This blog is about the entrants in the year 1960, to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ceylon, Colombo. The email address for communications is, 1960batch@gmail.com. Please BOOKMARK this page for easier access later.Photo is the entrance porch of the old General Hospital, Colombo, still in existence. Please use the search box below to look for your requirement.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Pedigree of the present Archbishop of Canterbury
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3530902/This-comes-complete-surprise-Archbishop-Canterbury-s-shock-discovering-illegitimate-son-Churchill-s-private-secretary.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3530902/This-comes-complete-surprise-Archbishop-Canterbury-s-shock-discovering-illegitimate-son-Churchill-s-private-secretary.html
Habits to promote health
Rising spread of sorcery among urbanized folks in present Sri Lanka.
Forwarded for the entertainment value.
Sorcery is dead in Sri Lanka, due to its own failure rate.
Bodhi Poojas, and devale worship survives in spite of the
same failure rate.
But
the tamasha value is high with richer people spending lakhs per event. A
business! Getting bigger.
Good if expats can send some money to smash coconuts. Direct
hits on opponents heads is sure sorcery.
jksw
"Gananath Obeyesekere’s study of Seenigama, Munneswaram and
Kahatapitiya shrines found that most of the clients were from the urbanized
classes, rather than from the rural classes."Thousands
also smash coconuts routinely at shrines invoking harm on enemies ---Read on Thanks Philip
In Sri Lanka Sorcery Is Substitute For
Pre-Meditated Murder By P.K.Balachandran 25th March 2016 S Indian Statesman
COLOMBO: In Sri
Lanka, sorcery is used as a substitute for premeditated murder and physical
violence, says Princeton University’s Emeritus Professor of Anthropology,
Gananath Obeyesekere.
In
his paper: “ Sorcery, Premeditated Murder and Canalization of Aggression”
revised in 2014,
Obeyesekere says that sorcery helps canalize a person’s murderous intention or
wish to physically harm someone into a non-violent form of aggression which is
thought to be as effective as the actual infliction of death or physical injury
while being less risky and less messy.
This explains the widespread use of sorcery by members of all communities in
Sri Lanka – Sinhalese Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim – though users are
predominantly Sinhalese Buddhist.
The use of sorcery is probably more now than before, because in modern Sri
Lanka, sorcery is no longer a crime equivalent to homicide.
In
the times of the Sinhalese Kings, sorcerers were put to death as murderers.
The
most renowned places for sorcery in the island are Seenigama Devale on the
Western coast, south of Colombo, which is a Buddhist shrine;
the Kali
kovil in Munneswaram in Chilaw, north of Colombo, which is a Hindu shrine;
and
the Kahatapitiya shrine in Gampola, in Central Sri Lanka, which is Muslim
shrine housing the grave of a saint.
Neither the people nor the
shrines discriminate on the basis of religion, with the result, Muslims also
consult sorcerers in Munneswaram’s Kali Kovil or at
Seenigama.
To
the anthropologist, the sorcerer is the equivalent of a “hired killer”. In
fact, sorcerers who recite “poison verses ” are thought to be “deadlier than
actual killers,”
and
are “popular among politicians as a technique for getting rid of their
political enemies,” Obeyesekere says.
Given
the high demand, the sorcerers charge high fees.
Obeyesekere’s study of Seenigama, Munneswaram and Kahatapitiya
shrines found that most of the clients were from the urbanized classes, rather
than from the rural classes. Disputes brought
before the sorcerers were about property and sex rather than land.
And
the targets of sorcery were not kinsmen as in the case of landed people, but
outsiders, indicating the concerns of the emerging petty bourgeoisie.
Though
an ancient practice, sorcery in Sri Lanka seems to have contemporary
relevance.Friday, April 8, 2016
The Panama papers
George Soros: The
"Parent" to a Hundred Journalists
Soros' beef with Putin runs deep.
A Conspiracy Theorist's Guide to the Panama Papers
http://flip.it/xlka7
Traditional burials are ruining the planet
— here’s what we should do instead
http://flip.it/eedTY
New Swedish wave energy buoy
Boasts 5x the output of existing technology
http://flip.it/EoCiO
Mysterious Antidepressant Target Reveals Its Shape
Prozac
(fluoxetine) and similar antidepressants are among the most prescribed drugs in
the United States, but scientists still don’t know exactly how they work. Now
one piece of that puzzle—the …
http://flip.it/l_60K
Wisdom is a Matter of Both Heart and Mind
Neuroscience
NewsApril 7, 2016 The fluctuations of your heartbeat may affect your wisdom,
according to new research from the University of Waterloo. The study suggests
that heart rate variation and …
http://flip.it/f110x
A Hotel Safety Checklist for World Travelers
From a Former CIA Operative
http://flip.it/Ia2Xk
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Kumar Dharmasena, Umpire
email from JKS Weerasekera
Final between West Indies and England. 20/20.
I watched the incident. Given out caught behind wicket Marlon Samuel
walked off without any expression. Credit to him.
Dharmasena too was very diplomatic not reflecting his views facially.
Umpire too was calm in appearance.
Yes that decided the result.
Next day newspapers here showed Samuels in a bad light, putting his feet
up on a table or so- after he asked the reporters "do you mind?"
Went on to lambast him about his tiff with Shane Warne in the papers.
Shame.
No wonder even our lay watchers rooted for West Indies.
jksw
Subject: FW: Umpire Tucker from Australia
________________________________________
From: Mahen Weerasinghe [mahe@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 7 April 2016 9:04 p.m.
To: Mahen Weerasinghe
Subject: FW: Umpire Tucker from Australia
From:
Subject: FW: Umpire Tucker from Australia
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2016 08:20:19 +0800
Subject: Umpire Tucker from Australia
From: kpm
To: kpm
How Dharmasena saved the day for West Indies
April 5, 2016, 9:25 pm
article_image
<http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1432792688
kumara.jpg>
On Sunday, the West Indies stunned the cricketing world with their come from
behind victory against England in the finals of the ICC World T-20 at Eden
Gardens in Calcutta . Barbadian Carlos Brathwaite and Jamaican Marlon
Samuels were the stars in West Indies ' win.
However, victory wouldn't have been possible for West Indies if not for Sri
Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena.
West Indies had made dreadful start losing three wickets for just 11 runs
and the game looked well beyond their reach when Samuels was given out
caught behind by umpire Rod Tucker. Samuels walked off with the scoreboard
reading 37 for four. However, Dharmasena the leg-umpire was suspicious given
the way wicketkeeper Josh Buttler had collected the catch.
Dharmasena, a member of Sri Lanka 's 1996 World Cup winning team, had
encouraged umpire Tucker to verify the catch, but Tucker had responded that
he was positive that the catch was clean. As Dharmasena kept on insisting,
third umpire Marias Erasmus too asked whether Tucker was absolutely sure.
That made Tucker to ask for television assistance. Television replays then
clearly showed that the ball had bounced before the catch was taken and
Samuels was called back.
Samuels went onto smash an unbeaten 85 and was named Man of the Match.
Later, after the game, Dharmasena had come for high praise from ICC.
Dharmasena, nicknamed 'unanduwa' by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga for his
untiring efforts takes his job very seriously and has been highly regarded
at the ICC.
Dharmasena, a banker by profession, is employed at Hatton National Bank,
with whom he began his career 26 years ago.
After retiring from First Class cricket, Dharmasena tried his hand in both
coaching and umpiring. Despite having Level 3 coaching certificate, he soon
realized that coaching will not take him much far in the game. Then he opted
to concentrate on umpiring, but received little support.
However, Dharmsena kept persevering. Despite efforts by then President of
Board Arjuna Ranatunga to fast track Dharmasena as an international umpire,
the opportunities he got at the top level were few and rare.
Then former captain Sanath Jayasuriya introduced him to those running the
Indian Premier League (IPL) and there Dharmasena got constant exposure.
Soon there were international recognition as well for Dharmasena and he was
drafted into the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. In the year 2012, Dharmasena
turned a corner as the ICC named him Umpire of the Year.
Today he is one of the finest umpires in the world and gets invited from
places like Australia and England to give lectures on umpiring.
Apart from officiating in the recent World T-20 final, Dharmasena also
officiated the final of the ICC World Cup last year between Australia and
New Zealand at the MCG.
Final between West Indies and England. 20/20.
I watched the incident. Given out caught behind wicket Marlon Samuel
walked off without any expression. Credit to him.
Dharmasena too was very diplomatic not reflecting his views facially.
Umpire too was calm in appearance.
Yes that decided the result.
Next day newspapers here showed Samuels in a bad light, putting his feet
up on a table or so- after he asked the reporters "do you mind?"
Went on to lambast him about his tiff with Shane Warne in the papers.
Shame.
No wonder even our lay watchers rooted for West Indies.
jksw
Subject: FW: Umpire Tucker from Australia
________________________________________
From: Mahen Weerasinghe [mahe@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 7 April 2016 9:04 p.m.
To: Mahen Weerasinghe
Subject: FW: Umpire Tucker from Australia
From:
Subject: FW: Umpire Tucker from Australia
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2016 08:20:19 +0800
Subject: Umpire Tucker from Australia
From: kpm
To: kpm
How Dharmasena saved the day for West Indies
April 5, 2016, 9:25 pm
article_image
<http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1432792688
kumara.jpg>
On Sunday, the West Indies stunned the cricketing world with their come from
behind victory against England in the finals of the ICC World T-20 at Eden
Gardens in Calcutta . Barbadian Carlos Brathwaite and Jamaican Marlon
Samuels were the stars in West Indies ' win.
However, victory wouldn't have been possible for West Indies if not for Sri
Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena.
West Indies had made dreadful start losing three wickets for just 11 runs
and the game looked well beyond their reach when Samuels was given out
caught behind by umpire Rod Tucker. Samuels walked off with the scoreboard
reading 37 for four. However, Dharmasena the leg-umpire was suspicious given
the way wicketkeeper Josh Buttler had collected the catch.
Dharmasena, a member of Sri Lanka 's 1996 World Cup winning team, had
encouraged umpire Tucker to verify the catch, but Tucker had responded that
he was positive that the catch was clean. As Dharmasena kept on insisting,
third umpire Marias Erasmus too asked whether Tucker was absolutely sure.
That made Tucker to ask for television assistance. Television replays then
clearly showed that the ball had bounced before the catch was taken and
Samuels was called back.
Samuels went onto smash an unbeaten 85 and was named Man of the Match.
Later, after the game, Dharmasena had come for high praise from ICC.
Dharmasena, nicknamed 'unanduwa' by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga for his
untiring efforts takes his job very seriously and has been highly regarded
at the ICC.
Dharmasena, a banker by profession, is employed at Hatton National Bank,
with whom he began his career 26 years ago.
After retiring from First Class cricket, Dharmasena tried his hand in both
coaching and umpiring. Despite having Level 3 coaching certificate, he soon
realized that coaching will not take him much far in the game. Then he opted
to concentrate on umpiring, but received little support.
However, Dharmsena kept persevering. Despite efforts by then President of
Board Arjuna Ranatunga to fast track Dharmasena as an international umpire,
the opportunities he got at the top level were few and rare.
Then former captain Sanath Jayasuriya introduced him to those running the
Indian Premier League (IPL) and there Dharmasena got constant exposure.
Soon there were international recognition as well for Dharmasena and he was
drafted into the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. In the year 2012, Dharmasena
turned a corner as the ICC named him Umpire of the Year.
Today he is one of the finest umpires in the world and gets invited from
places like Australia and England to give lectures on umpiring.
Apart from officiating in the recent World T-20 final, Dharmasena also
officiated the final of the ICC World Cup last year between Australia and
New Zealand at the MCG.
Three Toronto Surgeons
Email from Kamalini Kanapathippillai
Three Toronto
surgeons were playing golf together and discussing surgeries they had
performed.
One of them said, "I'm the best
surgeon in Ontario. In my favorite case, a concert pianist lost seven fingers
in an accident;
I reattached them, and 8 months later
he performed a private concert for the Queen of England.
The second surgeon said. "That's
nothing. A young man lost an arm and both legs in an accident;
I reattached them, and 2 years later he
won a gold Medal in track and field events in the Olympics.
The third surgeon said, "You guys
are amateurs”. Several years ago a man was high on cocaine and marijuana
and he rode a horse head-on into a
train traveling 80 miles an hour.
All I had left to work with was the
man's blonde hair and the Horse's ass.
I was able to put them together and now
he's running for President of the U.S.A!"
Video from antique photos
Antique Photos Were Used to Make This Realistic Footage That Looks 85 Years Old
http://flip.it/arCJV
In Chernobyl nuclear zone, animals thrive without humans
What
happens to the environment when humans disappear? Thirty years after the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster, booming populations of wolf, elk and other wildlife
in the vast contaminated zone in Belarus and Ukraine provide a clue. On April
26, 1986, a botched test at the nuclear plant in Ukraine, the...
http://flip.it/QVrBU
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Return of the Yal Devi, Sri Lanka
"Jaffna Train Yal Devi train Colombo to Jaffna Sri Lanka railway 2014" on YouTube
"Yal Devi special S12 DMU run at 100+ kmph to Kilinochchi" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_aV-MdCHBZ4
An Ode to Human Anatomy ...
email from JKS Weerasekera
Where can a man buy a cap for his knee,
Or the key to a lock of hair?
Can his eyes be called an academy?
Because there are pupils there?
In the crown of your head can jewels be found?
Who crosses the bridge of your nose?
If you wanted to shingle the roof of your mouth,
Would you use the nails on your toes?
Can you sit in the shade of the palm of your hand,
Or beat on the drum of your ear?
Can the calf in your leg eat the corn off your toe?
Then why not grow corn on the ear?
Can the crook in your elbow be sent to jail?
If so, just what did he do?
How can you sharpen your shoulder blades?
Or the key to a lock of hair?
Can his eyes be called an academy?
Because there are pupils there?
In the crown of your head can jewels be found?
Who crosses the bridge of your nose?
If you wanted to shingle the roof of your mouth,
Would you use the nails on your toes?
Can you sit in the shade of the palm of your hand,
Or beat on the drum of your ear?
Can the calf in your leg eat the corn off your toe?
Then why not grow corn on the ear?
Can the crook in your elbow be sent to jail?
If so, just what did he do?
How can you sharpen your shoulder blades?
I'll be darned if I know - do you?
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
PA journalist: Israel uses ISIS to get revenge on Europe
Mofiq
Matar, a journalist for the PA daily al-Hayat al-Jadida, claims that Israel was
behind the attacks in Paris and Brussels. Though ISIS claimed responsibility
for both, Matar argues that the …
http://flip.it/I2JVj
Scientists develop 'game changing' stem cell repair system
Stem
cell therapies capable of regenerating any human tissue damaged by injury,
disease or ageing could be available within a few years, following landmark
research led by UNSW Australia researchers.
http://flip.it/ywYJA
Earth - How did evil evolve, and why did it persist?
Evil,
it can seem, is all around us. Hitler. The Rwandan genocide. Ted Bundy. Every
time you read the news or watch television, bad behaviour that causes harm is
on display. Is being evil advantageous …
http://flip.it/4XblA
Monday, April 4, 2016
The value of the 'Murunga' tree.
Murunga leaf heals wounds too. I used them on myself in pre antibiotic era.
jksw
Murunga and CKD
Inbox
| x |
|
10:07 AM (6 hours ago)
 | | ||
Makes sense -from a brilliant botanist
The best choice would be an easily available, inexpensive, practical, simple method that is easily understood and adaptable within existing rural practices.
One such method that has received enormous publicity on the Internet is the use of powdered, dry Murunga (Moringa oleifera) seeds. Trawling through the Internet (under “Use of Moringa seeds for water purification”: 211,000 references), I have published, from time to time, a few letters in the “Opinion” columns of The Island. But disappointingly, I have seen no feedback on any trials conducted. The procedure is very simple. Even at the risk of boring some readers, in view of the vital importance of trying even the most fanciful of possible solutions (or palliatives); let me reproduce a section of the letter published on 29 June, 2011.
“Sudanese villagers faced with the necessity to drink turbid Nile waters, have for centuries, used a traditional method. It has since been tested for effectiveness by very respectable British Universities and its validity endorsed. The process consists simply of drying mature seeds of Murunga pods, cleaning them of debris and skins, and pounding the kernels in a mortar to give a fine white powder. This is then sieved. A small amount of the powder is placed with a quantity of water in a stoppered bottle (an aerated water bottle would do fine), and shaken vigorously to give a milky white suspension. This is then filtered through a fine cloth. After this, it has to be stirred (shaken) very vigorously (akin to “potentiation” in homeopathy?) for about two minutes and then less vigorously for 10 to 15 minutes. A small amount is then added to the water to be purified (in a clay Kalagediya- aluminium being avoided) and stirred in. This is allowed to stand overnight or for a few hours, when the water is seen to be fully clarified and potable. The equivalent of a few milligrams of seed powder is said to suffice for several gallons of water.”
Obviously, the amounts and procedure may need to be refined to suit local needs. Many studies have failed to encounter any ill effects or off tastes. The seeds themselves are edible. Elaborate and careful studies have shown that every one of the postulated causes for CKDU are eliminated by this simple, practical and cheap method. Local workers can very simply test this out and evolve optimal protocols. Water used for drinking, as well as for cooking, should be treated.
Even the chemistry of this magical use has been worked out. The activity apparently resides in certain short chain proteins. As these molecules carry positive and negative charges at their two ends, they have the capacity to capture both negatively (phosphate, carbonate, fluoride) and positively (cadmium, arsenic, heavy metals) ions. Interestingly, it is reported that East Africa boasts of Murunga plantations for water purification. It is claimed to be usable even for large operations like municipal water supplies or for clarifying turbid ponds. The powder is said to additionally have bactericidal and even antiviral properties. The literature is not too clear whether the water has to be initially turbid, so that the pollutants are adsorbed onto the sediment as it settles. This is simple to determine.
If this procedure helps in ameliorating, preventing or saving the suffering or death of even a single afflicted victim, the effort would not have been in vain and the resulting merit immeasurable. It is most important that this information is passed through the Sinhala and Tamil media, so that the directly affected population is effectively reached. Philanthropic organizations may also be willing to print leaflets to be distributed through hospitals and local level organizations in the affected areas. –Dr U. Pethiyagoda
Why not study the murunga cure?
This entry was posted on 23/03/2016, in Health & Lifestyle and tagged CKDU, Moringa oleifera. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment
Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDU) is a tragic and long standing scourge gaining increased attention. Its gravity, increasing prevalence and difficulty of treatment is of grave concern. The search for possible causes has proved elusive and ignited more controversy and acrimony than shed light. It is agreed that some factor carried in water is the likely culprit. Soil factors, toxic elements, agro-chemicals, algal contaminants or entry via food (e.g Lotus roots (nelum ala) or freshwater fish, and illicit alcohol have all been implicated, though none definitely proven. In such a situation, some means of removal of a wide collection of possible contaminants, is the most appropriate solution. Reverse Osmosis is one solution. Filtration through ion-exchange resin beds would be another. Both have their drawbacks.The best choice would be an easily available, inexpensive, practical, simple method that is easily understood and adaptable within existing rural practices.
One such method that has received enormous publicity on the Internet is the use of powdered, dry Murunga (Moringa oleifera) seeds. Trawling through the Internet (under “Use of Moringa seeds for water purification”: 211,000 references), I have published, from time to time, a few letters in the “Opinion” columns of The Island. But disappointingly, I have seen no feedback on any trials conducted. The procedure is very simple. Even at the risk of boring some readers, in view of the vital importance of trying even the most fanciful of possible solutions (or palliatives); let me reproduce a section of the letter published on 29 June, 2011.
“Sudanese villagers faced with the necessity to drink turbid Nile waters, have for centuries, used a traditional method. It has since been tested for effectiveness by very respectable British Universities and its validity endorsed. The process consists simply of drying mature seeds of Murunga pods, cleaning them of debris and skins, and pounding the kernels in a mortar to give a fine white powder. This is then sieved. A small amount of the powder is placed with a quantity of water in a stoppered bottle (an aerated water bottle would do fine), and shaken vigorously to give a milky white suspension. This is then filtered through a fine cloth. After this, it has to be stirred (shaken) very vigorously (akin to “potentiation” in homeopathy?) for about two minutes and then less vigorously for 10 to 15 minutes. A small amount is then added to the water to be purified (in a clay Kalagediya- aluminium being avoided) and stirred in. This is allowed to stand overnight or for a few hours, when the water is seen to be fully clarified and potable. The equivalent of a few milligrams of seed powder is said to suffice for several gallons of water.”
Obviously, the amounts and procedure may need to be refined to suit local needs. Many studies have failed to encounter any ill effects or off tastes. The seeds themselves are edible. Elaborate and careful studies have shown that every one of the postulated causes for CKDU are eliminated by this simple, practical and cheap method. Local workers can very simply test this out and evolve optimal protocols. Water used for drinking, as well as for cooking, should be treated.
Even the chemistry of this magical use has been worked out. The activity apparently resides in certain short chain proteins. As these molecules carry positive and negative charges at their two ends, they have the capacity to capture both negatively (phosphate, carbonate, fluoride) and positively (cadmium, arsenic, heavy metals) ions. Interestingly, it is reported that East Africa boasts of Murunga plantations for water purification. It is claimed to be usable even for large operations like municipal water supplies or for clarifying turbid ponds. The powder is said to additionally have bactericidal and even antiviral properties. The literature is not too clear whether the water has to be initially turbid, so that the pollutants are adsorbed onto the sediment as it settles. This is simple to determine.
If this procedure helps in ameliorating, preventing or saving the suffering or death of even a single afflicted victim, the effort would not have been in vain and the resulting merit immeasurable. It is most important that this information is passed through the Sinhala and Tamil media, so that the directly affected population is effectively reached. Philanthropic organizations may also be willing to print leaflets to be distributed through hospitals and local level organizations in the affected areas. –Dr U. Pethiyagoda
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