Mineral Content of Selected Seaweed Varieties in Southern and North Western Sea of Sri Lanka

Seaweeds are a rich source of health beneficial bioactive nutraceuticals and currently, they are under-utilised in Sri Lanka. Thus, this study is to get an idea about the possibility of utilising seaweed in Sri Lankan food industry. In the present study, elemental composition analysis of Ulva fasciata obtained from 3 locations Mirissa (5°56/40.5// N: 80°27/20.2// E), Point Dondra (5°55/45.7//N: 80°35/02.5// E) and Galle (6°02/01.1// N: 80°12/52.2// E) and red algae varieties Gracilaria edulis and Gracilaria sp. obtained from Kalpitiya (8°15/40.8// N: 79°46/33.9// E and 8°13/35.0// N: 79°43/34.8// E) respectively. The elemental analysis was carried using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. The results revealed that the predominant mineral of U. fasciata obtained from the 3 locations and Gracilaria sp. as calcium. While the predominant mineral in G. edulis was potassium. All the 5 varieties have various concentrations of elements such as K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn. Significantly high lead content was observed in U. fasciata obtained from Point Dondra. The elemental compositions showed variations among the same species obtained from different locations. The results also revealed that seaweed is a good source of certain essential and trace minerals. Keywords: Ulva fasciata, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria sp., minerals, seaweeds

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Composition analysis of selected Sri Lankan seaweeds

Journal of Tropical Forestry and Environment ◽

10.31357/jtfe.v9i2.4471 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

Author(s):

M.M Jayakody ◽

M.P.G Vanniarachchy ◽

I. Wijesekara

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Ash Content ◽

Carbohydrate Content ◽

Composition Analysis ◽

Total Carbohydrate ◽

Ulva Fasciata ◽

Total Carbohydrate Content ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Total Fat ◽

Carbohydrate Contents

Seaweeds are a rich source of health beneficial bioactive nutraceuticals and currently they are under-utilized in Sri Lanka. In the present study, proximate analysis of seaweed varieties Chnoospora minima and Porphyra sp. obtained from Mirissa, Matara, Sri Lanka and Ulva fasciata was taken from Point Dondra Matara, Sri Lanka on June, 2018 were investigated. The moisture content, total fat content, protein content and ash content were determined according to the Official methods of Analysis by Association of Official Analytical Chemists after drying for 8h at 600 C. The results revealed that the moisture contents (%) of Chnoospora minima, Porphyra sp. and Ulva fasciata were 13.24 ± 0.20, 14.30 ± 0.14 and 18.11 ± 0.01 respectively. Total fat contents (%) of Chnoospora minima, Porphyra sp. and Ulva fasciata were 0.21 ± 0.11, 0.19 ± 0.03 and 0.28 ± 0.05 respectively. Protein contents (%) of Chnoospora minima, Porphyra sp. and Ulva fasciata were 13.70 ± 0.2, 21.14 ± 0.04 and 11.84 ± 0.1. Total ash contents (%) of Chnoospora minima, Porphyra sp. and Ulva fasciata were 17.20 ± 0.24, 5.40 ± 0.7 and 18.05 ± 0.21 respectively. Total carbohydrate content (%) was analyzed according to the Dubois method. Chnoospora minima, Porphyra sp. and Ulva fasciata showed total carbohydrate content (%) as 3.87 + 0.66, 20.59 ± 0.24 and 7.68 ± 1.16 respectively. Moreover, the sulphate content was analyzed according to the precipitate method. Chnoospora minima, Porphyra sp. and Ulva fasciata showed 1.45 ± 0.35, 2.75 ± 0.07 and 4.54 ± 0.06, sulfate contents (%) respectively. In conclusion, highest ash content which indicates a good mineral content was observed in Ulva fasciata and Chnoospora minima. Fibre, protein and carbohydrate contents are significantly different among the 3 samples. Highest fibre content was observed in Chnoospora minima. Highest protein and carbohydrate contents were observed in Porphyra sp. But there is no significant difference in fat contents among the three samples.

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Distribution and cementation characteristics of beachrocks along southern, southwestern and western coast of Sri Lanka

Journal of Sedimentary Environments ◽

10.1007/s43217-020-00036-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Pahala Ge Nishadi Nayanthara ◽

Anjula Buddhika Nayomi Dassanayake ◽

Kazunori Nakashima ◽

Satoru Kawasaki

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Thin Section ◽

Sandy Beaches ◽

Heavy Minerals ◽

Western Coast ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Rock Outcrops ◽

Remarkable Feature ◽

X Ray ◽

Coastal Belt

AbstractBeachrocks are sedimentary structures where gravelly or sandy beaches have been transformed into rock outcrops formed through precipitation of connective cements amid their interstices. They are well-noted coastal features along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka due to the prevalent tropical climate. This study was aimed at gathering data on surface nature and cementation characteristics of beachrock occurrences along a part of Sri Lankan shoreline through field observations and a series of analyses including X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques and petrographic thin-section analysis. The combined research findings from different techniques are also employed as a preliminary step to determine the formation mechanism of the studied beachrocks. The seaward-inclined low-angle beds running parallel to present shoreline are composed mostly of sandstone with occasional conglomerate. Almost all the beachrocks are made of quartz grains amalgamated by cement. One remarkable feature of Sri Lankan beachrocks is the presence of heavy minerals generally in thin lamina form. The cementing agents are predominantly composed of metastable carbonate phases, high magnesium calcite (HMC) and aragonite (Ar) with varying microfabrics and textures. From SEM examinations and thin-section images, main morphologies identified are acicular Ar, scalenohedral magnesium calcites along with bridge cements and micritic coatings which are typical of a marine-phreatic precipitation with the exception of occasional meniscus cements. Further, the presence of evidences of living organisms may be an indication of influence from the biological aspects which can be confirmed by more detailed analyses.

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A descriptive retrospective hospital based review of chest x ray findings of Sri Lankan Covid 19 patients in a single centre (National Institute of Infectious Disease) in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Journal of Radiology ◽

10.4038/sljr.v6i1.93 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

K. Abeywardana ◽

V. P. R. S. De Mel ◽

A. Arasalingam

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Single Centre ◽

X Ray ◽

Chest X Ray

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Food Act of Sri Lanka: A Systematic Review on Awareness and Practice

World Nutrition ◽

10.26596/wn.202011456-65 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 56-65

Author(s):

Charith Amidha Hettiarachchi

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Food Industry ◽

Research Literature ◽

Health Claims ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Food Labels ◽

Strong Basis ◽

Legal Proceedings ◽

Food Industries ◽

Food Regulations

The Food Act of 1980 is the main legislation governing food safety in Sri Lanka. Along with its regulations, the act provides a strong basis to ensure safety of food consumed. However, to achieve its objectives, the act needs to be properly implemented. For that, the food industry needs to adhere to food laws while law enforcing officers need to initiate legal proceedings for law violations. A good knowledge on food laws is needed among food industries, law enforcing officers and consumers contributes towards successive implementation of food laws. The present review examines the available research literature on knowledge on food regulations and practice of food industries, law enforcing officers (Public Health Inspectors) and consumers in Sri Lanka which helps to identify weaknesses in current law enforcement. Most of research on the Sri Lankan Food Act of 1980 has focused on food labels. Very few labels have been found to conform with existing laws and some include outrageous health claims. Knowledge and practice of food regulations by food industry, law enforcing officers and consumers in Sri Lanka are not satisfactory which has led to a failure in achieving the intended objectives of the legislature.

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Applicability of carbothermic reduction for upgrading Sri Lankan ilmenite ores: towards converting ilmenite into synthetic rutile by mechanical activation

Bulletin of the National Research Centre ◽

10.1186/s42269-021-00608-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

Author(s):

T. Dilmi. U. Wijewardhana ◽

Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Carbothermic Reduction ◽

Xrd Analysis ◽

Heavy Minerals ◽

Beach Sand ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Magnetic Separator ◽

X Ray ◽

Stretching Vibrations

Abstract Background Ilmenite and rutile are naturally occurring titanium-bearing heavy minerals. Sri Lanka consists of ilmenite and rutile in placer deposits mainly along the northeast coast. The commercial value of rutile is higher than ilmenite. Therefore, the current study focuses to upgrade Sri Lankan ilmenite ores using commercially available activated carbon as a reducing agent. Ilmenite fraction was initially separated from raw beach sand using an industrial-scale magnetic separator (Wet high-intensity magnetic separator: sixteen pole model). The mixtures of ilmenite and activated carbon (4 to 1 ratio by weight) were milled using a planetary ball mill for one to four hours at one-hour intervals. Results The milled samples were subsequently heated for two hours continuously at temperatures of 800 °C, 900 °C, 1000 °C, 1100 °C, and 1200 °C, respectively. Initial and annealed samples were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses. XRD pattern of the initial sample was characterized by less percentage of rutile (TiO2) peaks and low crystallinity. However, the number of rutile peaks and crystallinity were increased with respective milling hours and annealed temperature. Besides, XRD analysis indicates a higher number of sharp and intense rutile and elemental iron peaks in the samples annealed above 1000 °C. FTIR analysis of raw ilmenite indicates mainly stretching vibrations of Fe–O. However, vibrational spectral bands around 700 cm−1 in samples annealed above 1000 °C are assigned to Ti–O–Ti stretching vibrations. High TiO2 and TiO2 + Fe2O3 (total) wt. (%) can also be observed in samples annealed above 1000 °C. Conclusions The optimum conditions for carbothermic reduction were obtained at 4 h of ball milling of ilmenite with activated carbon and continuously annealing at 1000 °C for 2 h. Carbothermic reduction is applicable to upgrade Sri Lankan ilmenite ores, and thus this method adds value to heavy mineral resources in Sri Lanka.

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The dispersal and survival of Anopheles Culicifacies Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Sri Lankan village under malathion spraying

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300050367 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 139-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

P. Rawlings ◽

G. Davidson

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Wind Direction ◽

Reverse Direction ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Anopheles Culicifacies ◽

Mark Release Recapture ◽

Population Sizes ◽

Bidirectional Movement ◽

The Village ◽

North Western

AbstractTwo mark-release-recapture experiments with Anopheles culicifacies Giles were carried out immediately before and one month after a round of malathion spraying of houses (at 2 g/m2) in a village in north-western Sri Lanka. In the first experiment the measurement of bidirectional movement of females collected in two halves of the village showed that movement was somewhat affected by wind direction; the percentage of migrants moving partially upwind was greater (11·4) than that in the reverse direction (6·4). The best estimates of daily survival were 0·79 before spraying and 0·44 after spraying; population sizes were about 44 500 and 1300, respectively. The proportion of females resting in the collection huts rose after spraying. The results are discussed with reference to the evolution of insecticide resistance in populations under insecticidal pressure and those populations not selected by spraying.

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The Role of Music and Allied Arts in Public Writings on Cultural Diversity: “People of Sri Lanka”

ASIAN-EUROPEAN MUSIC RESEARCH JOURNAL ◽

10.30819/aemr.6-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 93-100

Author(s):

Gisa Jähnichen

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Cultural Diversity ◽

South Asia ◽

Case Studies ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Culturally Different ◽

The World ◽

Official Languages ◽

The Way

The Sri Lankan Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue, and Official Languages published the work “People of Sri Lanka” in 2017. In this comprehensive publication, 21 invited Sri Lankan scholars introduced 19 different people’s groups to public readers in English, mainly targeted at a growing number of foreign visitors in need of understanding the cultural diversity Sri Lanka has to offer. This paper will observe the presentation of these different groups of people, the role music and allied arts play in this context. Considering the non-scholarly design of the publication, a discussion of the role of music and allied arts has to be supplemented through additional analyses based on sources mentioned by the 21 participating scholars and their fragmented application of available knowledge. In result, this paper might help improve the way facts about groups of people, the way of grouping people, and the way of presenting these groupings are displayed to the world beyond South Asia. This fieldwork and literature guided investigation should also lead to suggestions for ethical principles in teaching and presenting of culturally different music practices within Sri Lanka, thus adding an example for other case studies.

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