https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3885 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:56:58 GMT 2026-04-23T09:56:58Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3063 Cervical Spine Injury of Sri Lankan Origin Pushpakumara, KSR; Punchihewa, GL Abstract— According to the World Health Organization, 250,000 – 500,000 people suffer from spinal cord injuries around the world every year, of which up to 90% are traumatic and preventable. Here we discuss a unique case scenario occurred during traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival. It is a common practice to organize ‘new year games’ during this season of which climbing of ‘sliding tree’ is a popular game. However there has been a recent trend to replace this with a different event, where a flag is hung at a high level and a group of people have to make a pyramid where the person at the top has to grab the flag. Our patient, a 55 year old farmer, after consumption of substantial amount of alcohol, was forming the base of the pyramid with a group of his friends. On their shoulders, they were bearing the weight of their friends forming two more stories up. Suddenly one person on the top lost his balance and fell on the head of this patient. Our patient was fallen on the ground and could not get up or move his limbs. He was taken to the local hospital on a three wheeler from where he was transferred to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. He was quadriplegic with weak diaphragmatic breathing, and computed tomography revealed grade III spondylolysthesis of fourth cervical vertebra over the fifth. With clinical and radiological features of complete cord transection, he succumbed to death within hours of admission. Making human pyramids by ordinary people without a formal training can be extremely dangerous, especially when they are under the influence of alcohol. We strongly suggest that such games should be banned and not allowed among ordinary people. Keywords— Cervical spine injury, Sri Lanka Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3063 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3062 A review of KDU Support Centre Hettigoda, K; Mendis, J Abstract: The aim of this study is to find the nature of problems and the demographic characteristics of the service seekers of KDU support centre which was established 2019. It will also look at the required future directions of KDU support centre. Mental health issues among the university students are becoming an alarming problem worldwide. Recent reports reveal that the situation is the same in the Sri Lankan student community. Foreign and local studies indicte that there are multiple contributing factors to these issues includng academic, relationship, logistic (food and accomodation, adjustment etc). Kotelawala Defence University has its unique culture compared to any other university in the country being the only university which produce military professionals to the nation, enlisting student not only based on their Z score and conducting psychological assesment before students are selected. After reporting few suicidal incidences among the students and various behavioural issues among the KDU the department of psychiatry and administration decided toestablish a support center in August 2019 with the aim of helping the KDU students and the staff with psychological counselling and psycho therapy. This paper summarises details of only the psychological issues reported to the KDU support center by 35 KDU students 10 satff members and their demographic and other related information without divulging their identity. Findings indicated that the most common psychological issue among students was depression. It was observed that most of the service seekers had several comorbidities. Further, relationship issues, adjustment issues and anxiety were prominent in this sample. It was observed that stigma towards mental illness is still playing a considerable role for not seeking help for mental health issues.It is recommended to take necessary actions to minimize stigma within the university community. KDU helpline which was recently started will be main referral pathway for KDU Support centre in future. Keywords— KDU support center, psychological issues in University students, prevelance Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3062 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3061 Iron and Vitamin C Content in Green Leafy Vegetables Dahanayake, DN; Ekanayake, S Abstract—Commonly available green leafy vegetables (GLV) are rich sources of minerals and vitamins. Nutrient analysis of green leafy vegetables contributes to determine the health benefits that can be achieved by consumption. The present study determined the iron and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content in some locally available GLV (Sesbania grandiflora (kathurumurunga), Alternanthera sessilis (mukunuwenna), Trianthema portulacastrum (sarana), Amaranthus viridis (thampala (green) and Gymnema lactiferum (kurinnan)). Leaves for the study were obtained from a vendor in Kottawa, Sri Lanka. Moisture content of the cleaned, washed and dried leaves were determined using Association of Official Analytical Chemistry (AOAC) approved oven dry method. Ascorbic acid of fresh leaves sample was determined by AOAC standard 2,6- dichlorophenolindophenol titrimetric method. Iron content was determined in dried leaves using standard spectrophotometric method. Moisture content of leaves ranged from 94-79 mg/100g on fresh weight basis with sarana and kathurumurunga having the highest and lowest moisture contents respectively. On wet weight iron content ranged from 6-25.2 mg/100g. Tampala had the highest iron content with lowest in sarana. Vitamin C ranged from 45.8 – 163.4 mg/100g on fresh weight basis with kathurumurunga having the highest and mukunuwenna having the lowest vitamin C contents. Accordingly, an edible portion of 50 g of Sesbania grandiflora provides 64 mg of the RDA requirement (75-90mg/day) of ascorbic acid and a 50 g of Amaranthus viridis provides 10.5 mg of RDA requirement (8-18mg/day) of iron. Thus incorporation of these leaves in the meal will provide essential micronutrients necessary for metabolic functions. Key words: green leafy vegetables, ascorbic acid, iron content Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3061 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3060 Healing Through Martial Arts: Reconstruction of Bodymind in Actor Training Honcharova, Lyudmyla Abstract: The bodymind work is a vulnerable subject with relevance to actor training methodologies. Especially, if the body is perceived as an actor’s main instrument, which is a common viewpoint in major actor training practices. Although the importance of a sound state of bodymind for acting is emphasized, studies of the bodymind treatment and recovery are rarely incorporated in actor training. This research attempts to find ways to preserve actors’ physical and mental wellbeing in order to prevent collapses of their instrument – the body. Tadashi Suzuki and Phillip Zarrilli have extensively discussed the bodymind equilibrium by incorporating strong corporeal art practices into actor training. In pursuing their leads, the solution to the research problem might be found in Martial Arts practices. Sri Lankan Martial Art Angampora was examined as a potential source of development of bodymind awareness and recovery practices in actor training. The data collection was done through observation and interviewing Agam Maduwa group since they are trained in old traditions of Angampora whereby bodymind awareness elements are preserved. At the current stage of ongoing research, it has been proven that Angampora philosophy incoporates sustainable means of bodymind wellbeing and recovery practices. In addition, it was observed that practicing Angampora benefits mental and physical stability which results in decreasing the level of stress and depression. Therefore, Angampora is an exemplary Martial Art form that could serve as a role model for incorporation of wellbeing philosophy and recovery methods into actor training in order to prevent physical and mental injuries for actors. Key words: acting training methodologies, martial arts, healing practices, Angampora, bodymind Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3060 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z