Browsing by Author "Ratnayake, P."

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Neurological disorders associated with COVID-19 in Sri Lanka
(BioMed Central,, 2023) Chang, T.; Wijeyekoon, R.; Keshavaraj, A.; Ranawaka, U.; Senanayake, S.; Ratnayake, P.; Senanayake, B.; Caldera, M.C.; Pathirana, G.; Sirisena, D.; Wanigasinghe, J.; Gunatilake, S.; ASN COVID-19 Study Group
BACKGROUND: Neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported from many countries around the world, including the South Asian region. This surveillance study aimed to describe the spectrum of neurological disorders associated with COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. METHODS: COVID-19 patients manifesting neurological disorders one week prior and up to six weeks after infection were recruited from all the neurology centres of the government hospitals in Sri Lanka from May 2021 – May 2022. Data was collected using a structured data form that was electronically transmitted to a central repository. All patients were evaluated and managed by a neurologist. Data were analysed using simple descriptive analysis to characterise demographic and disease related variables, and simple comparisons and logistic regression were performed to analyse outcomes and their associations. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-four patients with neurological manifestations associated with COVID-19 were recruited from all nine provinces in Sri Lanka. Ischaemic stroke (31%) was the commonest neurological manifestation followed by encephalopathy (13.6%), Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) (9.2%) and encephalitis (7.6%). Ischaemic stroke, encephalitis and encephalopathy presented within 6 days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms, whereas GBS and myelitis presented up to 10 days post onset while epilepsy and Bell palsy presented up to 20 – 40 days post onset. Haemorrhagic stroke presented either just prior to or at onset, or 10 – 25 days post onset of COVID-19 symptomatic infection. An increased frequency of children presenting with encephalitis and encephalopathy was observed during the Omicron variant predominant period. A poor outcome (no recovery or death) was associated with supplemental oxygen requirement during admission (Odds Ratio: 12.94; p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum and frequencies of COVID-19 associated neurological disorders in Sri Lanka were similar to that reported from other countries, with strokes and encephalopathy being the commonest. Requiring supplemental oxygen during hospitalisation was associated with a poor outcome.
Protocol for the Sri Lankan Cerebral Palsy Register pilot study
(BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., 2020) Heiyanthuduwage, T.M.; Sumanasena, S.P.; Kitnasamy, G.; Sheedy, H. S.; Khandaker, G.; Fernando, R.; Wijesekara, S.; Jagoda, J.; Ratnayake, P.; Wanigasinghe, J.; Mclntyre, S.; Goldsmith, S.; Waight, E.; Badawi, N.; Muhit, M.; Muttiah, N.
INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a heterogeneous group of motor disorders resulting from disturbance in the developing brain. CP occurs in approximately 2.1 per 1000 live births in high-income countries, but in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the prevalence and severity of CP may be greater and aetiological risk factors different. In Sri Lanka, a LMIC, there have been no epidemiological studies of CP to date. Systematically collected data are required to identify opportunities for primary and secondary prevention, to plan and establish services to support children and adults with CP and their families and to act as a sampling frame for new research. Here we describe a pilot study protocol for a CP register in Sri Lanka. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The aim of this study is to establish a CP register in Sri Lanka. We will use different surveillance methodologies in two provinces of Sri Lanka: hospital and community surveillance in the Western Province and community surveillance in the Eastern Province. A common record form will collect demographic, clinical and service data for children with CP <18 years living in these two provinces. Data will be transferred to a secure online data repository and used to describe the epidemiology of CP in these regions. We will describe the strengths and challenges of the surveillance mechanisms and estimate the resources required for ongoing hospital and community based surveillance in the Western and Eastern provinces and to include additional provinces across the country. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has ethical clearance from The University of Kelaniya, National Health Research Council, the Institutional Ethics Review Committee of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo South Teaching Hospital and the Director of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital. Results from this research will be disseminated through local and international conferences and through publications in peer-reviewed journals. KEYWORDS: developmental neurology & neurodisability; perinatology; public health; rehabilitation medicine.
The Tapestry of Rashomon an Analysis of its Social Background,
(Journal of Aesthetic and Fine Arts, University of Kelaniya, 2016) Ratnayake, P.
The film Rashomon of Akira Kurosawa is a work of art (Tatara 2011), produced in the 20th century that can be compared to no other classical work produced in the era. Kurosawa has not only represented the human activities of the social, political and economical environment but had also reflected in depth the deeper realities of humanity itself (Macfarlane 2003). The literary journey he undertakes is a result of the depression that had sunk to the depths of his innermost mind. In doing so one could observed that he had been influenced by the techniques belonging to the world and culture of the short story writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa who had composed Rashomon and In a Grove. In producing Rashomon he had concentrated more on transcribing the plot to a film script.