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Banana: the everyday super fruit

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by Randima Attygalle

Be it visiting loved ones for the new year or on any other occasion, taking a comb of bananas along is a time-honoured practice among Lankans. We are not alone in our love for this delectable fruit relished over centuries by mankind and herbivorous animals alike. One of the most widely grown fruit crops in the world, banana occupies a top place in the fresh fruit trade, second only to orange. Banana (Musa spp.) is native to South Asia and Western Pacific Region. The wild ancestors of cultivated banana Musa acuminate Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla are distributed in South and South East Asian countries including Sri Lanka.

The earliest written reference to bananas in Sri Lankan history goes back to about 341 A.D. the time of King Buddhadasa who is reputed to have been a skilled physician. The king had recorded in his Sarartha Sangragaha, the medicinal values of various parts of the banana plant. There is also evidence that the prehistoric inhabitants of the island, over 12,000 years ago had eaten wild bananas. The seed remains of ati-eta kesel which had been found in a carbonized state in the stone-age cave sites of Batadombalena in the Ratnapura District prove the long existence of banana in Sri Lanka.

“Botanically known to be a kind of berry, banana is the only fruit crop equally recognized as a fruit and a vegetable. Although ‘bananas’ and ‘plantains’ are commonly used to name the fruit, there is a distinction between them. The two major types of edible banana cultivars in the country are classified into banana and plantain each with different morphological characters and uses. “While banana is considered to be the ‘dessert’ type, plantains are the cooking type,” explains Dr. Kalyani Ketipearachchi, former Principal Scientist (Fruit Agronomy), Fruits Crops Research and Development Station of the Department of Agriculture in Gannoruwa, Peradeniya. Today what is known as ‘ornamental banana species’ have also found a place in home gardens, she adds.

While almost 1,000 varieties of bananas are found across the world, there are around 50 varieties locally found, says Dr. Ketipearachchi. Other than a few varieties introduced scientifically through international research projects such as Ambun types, Cavendish type, recommended varieties of Kandula and
Pulathisi, almost all the others are indigenous to the country, she adds.

Sri Lankan bananas are found in three main groups: the Mysore, the Kolikuttu and the Cavendish. Ambul and seeni bananas are of Mysore group. Kolikuttu, suwendel, puwalu and rath kehel belong to the Kolikuttu group, while embun, anamalu, nethrampalam and bim-kesel belong to the Cavendish group. While all these are popular dessert bananas, alu-kesel or ash plantain is a cooking variety. Among the cooking types are Kithala, Mondan, Etamuru, and Marathamana which are however not as common as alu-kesel. Nethrampalam, she says, is the most expensive local variety. “This is not commonly available as it is not yet cultivated on a large scale. Nethrapalam is believed to help improve eyesight and contains aphrodisiac qualities. Bimkesel or Navkesel is also a Cavendish type known as Sri Lankan Cavendish. The tree is of dwarf size and its fruit bunch almost touches the ground.

Bananas are a popular fruit crop ensuring high economic returns throughout the year. “This is the fruit’s biggest attraction, as it could be grown across the country even at very high elevations unlike other seasonal fruits such as rambutan or mango. Moreover, banana can be harvested in shorter periods, bearing fruit in about ten months,” notes Dr. Ketipearachchi. The economic life span of a tree is about four years.

Nearly 50,000 hectares of land are under banana in Sri Lanka – that’s about 54% of the total fruit cultivation extent, according to the Department of Agriculture. It is also our highest export fruit crop. According to the Export Development Board’s numbers, Cavendish has a high demand in the international market and ambul and rath kesel are also exported in small quantities. Middle East countries are the largest buyers of Lankan bananas, (largely Cavendish) followed by several European countries including Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands and the UK. Japan and New Zealand are also among lead buyers.

Along with its everyday presence in Lankan homes, the fruit is also part of the country’s religious and cultural fabric. All of it, be it leaves, flower bud, pseudo stem or corm, no part of this plant goes unutilized. It is also a popular weaning food for infants as it is easily digestible, soft and palatable. Rice and curry wrapped in banana leaves, popularly known as kesel-kola buth is much relished, giving a special flavour to a meal apart from its packaging function.

Harvard School of Public Health in their literature alludes to banana as the ‘iconic golden fruit’ which carries the title of the ‘first super-food endorsed by the American Medical Association in the early 20th century as a health food for children and a treatment for celiac disease. Rich in potassium, vitamin A and C, banana can easily fulfill the minimum daily fruit requirement of 100gms, says Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, Head of the Department of Nutrition at the Medical Research Institute and President of the Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association.

An advocate of ‘a banana a day keeps the doctor away,’ she remarks that banana is a natural intervention for tropical lands like ours to supplement the minerals lost due to heat. “It’s actually a wonder fruit with many advantages – nutrition value, affordability, availability and its natural peel-wrapper, makes it a safe and a practical fruit that could be eaten at any time without interfering with our meal patterns.”

Nearly 50% of Lankan adults have high blood pressure says the Clinical Nutritionist. Rich is potassium, the fruit is recommended for maintaining blood pressure levels. However, those with potassium-related health issues need to be conscious of how much of the fruit they eat, says Dr. Jayatissa. As it is rich in calories and carbohydrates, it should be eaten in moderation by diabetics and other high risk groups such as the overweight and the obese, to prevent glycemic overloading. “People unnecessarily fear banana which should not be the case. Eating in moderation is the key,” she notes.

The nutritional level of different kinds of bananas varies but this is not very significant, so people have the advantage of enjoying their preferred variety, Dr. Jayatissa says. “Ambul has more citric acid, and that’s the reason why it doesn’t agree with those who have citric acid intolerance. But such cases are now not very common. Rath-kesel has more beta-carotenes and is good for those with Vitamin A deficiency. Anamalu is recommended to treat diarrhea as well as constipation,” she explains emphasizing that this fruit can also meet the recommended daily dose of vitamin C as a buffer against COVID-19.

Citing Thailand’s example, she says that the wastage of this wonder fruit must be avoided. “In Thailand, hardly any bananas are thrown away. Overripe fruit is sun-dried and diced into small pieces which they enjoy with ice cream or smoothies. We can learn from this and even add it to our much loved curd. Banana peel soaked in water for three days is a good fertilizer”, Dr Jayatissa says, encouraging Lankans to be more creative with this abundant fruit.



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Put your body at the top of your beauty agenda

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In a world where skin and hair care are often the main focus, maintaining a consistent body care routine is just as important—not only for looking good, but for overall wellbeing. That’s where The Body Shop Bath & Body Range comes in, offering everything you need to nourish and pamper your skin from head to toe.

From the basics (moisturisers and shower gels), the extras (hand and foot creams), right up to indulgent (body butters, yoghurts, and body oils) – what excuse have you for not loving and nourishing your body like never before?

It’s not just the assortment of bath and body products to choose from, it’s the Body Shop’s wide selection of flavours that will have your body spoiled for choice too! Choose from the legendary luxurious Shea Butter range (we recommend the Moisturising Body Butter), gloriously scented Strawberry selection (the Shower Gel is our fave), citrussy and vibrant Satsuma collection (we say start with the cleansing Face & Body Bar), the melt-in-the-skin goodness of the Moringa family (the Hand cream is a clear winner), or even the Almond Milk hydration heroes (psst…pick the Body Yoghurt).

With the year-end celebrations just around the corner, why not even share the gift of body-care? With far more than just a handful of products to pick from, and a little something for every skin type, you can check off most of your gift list already! The British Rose body care range will have one smelling like roses blooming in summertime (even when it’s winter and you’ve forgotten what sunshine feels like) and gives that beautiful body a healthy-looking glow.

The skin-loving formulas of The Olive body care products -infused with Community Fair Trade organic olive oil from Italy- with every refreshing squirt will almost instantly serve that Mediterranean glow-up and signature smile. The Body Shop’s not-so-well-kept secret of its Argan body care collection is like gifting a Moroccan hammam in itself. Or choose from the indulgently creamy and refreshing Avocado body care range for some head-to-toe pampering.

All products are made with over 90% ingredients of natural origin, certified by the Vegan Society, and sourced through the brand’s Community Fair Trade program—bringing some TLC not just to your skin, but to people and the planet too.

Why not get a head start on preparing your body for the most social season, and also get your hands on those festive gifts by visiting your nearest The Body Shop store?

Shop your old favourites or discover some new ones, at The Body Shop flagship store on Bagatalle Road, Odel in Alexandra Place, the Kandy City Centre, and the Colombo City Centre.

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Can Prostate Cancer be cured ?

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Dr. Wong Siew Wei, from Parkway Hospital visited Sri Lanka to attend the Annual Academic Session at College of Oncology which was held recently at Galadari Hotel. He spoke on Prostrate and Lung Cancer in two symposium sessions to a large audience.

In an interview, Dr. Wong from Parkway Cancer Centre shared the cause, side effects and the varied treatment methods of advanced Prostrate Cancer He shared his view how robotics have influenced prostate cancer surgeries. Using the advanced surgical systems,miniaturized robotic instruments are passed through several small keyhole incisions in the patient’s abodomanto allow the surgeon to remove the prostate and nearby tissues with grat precision.Then the prostate is eventually removed through one of the keyhole incisions. Benefits of robotic surgery are less blood loss, less pain shoter hospital stay, faster recovery. The rates of major side effects from robotic surgery are about the same as as open surgical approaches.

Dr. Wong Siew

Can prostrate cancer be 100% cured?

With early diagnosis treatment of prostrate cancer is often highly curable. Many people diagnosed with prostate cancer can live a normal life when the cancer hasn’t spread beyond their prostrate for several years following treatment.

What is prostrate cancer?

According to Dr. Wong prostrate cancer develops in the prostrate, a small walnut shaped gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum in men.

Is prostate cancer, a serious disease and what are its symptoms?

In early stages, prostate cancer symptoms are rarely visible. But as the disease progresses, complicated symptoms may surface, making the patient uncomfortable . He will always be in discomfort and uncomfortable.

Some of the symptoms noticed are pain in the the lower pelvic area,frequent urination,trouble urinating, burning sensation or weak urine flow.Sometimes he may find it difficult to control his movements. Blood in the urine,painful ejaculation,pain in the lower back,hips or upper thighs or even bone pain are some of the symptoms.

There are several modifiable and non modifible risk factors that might affect the risk of prostate cance. Modiafiable factors can be the diet,obeisity,smoking,chemicalsubstances (men working in factories and sex transmitted infections. The non modifiable factors include age, family history. If the cancer is limited to the prostate it is considered as curable. If the disease has spread to the bones or elsewhere outside the prostate, it is considered stage 4 cancer, This is treated with pain medications,hormonal treatment, chemotheraphy,and radiopharmaceuticals,radiation and other targetted therapies. The outcome is associated with age and other associated health problems

Are prostrate problems always a sign of prostrate cancer?

Not at all. Not all growths in your prostate are cancer Luckily prostate cancer usually grows slowly. Most tumors are diagonised before the cancer has spread beyond your prostate >prostate cancer is highly treatable at this stage

There is another greater risk for prostate cancer,if you’re a black origin or of African ancestry. Family history is also one of the risk factor, this person is more likely to get prostrate cancer, family

Dr. Wong pointed out, screening can help diagnose prostrate cancer early. Most cancers diagnosed in the early stages can be cured with proper treatment.

Is prostrate cancer curable?

Finally Dr. Wong mentioned prostrate cancer awareness, coupled with early detection and advance in treatment, makes managing the disease more effective. Men should be proactive about their health, understand the risk factors, and a better quality of life. Stay informed, stay healthy, and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and loved ones from prostrate cancer.

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Ringing in the festive season with Italian pop star Matilde G and Sri Lankan DJ Rapa

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Matilde G (left) and DJ Rapa

Located on the unspoiled eastern coastline of Sri Lanka with the region regarded for lesser-known cultural and natural wonders, Sun Siyam Pasikudah invites guests to discover an extraordinary festive season filled with cultural charm, natural beauty, and unforgettable celebrations. Headlined by Italian pop singer and songwriter, Matilde G, and Sri Lankan DJ and music producer DJ Rapa, the recently refurbished resort that is part of the renowned Maldives-owned hospitality group Sun Siyam Resorts, is gearing up to deliver a December to remember said a press conferemce.

Guests are in for a big treat. On 21 December, Sun Siyam Pasikudah will host Italian pop singer and songwriter, Matilde G, based in Singapore, who has performed on major stages worldwide, earning the “MUSIVV Award 2023” in Dubai as the best singer residing outside the Middle East. An independent artist distributed by Universal Music Group, her music has garnered over 10 million streams and eight million YouTube views. Matilde has collaborated with Sun Siyam Resort in the Maldives and performed at high-profile events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix Singapore 2023, cementing her status as a rising international star.

Matilde G will also join again on Christmas Eve at Sun Siyam Pasikudah putting up a performance together with Sri Lankan multi-genre DJ and music producer DJ Rapa known for seamless blends and diverse sets, in celebrating the countdown with firework displays. Earlier that day, the hotel will also have a Xmas cookie-making class for kids and adults.

The release said on Christmas Day, guests can indulge in a delectable festive lunch before enjoying lively DJ sets by local talent DJ RAPA by the pool. As evening sets in, a BBQ dinner with live entertainment will set the stage for Santa’s much-anticipated arrival. Meanwhile, guests can savor a selection of cocktails during sunset at the Aqua Lounge, adding a magical touch to the celebrations.

As the year comes to a close, Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers a day filled with festivities. Children can kick off the celebrations with a fun-filled treasure hunt, while everyone can enjoy a relaxing DJ set by the pool. The evening features a grand New Year’s Eve gala dinner on the beach, culminating in a countdown to welcome 2025. To mark the start of the new year, guests and staff come together for a traditional Sri Lankan celebration, including a milk-boiling ceremony, followed by an authentic New Year’s breakfast that highlights the island’s rich culinary heritage.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah is known for its sustainable luxury hospitality, boasting over 34 individual villa rooms and some with private plunge pools. Each restaurant at the property serves as a gateway to the flavors of the island, whether it’s fresh seafood at the Beach Shack, an intimate dining experience at The Cellar, or Sri Lankan classics at the Tea House​. It also has the biggest wine cellar in the Eastern coast. The resort also has a kids play area and a karaoke room.

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