News
Snakebite not a cause for Chronic Kidney Disease, study reveals
By Ifham Nizam
Snakebite is not a cause of the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka, a latest study reveals.Lead researcher of the project Prof. Anjana Silva of the Rajarata Medical Faculty told The Island: “We have so far investigated in depth how snakebite causes paralysis in humans, the effectiveness of anti- venom for treating these patients as well as affordable tests to detect snakebite at the bedside and other long-term effects of snakebite.”
Prof. Silva says there are still many things that the team is not clear about, relating to snakebite so they need to continue the studies in the long run not only to understand more about snakebite but also to make a real improvement in the treatment and prevention of this unfortunate, preventable health hazard
Chronic Interstitial Nephritis of Agricultural Communities (CINAC), also known as Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu), has been a major health issue in Sri Lanka, and has claimed many lives, especially in the North Central Province, and other agricultural areas.
Although the exact cause of this ‘mysterious’ disease has not been elucidated, several hypothesis, including a mix of possible causes, such as water, agricultural activities, agrochemicals, heavy metals, snakebite and heat stress, have been previously attributed by scientists.
A recent research study, by a team of researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences of Rajarata University, published in a leading medical journal, Clinical Toxicology, revealed that snakebite is unlike to be a cause of CINAC or CKDu in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted as a part of the PhD study of Dr. Subodha Waiddyanatha, where she followed up 199 snakebite patients, four years after the snakebite, and 168 patients, one year after the snakebite.
“At the time of snakebite, we have collected all the information of these patients, including the data on their kidney function. We compared this data with their kidney function, one and four years after the snakebite, and found no evidence of any association of venomous snakebite, with reduced kidney function. We found that those patients who had kidney failure after the snakebite, completely recovered when we studied them one and four years later,” Dr. Waiddyanatha said.
She said that a small number of patients, who had reduced kidney function, at the follow up, had clearly identifiable other causes of poor kidney function, such as diabetes and hypertension. This means that a snakebite is unlikely to be a cause of CINAC or CKDu in Sri Lanka. “However, we still need to closely monitor a large number of patients who develop severe kidney failure, after snakebite, to clearly understand how many of them could have reduced renal functions in the long run,” Dr. Waiddyanatha added.
“This study was conducted as a part of ‘Anuradhapura Snakebite Cohort’, probably the largest snakebite research study in the world, that was started in 2012 by a team of researchers from the Rajarata Medical Faculty that included Prof. Sisira Siribaddana, Dr. Senaka Pilapitya and myself, in collaboration with one of the foremost snakebite researchers in the world, Professor Geoffrey Isbister from Newcastle University, Australia. South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration was instrumental in providing logistics for the study”, she said.
Several ex-Cabinet ministers questioned; Ranil, Sajith, too likely to be summoned
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an inquiry into the shifting of the Agriculture Ministry situated at Rajamalwatte, to a building belonging to the D. P. Jayasinghe Group of Companies, at Rajagiriya, during the Yahapalana government.
The building was rented for a five-year period at a cost of over Rs 1 bn by the yahapalana government within months after the then President Maithripala Sirisena declared opened the 10-storey building complex.
The CIABOC yesterday morning recorded former yahapalana minister Gayantha Karunatilleke’s statement in connection with the investigation. Later in the day, CIABOC recorded the statement of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabanadara. Earlier CIABOC summoned former ministers Thalatha Atukorale, Wajira Abeywardena and Lakshman Kiriella. At the time of the finalisation of the deal, KIriella was in the UNP.
Sources said that former PM and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, was likely to be questioned in this regard. Responding to The Island queries, sources pointed out even SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was expected to be questioned.
The then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is on record as having said that the building was rented in keeping with a decision taken by the government and not Parliament.
The UNP-SLFP coalition shifted the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate 16 Sectoral Oversight Committees therein.
Although the government paid as much as Rs. 21.5 mn monthly rent to D.P.A. Jayasinghe Company, the Agriculture Ministry failed to move in for over a year. The then Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake sought Cabinet approval on Dec 1, 2015 to rent the building.
According to inquiries conducted earlier by the Presidential Commission appointed to probe state sector corruption, the Agriculture Ministry sought Cabinet approval for a new building after the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe submitted a cabinet proposal on 21 September, 2015, to use the Agriculture Ministry building for Parliament’s sectoral oversight committees.
PM Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has told the Commission that public funds could have been saved if the several vacant floors of Suhurupaya belonging to the Defence Ministry had been made available to the Agriculture Ministry.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Railway sources said that the damages caused to railway tracks could be more than USD 300 mn.
According to UNDP Rapid Crisis Assessment Sri Lanka’s railroad system, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. This figure reflects flooding only, but other hazards (such as localised debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) can also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions can render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.
At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo District, Ja Ela in Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.
Commissioner-General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi is on record as having said that only 478 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s 1,593-km railway network were currently usable following extensive damage caused by the recent cyclone.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker arrived in Colombo yesterday (11) to underscore US interest in defence, trade and maritime security in line with their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The US embassy here issued the following statement: “Under Secretary Hooker will meet with Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, focused on deepening economic and commercial ties, strengthening defence cooperation, and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic and maritime sovereignty.
The United States and Sri Lanka share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in our mutual commitment to regional security, economic growth, and prosperity for our peoples. Through close cooperation on defence, trade, and maritime security, we are working together to advance a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
As we continue to build on our strategic partnership, the United States also stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. We remain committed to working together to address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for our two nations, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership.”
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