Representation of Socio-cultural Authenticity in Post-colonial Sri Lankan Poetry in English

The criticisms of Sri Lankan Literature in English have emphasized the inherent inability of Sri Lankans to produce competently written poetry in the English language when compared with the native English standards. These critics have underrated or completely have overlooked the significant achievements and a substantial amount of high-quality English poetry which carries authentic Sri Lankan flavor. Only a handful of researches on Sri Lankan Poetry has investigated the “genuine Sri Lankanness” of the subject. This study investigated how the authentic Sri Lankan flavor is represented in Sri Lankan poetry in English which were subjected to timely socio-cultural movements. The Sinhala-Buddhist identity, the criticism of Tamil separatism, the suffering undergone by the Sinhalese in Lankan civil war are elucidated combined with a typically Sri Lankan flavor. The absence of researches on this particular aspect where the poets have employed the Sri Lankan flavor in their writing tempted the researcher to study the area in detail. A qualitative approach with a content, thematic and discourse analyses have been applied in this research in elucidating the areas of Sri Lankan flavor in the literary texts. The true Sri Lankanness represented in the literary texts of selected Sri Lankan authors representing areas such as relationships, politics, social contexts, religions as well as education have been investigated and emphasized in this study

Reasons behind the Passivity of Sri Lankan Youth on Eco-Consciousness

This paper explores the reasons behind the passivity of Sri Lankan youth on Eco Consciousness. Even though there are enough debates, researches and discussions about being conscious towards nature in Sri Lanka, the youth between 18-25 of age could be identified as apathetic or are as environmentally not savvy. Due to current Covid-19 pandemic situations they are more engrossed in internet since internet has overpowered the youth. With the emergence of new social media such as Instagram, Facebook etc., the Sri Lankan youth has totally neglected being close to nature and being sensitive towards environmental issues and crimes. Eco-consciousness among most Sri Lankans are visible only when certain environmental crisis comes into a discussion platform or forum. The actual eco-conscious population is either politically silenced or is totally fed up due to the lethargic responses from the responsible parties. Therefore, Eco criticism could be used in order to enhance their eco consciousness

Multiple insecticide resistance mechanisms involving metabolic changes and insensitive target sites selected in anopheline vectors of malaria in Sri Lanka

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The current status of insecticide resistance and the underlying resistance mechanisms were studied in the major vector of malaria, <it>Anopheles culicifacies</it>, and the secondary vector, <it>Anopheles subpictus </it>in five districts (Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Moneragala, Puttalam and Trincomalee) of Sri Lanka. Eight other anophelines, <it>Anopheles annularis, Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles jamesii, Anopheles nigerrimus, Anopheles peditaeniatus, Anopheles tessellatus, Anopheles vagus </it>and <it>Anopheles varuna </it>from Anuradhapura district were also tested.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult females were exposed to the WHO discriminating dosages of DDT, malathion, fenitrothion, propoxur, λ-cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, permethrin and etofenprox. The presence of metabolic resistance by esterase, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and monooxygenase-based mechanisms, and the sensitivity of the acetylcholinesterase target site were assessed using synergists, and biochemical, and metabolic techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All the anopheline species had high DDT resistance. All <it>An. culicifacies </it>and <it>An. subpictus </it>populations were resistant to malathion, except <it>An. culicifacies </it>from Kurunegala, where there was no malathion carboxylesterase activity. Kurunegala and Puttalam populations of <it>An. culicifacies </it>were susceptible to fenitrothion. All the <it>An. culicifacies </it>populations were susceptible to carbamates. Both species were susceptible to the discriminating dosages of cypermethrin and cyfluthrin, but had different levels of resistance to other pyrethroids. Of the 8 other anophelines, only <it>An. nigerrimus </it>and <it>An. peditaeniatus </it>were resistant to all the insecticides tested, probably due to their high exposure to the insecticides used in agriculture. <it>An. vagus </it>showed some resistance to permethrin.</p> <p>Esterases, GSTs and monooxygenases were elevated in both <it>An. culicifacies </it>and <it>An. subpictus</it>. AChE was most sensitive to insecticides in Kurunegala and Trincomalee <it>An. culicifacies </it>populations and highly insensitive in the Trincomalee <it>An. subpictus </it>population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The complexity of the resistance segregating in these field populations underlines the need for new molecular tools to identify the genomic diversity, differential upregulation and different binding specificities of resistance conferring genes, and the presence of different subspecies with different vectorial capacities.</p

IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITIES OF SOME COMMON LICHEN METABOLITES

Objective: To evaluate the immunomodulatory activities of some of the common lichen compounds by using chemiluminescence based cellular assays.Methods: Number of secondary lichen metabolites, representing a breadth of lichen substances, were investigated for their effects on the respiratory burst of human whole blood phagocytes, isolated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and murine macrophages using luminol or lucigenin-based chemiluminescence probes. Results: This study identify a clear suppressive effect of some lichen metabolites on phagocytosis response upon activation with serum opsonized zymosan by several lichen substances. Amongst the compounds tested, orsellinic acid, methyl orsellinate, methyl haematomate, lecanoric acid and lobaric acid, showed a potent immunomodulatory activity as compared to the standards. The lobaric acid suppressed both the myloperoxidase dependent and myloperoxidase independent, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production in the oxidative burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) at the lowest concentration tested (3.1 µg/ml). Whereas, lecanoric acid, suppressed only the myloperoxidase dependent ROS production with IC50&lt; 3.1µg/ml when compared to the standard sodium diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate (SDT) (IC50 = 1.3 ± 0.2 µg/ml). Orsellinic acid, methyl orsellinate and methyl haematomate showed a selective myloperoxidase independent pathway with IC50 values; &lt; 3.1µg/ml; 6.1 ± 1.0 µg/ml;  3.3 ± 0.1 µg/ml, respectively, being lower as compared to standard SDT (IC50 = 8.2 ± 1.9 µg/ml). Conclusion: Based on the results obtained it is appropriate to conclude that lichen are not only a good source of antioxidants, but also potent immunomodulators, and thus deserve to be investigated further.Â

Prisoners‟ rehabilitation in Sri Lanka

The problem of prisoners is a burden to current Sri Lanka as 1.5% of the totalpopulation of Sri Lanka are Srilankan prisoners, and the most important fact is that outof that percentage 46% are in between 20 to 30 years and 36.5% are imprisoned due todrug related matters. It is an obstacle for the current development of the society and thecountry, as the government has to allocate a large amount of funds from the budget forthe prisoners.The objective of the research is to introduce a new rehabilitation programme tocivilize the prisoners, value and develop their own skills for the benefit of the countryand release them to the society as good citizens.When the prisoners are released to the society there are more possibilities ofthem engaging again in criminal activities due to many reasons such as poverty, lack ofeducation, background and etc… That is why to prevent their re imprisonment and toadjust their mental formation and to start their lives through basic human requirementsprisoners‟ rehabilitation is needed. Though there is a current rehabilitation programmeconducts, it should be reviewed, restructured and reprogrammed through the vavles ofthe old programme and introduce new methods and techniques to the new society as adeveloping nation. It will be a better bench mark for the policy makers.Both quantitative and the qualitative methods will be used to gather theinformation. There will be two focus groups, such as current prisoners and releasedprisoners. With the permission from the prison department around 100 prisoners fromboth the categories will be interviewed inside the prison individually, confidentially andrespectfully. (LTTE prisoners are excepted from the research), The advice and theguidelines will be taken from the rehabilitation trainers and the scholars.Key words: Prisoners, Rehabilitation, Development, Training, Scholar

Modelling of microstructural evolution in multi-layered overlay coatings

Functionally graded, multi-layered coatings are designed to provide corrosion protection over a range of operating conditions typically found in industrial gas turbines. A model incorporating diffusion, equilibrium thermodynamics and oxidation has been developed to simulate the microstructural evolution within a multi-layered coating system. The phase and concentration profiles predicted by the model have been compared with an experimental multi-layered system containing an Al-rich outer layer, a Cr-enriched middle layer and an MCrAlY-type inner layer deposited on a superalloy substrate. The concentration distribution and many microstructural features observed experimentally can be predicted by the model. The model is expected to be useful for assessing the microstructural evolution of multilayer coated systems which can be potentially used on industrial gas turbine aerofoils

Potential of Lichen Compounds as Antidiabetic Agents with Antioxidative Properties: A Review

The advancement in the knowledge of potent antioxidants has uncovered the way for greater insight in the treatment of diabetic complications. Lichens are a rich resource of novel bioactive compounds and their antioxidant potential is well documented. Herein we review the antidiabetic potential of lichens which have received considerable attention, in the recent past. We have correlated the antidiabetic and the antioxidant potential of lichen compounds. The study shows a good accordance between antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of lichens and points out the need to look into gathering the scarce and scattered data on biological activities for effective utilization. The review establishes that the lichen extracts, especially of Parmotrema sp. and Ramalina sp. have shown promising potential in both antidiabetic and antioxidant assays. Ubiquitous compounds, namely, zeorin, methylorsellinate, methyl-β-orcinol carboxylate, methyl haematommate, lecanoric acid, salazinic acid, sekikaic acid, usnic acid, gyrophoric acid, and lobaric acid have shown promising potential in both antidiabetic as well as antioxidant assays highlighting their potential for effective treatment of diabetic mellitus and its associated complications. The available compilation of this data provides the future perspectives and highlight the need for further studies of this potent herbal source to harvest more beneficial therapeutic antidiabetic drugs

Modelling the coefficient of thermal expansion in Ni-based superalloys and bond coatings

The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of nickel-based superalloys and bond coat layers was modelled by considering contributions from their constituent phases. The equilibrium phase composition of the examined materials was determined using thermodynamic equilibrium software with an appropriate database for Ni-based alloys, whereas the CTE and elastic properties of the principal phases were modelled using published data. The CTEs of individual phases were combined using a number of approaches to determine the CTE of the phase aggregate. As part of this work, the expansion coefficients of the superalloy IN-738LC and bond coat Amdry-995 were measured as a function of temperature and compared with the model predictions. The predicted values were also validated with the published data for the single-crystal superalloy CMSX-4 and a number of other Ni-based alloy compositions at 1000 K. A very good agreement between experiment and model output was found, especially up to 800  $$^\circ$$ � C. The modelling approaches discussed in this paper have the potential to be an extremely useful tool for the industry and for the designers of new coating systems

Olax zeylanica: AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE BIO-PESTICIDE FOR THE CONTROLOF THE MAIZE WEEVIL SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS MOTS. (CURCULIONIDAE)

Leaf powders of Ocimum graticimum, Morinda citrifolia, Aegle marmelos, Annona squamosa, Annonareticulata, Olax zeylanica and Ricinus communis were screened for their insecticidal activity underlaboratory conditions (30±1 ºC and 84 - 86% RH) against Sitophilus zeamais. The powders at the rate of15g/50g of maize grains were tested and adult mortality was recorded after 24 hours. O. zeylanica washighly effective against S. zeamais eliciting 100% mortality. Mortality for other six plants was significantlylower ranging from 5.28 to 21.24%. O. zeylanica was tested at five dose rates (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0g) andmortality of adult weevils was recorded after 6, 12 and 24 hours. Mortality of weevils increased with theincrease of the dose as well as the exposure time. Also, weevil mortality was 100% at the dose of 10g justafter 12 hours. Results of this study indicated that leaf powder of O. zeylanica was extremely toxic to S.zeamaize weevils. LD50 and LD99 values after 6,12and 24 hours of exposure were 5.84, 2.47, 1.84g and38.55, 8.33 and 6.51g respectively. The present study revealed that Olax zeylanica has high potential as abio-pesticide which can compete effectively with hazardous insecticides in managing S. zeamaisinfestations.Keywords: Olax zeylanica, Sitophilus zeamais, Insecticidal activit