasekera, C.; Pramodya, S.; Gamage, P.; Fernando, C.; Prathapan, S.
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic is the current global health crisis with a socioeconomic impact around the world. Tea plantation owners need adequate knowledge of COVID-19 to prevent its spread in tea estates and sustain their economy during the pandemic. Objectives: The objective was to describe the knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19 among tea plantation owners in Balangoda, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, was conducted among 85 tea plantation owners of a Tea Estate Development Society in Sri Lanka. Simple random sampling technique was used. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising of participant’s sociodemographic data, effect of COVID-19 on estate economy (during March to August 2020 compared to 2019), knowledge, lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19 and chronic diseases among the participants. Data was analysed using SPSS software. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: Most of the participants had poor knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID- 19 (50.6%). No significant association was found between knowledge of CO VID-19 and sociodemographic data such as age (p=0.579), gender (p=0.263), education level (p=0.941) and monthly income (p=0.082). Majority (56.0%) had a positive effect on estate economy during March to August 2020 compared to 2019. No significant association was found between poor knowledge of COVID-19 and poor effect on estate economy due to COV ID- 19 (p= 0.365). Statistical significance was observed between the presence of diabetes and poor knowledge of COVID-19 (p=0.049). Conclusions: Majority of the tea plantation owners lack adequate knowledge and lifestyle adaptations to COVID-19. Thus, it is essential to improve the knowledge among them.
A Novel mutation in ACAT1 causing Beta-Ketothiolase deficiency in a 4-year-old Sri Lankan boy with metabolic ketoacidosis.
(Springer, 2020) Manawadu, T. V.; Jasinge, E.; Fernando, M.; Gamage, P.; Gunarathne, A.V.
ABSTRACT:Beta-ketothiolase (mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, T2) deficiency is a rare genetic disorder of ketone utilization and isoleucine catabolism caused by mutations in the ACAT1 gene. Here we report the first Sri Lankan case of T2 deficiency confirmed by genetic analysis. A 4-year-old boy presented with the first episode of severe metabolic ketoacidosis after a febrile illness. On admission, the child was drowsy and had circulatory collapse needing intubation. Initial investigations were not detective of a cause and symptomatic management did not improve the condition. During the acute episode, his urine organic acid profile revealed elevations in 3-OH-2-methyl-butyric acid and tiglylglycine whilst 2-methylacetoacetic acid was not detected. The differential diagnoses for the urine organic acid profile included deficiency in T2 or 2-methyl-3-OH-butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase enzymes. Genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing of ACAT1 gene revealed that the proband is homozygous for the novel missense likely pathogenic variant c.152C > T p.(Pro51Leu) confirming the diagnosis of T2 deficiency. This case highlights the importance of suspecting T2 deficiency in the differential diagnosis of pediatric metabolic ketoacidosis in preventing life threatening consequences of an otherwise benign disorder. KEYWORDS: ACAT1; Beta-ketothiolase deficiency; Metabolic ketoacidosis; Tiglylglycine; Urine organic acid.
Reasons for Unionization and Politicization of Trade Unions in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. p.01-02, 2011) Wijewantha, P.; Gamage, P.
Observations indicate that, the majority of both private and public sector organizations in Sri Lanka have trade unions and a higher percentage of the workforce has some form of trade union membership. Majority of the trade unions in these organizations are branches of main trade unions affiliated to leading political parties. As it is found in this study on reasons for unionization and impact of their politicalization, a multiplicity of trade unions is in operation in the selected state organizations. This has been mainly due to people having various motives to fulfil through trade unions and in addition due to their affiliation to achieve objectives of political parties. Situations prevailing in the selected organizations are not for the wider interests of the workers and are also harmful in considering the objectives of the trade union movement in general. This has created a negative feeling among the workers about the trade unions and it is implied when looking at their reasons for unionization. As such it has become necessary to pioneer efforts in bringing the trade union activities to the right track especially in the South Asian context, for the trade unions to be contributory to the employee welfare and national development. The study proposes certain measures based on the observations in bringing the country’s trade union movement to the right path.