University of Colombo e-Repository

UCER (University of Colombo Electronic Repository) is a collection of scientific research publications by researchers at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This e-Repository serves to manage, preserve and make available the academic works of the faculty, postgraduate students, and research groups. The collection includes faculty publications, master's and doctoral theses abstracts. This repository is updated regularly, and new works are added to collections on a continuous basis

Guidelines

Authors are responsible for obtaining copyright permission from the publisher and submitting the signed declaration to ir@lib.cmb.ac.lk.

Recent Submissions

Admission of Sri Lankan students for medical education: time to review
(Ceylon Medical Journal, 2018) Mendis, Lalitha; Karunathilake, I.M.; Ponnamperuma, Gominda
In this submission we discuss aspects of selection of students to medical schools and basic qualifications that students should possess to follow medical courses outside Sri Lanka with the hope of practicing medicine in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka A Level students are chosen to study medicine based on merit and district quotas. Undergraduate medical education in Sri Lanka began in the 19th century with a short-lived medical school in Manipay (1848) and next the Ceylon Medical College in 1870. After nearly a century other medical schools were opened, and at present there are eight government medical schools and one other under the Ministry of Defense. During these 167 years or so, global changes have taken place regarding the concept of the role of the physician, primary health care, community based health care, family medicine, mental health, health of the elderly, investigative medicine, information technology and educational theory. These changes have influenced the direction and philosophy of medical education and the kind of starting material that should be recruited for medical studies. The starting material, the student, has to be pluripotent, have adequate intellectual capacity and the potential to acquire skills if he is to be molded into a ‘quality doctor’. Proper selection of this student is of paramount importance if we are to fulfill the ultimate aim of producing good and competent doctors.
A Model for the Development of A Chatter Bot/Chat Bot for Field of Public Health using the Example of Automated Online Breast Feeding Helper
(International Journal of Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering, 2019) Himanshi, H.L.N.; Karunathilake, I.M.
The purpose of this paper is to provide a reference mode for the development of a chatter bot for field of Public Health using the example “Breast Feeding Helper”. This project a carried out using the AIML language and the platform” Pandorabot”. Use of Chat bot is new to the field for public health. The motivation behind this work is to make an initiative and demonstrate that it is feasible to develop a chatbot for the field of public health. This paper illustrates the steps and process of developing a chat bot for a topic in the field of public health. The steps and process described could be used as a model for further work.
An Ethnobotanical Study of the Medicinal Plants Found in Bulumulla, Administrative Division, Kandy, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, 2025) Jansz, K.M.; Kodithuwakku, N.D.
Ethnobotanical studies help preserve indigenous knowledge of local herbs, support biodiversity conservation, integrate traditional remedies into modern healthcare, and discover new therapeutics. This study aims to explore the diversity and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by the Bulumulla community in Kandy, Sri Lanka and examines their documented therapeutic potential. The data were collected through semi-structured and open-ended interviews with 253 volunteers based on their local names, morphological differences, parts used, preparation methods, and therapeutic applications. Botanical names were verified with Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. Ethnobotanical indices were employed to quantify the importance and usage patterns: 45 medicinal plants belonging to 25 botanical families were found. Out of the total participants, 50.7% claimed the use of medicinal plants for Jvara, Kasa, Shvasa, Shotha, and Vata roga. The leaves were the most frequently used plant parts (53.7%), and decoctions were the most commonly employed preparation method (72.9%). The highest UV was recorded for Plectranthus amboinicus (use value; UV = 0.99) and the relative popularity level (RPL=0.98) in antispasmodic remedies. Lamiaceae emerged as the most represented (family importance value; FIV = 19.9%), followed by Asteraceae (FIV = 19.8%). The most cited medicinal plant was Cassia fistula (relative frequency citation; RFC = 0.88), followed by Plectranthus zeylanicus (RFC = 0.86) and Vernonia cinerea (RFC = 0.84). Phyllanthus niruri had the highest rank order priority (ROP = 85.9). The findings emphasize the richness and need to conserve and promote plant biodiversity and indigenous wisdom in Bulumulla by utilizing medicinal plants and developing potential drug leads. This study serves as a foundation for future pharmacological validation and the potential integration of local medicinal practices into broader healthcare systems.
Development and Pharmaceutical Standardization of an Herbal Paste Containing Selected Ingredients from Varnya Dashakay
(Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, 2025) De Silva, C.S.; Senarathne, U.R.S.R.K.
The increasing societal emphasis on beauty standards has led to a growing demand for cosmetic products, particularly skin complexion enhancers. The Ayurveda Acharya have identified and documented various herbal formulations regarding this concept. This research was aimed to develop and standardize an herbal paste containing selected ingredients from the Varnya dashakaya by Acharya Charaka for enhancing skin complexion. The inclusion criteria of the ingredients were the availability, feasibility and efficacy of the herbal ingredients towards skin disorders. The formulation was prepared according to the ‘Gandhaka malahara paribhasha’ presented in the authentic texts and standardized according to the methods prescribed in the Standard Operating Procedures by the Department of Ayurveda of Sri Lanka, the Indian Pharmacopoeia and World Health Organization. Standardization procedures included the evaluation of organoleptic parameters, spread-ability, homogeneity, qualitative phytochemical screening, determination of moisture content, Total Ash value, development of Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprints. Phytochemical analysis revealed alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and terpenoids indicating the developed formulation to consist of antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties beneficial for the skin. The formulated paste demonstrated satisfactory physicochemical parameters including low mean values for moisture content (4.21%) and total ash content (4.16%) signifying its purity, stability and prolonged shelf life, while a pH range of 5-6 exhibiting its suitability as a skin application. Therefore, it can be concluded that, due to the combination of these properties, the formulated paste has the potential of being a multifunctional and effective skin care solution.
Study the Usage of Kaphaketu Rasa as Calcium Supplement
(Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, 2025) Thennakoon, T.G.S.D.; Hearapthdeniya, S.K.M.K.; Nallaperuma, D.M.
Calcium is necessary for bone growth, muscle contraction, nerve impulse conduction, and enzyme function. Calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, stunted growth, and muscle cramps. Though there are synthetic calcium supplements available, they have the disadvantage of causing side effects like gastric irritation and kidney damage. In Ayurveda there is specialized group, Sudha varga which contain calcium rich materials. Shankha bashma is an important calcium contain material described under Sudha varga. Shankha Bhasma is employed in Kaphaketu Rasa, a conventional Ayurvedic medicine that is used in Kaphaja roga. The objective of this study was analysing and determining calcium content of it. Preparation was according to Ayurveda Pharmacopeia by using Shuddha tankana, Pippili churna, Shankha bhashma, Shuddha vachchanavi and Ardraka swarasa in size of one Madata (125 mg) and analysed organoleptic, physicochemical, pharmaceutical, and chemical parameters like HPTLC fingerprinting and calcium determination by acid-base titration. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols. HPTLC fingerprint showed seven different peaks. Calcium content was 13.76% as calcium carbonate. Pharmaceutical parameters like friability (0.74%), disintegration (15 min), weight variation(passed) and hardness (52 N) were within the standard limit. Physiochemical parameters like total ash value (3.8%), watersoluble ash value (2.4%), acid-insoluble ash value (1.1%), moisture content (3.8%) were within the standard range. According to results as one tablet contains 1/7th of calcium from the total weight it’s not a best option for the calcium deficiencies. But lungs need calcium for secretion of mucous, bronchoconstriction, degranulation of various immune cells and mitochondrial functions. Therefore, Kaphaketu rasa which contains calcium is effective in Kaphaja diseases rather than for calcium deficiencies.