Opinion

Book on Rabies for the public – by Prof. Nimal Senanayake

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/4

Reviewed by Prof. N.A. de S. Amaratunga PhD, DSc

Prof. Nimal Senanayake MD, PhD. DSc, FRCP, professor emeritus, eminent neurologist and creative writer and producer of drama and films, continuing his commitment to write in Sinhala on important health issues for public education, has published the 17th in the series and the chosen subject is the deadly Rabies of which the public awareness could be insufficient from the point of view of prevention and treatment to prevent death. Prevention of onset of the disease is not difficult if treatment is instituted soon after a dog bite or bite by other animals, like bats carrying the virus. Prof. Nimal Senanayake (NS) deals with these aspects adequately and in simple prose in his little book of 165 pages.

NS showing his proclivity to drama and suspense starts in dramatic fashion, bringing in bats rather than dogs to begin his story describing cases of rabies in Texas 1951, Florida 1953, and Pennsylvania 1953, all due to attacks from the sky, as it were, all bitten by flying bats coming down and biting without any provocation. All these bats were not blood sucking vampire bats but apparently harmless insectivora. NS’s intention clearly is not just drama but to draw the attention of the reader to the strong possibility of bats developing as vectors of deadly viruses as was the case with Corona and several other virus diseases which NS has written about. NS has mentioned that Rabies following bat bite had occurred in Sri Lanka, too.

NS then embarks upon a very interesting journey, through history, starting with Diana the Roman Goddess of Wilderness and the Hunt, and traces back the history of Rabies to 4000 years. He mentions great philosophers Democritus (500 BCE), and Aristotle (384 – 322 BCE) and the father of medicine Hippocrates, who had written about disease due to animal bites. Greek physician Galen (129 – 200 CE) had recorded the natural history of rabies and also treatment measures, including wound care, some of which are still valid. NS has commented on Arabian writings on rabies which is noteworthy as early development of medicine happened in the Arabian civilisation.

After history, NS switches over to his usual practice, adopted throughout this series,where he asks critical questions and gives lengthy explanations. These questions are those that may arise in the minds of science writers, students, patients and ordinary people. They are designed to bring out the most important information that these categories must know about rabies and also lively anecdotes. This is a very effective and efficient method of conveying the knowledge with brevity and clarity, that the author has developed with his vast experience of teaching and practice of medicine.

Beginning with the virology of rabies, with a description of the rabies virus, the author covers the entirety of all aspects of the disease. He connects up the physiology of the virus with the pathogenesis of the disease, how the virus enters the tissues of the human body, proliferates and then gains access to the nervous system through the peripheral nerves. What happens in the brain, when the virus reaches it and affects the brainstem, limbic system, etc., would be of particular interest to the medical students.

How the author looks at every aspect is exemplified when a question is asked whether the person who attends to the wounds of the patient could contract the infection and the explanation that follows showing how it could happen. Then the author explains why and how rabies is known as hydro-phobia, the horrendous result that ensues when the extremely thirsty patient attempts to take some water into the mouth and try to swallow it is the reason that causes severe fear of water in the mind of the patient. The physiological basis for this undue fear of water, according to the author, is ‘conditioned reflex’ and this is illustrated with the famous experiment by Pavlov and his dog. Similarly, the patient is horrified of the wind blowing against his body which, like water, causes severe shivering and muscle contraction. A comprehensive description of the possible animals that could be a vector for rabies is given and also how careful people should be about their pets and the danger of being suddenly attacked by these animals who may appear to be harmless, is vividly described.

Though these symptoms are seen in the advanced state, the early symptoms could be similar to those of common cold except that there could be radiating numbness at the site of the wound. The wrong beliefs that the patient may bark like a dog or even bite others have no basis and the origin of these beliefs is explained. But the caregivers must be careful not to get contaminated by salivary secretions of the patient, even on a minor wound or scratch on their skin.

The tragedy of the situation is that when the patient is not subject to severe muscle contraction and shivering he could be in his proper senses and he realises that he is facing a horrendous death. This state is really pathetic for everybody near and dear to the patient. Physio-pathological explanations of the often mysterious fearful clinical picture would be very useful to medical students. These fearful clinical features could be to some degree controlled with pain killers and sedatives. Apart from the nervous system other organs also may be invaded via the nerves and consequently heart failure and pneumonia could result. Merciful death would arrive with the patient going into coma due to the development of encephalitis which is not any different from other types of encephalitis.

After this comprehensive discussion on all the important aspects of rabies, the author talks about a rare type of rabies called paralytic rabies which is due to the spinal cord and the medulla oblongata being affected instead of the brain and brain stem. This condition is also known as the dumb or silent rabies as there is no violent spasms but a paralysis of limbs and other muscles. Yet slow death cannot be avoided. This type of rabies is more common with bat bites and there had been an outbreak of it of epidemic proportion in Trinidad in 1929 – 1931 period. Health authorities thought it was an outbreak of polio or botulism poisoning.

Author goes into details of diagnosis and draws our attention to the fact that the animal bite incident may even have been forgotten as onset of symptoms could be delayed. This makes diagnosis difficult and this is made worse by the fact that there may be several other conditions that may initially exhibit similar clinical features. NS with his usual thoroughness mentions that sometimes a person who has been bitten by a dog may undergo immense mental stress and go into hysteria which may simulate rabies!

NS gives a comprehensive description of tetanus which is one of the conditions that need to be differentiated in the diagnosis of rabies. Moreover tetanus could occur following bites by dogs and other animals who carry the bacterium that causes tetanus. In tetanus the bacteria do not travel upto the nervous system but the toxin it produces while proliferating in the depth of a wound could travel along nerves and effect the central nervous system. Spasms of muscles could result in a similar clinical picture to that of rabies though there are important differences that may help the doctor to suspect rabies. These differences are lucidly described by the author and illustrated with clear colour pictures which is a striking feature throughout the book which complements the text and adds value to the work. The fact that if adequate treatment is provided in good time tetanus could be fully cured which is not the case with rabies which needs to be nipped in the bud if it is to be cured is emphasized.

NS mentions botulinum toxin poisoning which is another condition that could mimic rabies. What is important to ordinary reader here is the fact that contaminated food, specially tinned fish that has gone bad could contain the toxin due to Clostridium botulinum contamination. NS does not forget to tell us how to detect the possibility of such contamination by an examination of the can of fish which would appear to be swollen and the fish would be blackish in colour. Other diseases that the author mentions, which may be clinically similar to rabies, are encephalitis caused by malaria, delirium tremens and poisoning by certain locally found wild fruits like “goda kaduru” and “attana” and also “ganja” which children may unknowingly consume.

Then the author deals with the tests that could be carried out to confirm the diagnosis particularly in the animal that had bitten the patient so that treatment could be started early to prevent death. He has a story to tell about the development of these tests and also the vaccines. He gives detailed account of how Frenchman Louis Pasteur succeeded in discovering anthrax causing bacteria in cattle and attempts at developing a vaccine against anthrax and also against rabies. Description of Pasteur’s attempt to experiment the rabies vaccine he had developed on a human being is full of drama and suspense. Scientific detail which could be boring is embellished with human drama which is a feature of NS’s writings that make them so readable. Author has written several pages on Louis Pasteur in order to emphasize the great importance of the ground breaking discoveries he had made which eventually helped mankind to combat many killer diseases caused by micro-organisms. The description of how Pasteur risks his life when he sucked into a tube saliva from a rabid dog is fascinating.

Next NS deals with the attempt at attenuation of the virus by Irish physician Sir David Semple (1856 – 1937) The attenuated virus could be used as the vaccine as it could initiate the development of immunity against the viral infection. Greater success was achieved by the efforts of Polish physician Hillary Koprowski (1960 -2013) and American bacteriologist Herald Cox (1907 – 1986) who used new methods to lessen the virulence of the virus. Methods of producing safe vaccines which may not have the complications of earlier varieties have taken vast strides with the development of DNA technology.

Finally, NS writes about prevention and treatment of rabies which is of vital importance as about 55000 die worldwide annually mainly due to ignorance, negligence and lack of facilities for vaccination. What should be done after being bitten by an animal which could be a vector of rabies are clearly described. The use of Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) and Anti-rabies Vaccine (ARV) and their mode of action is given in detail. This section is very important for the student as well as lay persons. The final chapter on animal management from the point of view of rabies prevention would be very useful for everybody, specially people who keep pets, animal lovers and animal farm keepers.

Prof. Senanayake has produced yet again a compact little book, full of knowledge important for everybody, written in beautiful Sinhala prose, like a story, simplifying complex matters and vividly emphasizing where emphasis is necessary. This excellent piece of work would be of use to ordinary people, medical students, postgraduates, animal farmers, and doctors who practice bread and butter medicine everywhere in the country.

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Opinion

V. Shanmuganyagam (1940-2026): First Clas Engineer, First Class Teacher

Published

1 day ago

2026/02/8

Thilina Walpola

Quiet flows another don. The aging fraternity of Peradeniya Engineering alumni has lost another one of its beloved teachers. V. Shanmuganayagam, an exceptionally affable and popular lecturer for nearly two decades at the Peradeniya Engineering Faculty, passed away on 15 January 2026, in Markham, Toronto, Canada. Shan, as he was universally known, graduated with First Class Honours in Civil Engineering, in 1962, when the Faculty was located in Colombo. He taught at Peradeniya from 1967 to 1984, and later at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, before retiring to live in Canada.

V. Shanmuganayagam

In October last year, one of our colleagues, Engineer P. Balasundram, organized a lunch in Toronto to felicitate Shan. It was very well attended and Shan was in good spirits. At 85 he was looking as young as any of us, except for using a wheelchair to facilitate his movement. The gathering was remarkable for the outpouring of warmth and gratitude by nearly 40 or 50 Engineers, who had graduated in the early 1970s and now in their own seventies. One by one every one who was there spoke and thanked Shan for making a difference in their lives as a teacher and a mentor, not only in their professional lives but by extension in their personal lives as well.

As we were leaving the luncheon gathering there were suggestions to have more such events and to have Shan with us for more reminiscing. That was not to be. Within three months, a sudden turn for the worse in his condition proved to be irreversible. He passed away peacefully, far away across the world from the little corner of little Sri Lanka where he was born and raised, and raised in a manner to make a mark in his life and to make a difference in the lives of others who were his family, friends and several hundreds of engineering professionals whom he taught.

V. Shanmuganayagam was born on May 30, 1940, in Point Pedro, to Culanthavel and Sellam Venayagampillai. His family touchingly noted in the obituary that he was raised in humble beginnings, but more consequentially his values were cast in the finest of moulds. He studied at Hartley College, Point Pedro, and was one of the four outstanding Hartleyites to study engineering, get their first class and join the academia. Shan was preceded by Prof. A. Thurairajah, easily Sri Lanka’s most gifted academic engineering mind, and was followed by David Guanaratnam and A.S. Rajendra. All of them did Civil Engineering, and years later Hartley would send a new pair of outstanding students, M. Sritharan and K. Ramathas who would go on to become highly accomplished Electrical Engineers.

Shan graduated in 1962 with First Class Honours and may have been one of a very few if not the only first class that year. Shan worked for a short while at the Ceylon Electricity Board before proceeding to Cambridge for postgraduate studies specializing in Structures. His dissertation on the Ultimate Strength of Encased Beams is listed in the publications of the Cambridge Structures Group. He returned to his job at CEB and then joined the Faculty in 1967. At that time, Shan may have been one of the more senior lecturers in Structures after Milton Amaratunga who too passed away late last year in Southampton, England.

When we were students in the early 1970s, there was an academic debate at the Faculty as to whether a university or specific faculties should give greater priority to teaching or research. Shan was on the side of teaching and he was quite open about it in his classes. He would supplement his lectures with cyclostyled sheets of notes and the students naturally loved it. It was also a time when Shan and many of his colleagues were young bachelors at Peradeniya, and their lives as academic bachelors have been delightfully recounted in a number of online circulations.

The cross-sectional camaraderie at the Faculty in those days is well captured in one of the photographs taken at Shan’s wedding at Point Pedro, in 1974, which too has been doing the rounds and which I have inserted above. Flanking Shan and his bride Kalamathy, from Left to Right are, M. Dhanendran, Nandana Rambukwella, K. Jeyapalan, Wickrama Bahu Karunaratne, A.S. Rajendra, Lal Tennekoon, Tusit Weerasooria, and R. Srikantha. Sadly, Rambukwella, Karunaratne (Bahu), Tennekoon and now Shan himself, are no longer with us.

Like other faculty members, Shan kept contact with his former students turned practising engineers and they would reach out to him to solicit his expertise in their projects. In the early 1980s, when I was working as Resident Project Manager with my Peradeniya contemporaries, JM Samoon and K. Balasundram, at the Hanthana Housing Scheme undertaken by the National Development Housing Authority (NHDA), Shan was one of the project consultants helping us with concrete technology involving mix design and in situ strength testing using the testing facilities at the Faculty.

The Hanthana Team Looking back, the Hanthana housing scheme construction was the engineering externalization of the architectural imaginings of Tanya Iousova and Suren Wickremesinghe, for building houses on hill slopes without flattening the hills. The project involved the construction of hundreds of housing units with supporting infrastructure comprising roads and drainage, water supply and sanitary, and electricity distribution using underground cables. Tanya & Suren Wickremasinghe were the Architects with an Italian construction company as contractors.

To their credit, Tanya and Suren assembled quite a team of Consulting Engineers that was a cross-section of E’Fac alumni, viz., Siripala Kodikkara and Siripala Jayasinghe (Contract Administration); Prof. Thurairajah (Foundations & Soil Mechanics); S.A. Karunaratne (Structures); V. Shanmuganyagam (Concrete Technology); Neville Kottagama and DLO Mendis (Roads & Drainage); K. Suntharalingam (Water Supply & Sanitary); and Chris Ratnayake (Electrical).

As esoteric gossip goes, DLO Mendis had an informal periodization of engineering graduates, identifying them as either Before-Thurai or After-Thurai, centered on 1957 – the year Prof. Thurairajah graduated with supreme distinction and went on to do groundbreaking theoretical research in Soil Mechanics at Cambridge. Of the Hanthana consultant team, Neville Kottagama and DLO Mendis were before Thurai by six years, Shan was five years after, and all the others came later. Sadly though, only Tanya and Chris are with us today from the 1980s group named above.

After Hanthana came 1983 when all hell broke loose and hundreds of professionals and their families were forced to leave Sri Lanka. Shan left Peradeniya and joined Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, encouraged by his Cambridge contemporaries from Singapore. He taught at Nanyang for twelve years (1984-1996) before moving to Canada with his wife and three sons who were by then ready for university education.

All three children have done exceptionally well in their studies and professional careers. The oldest, Dhanansayan, is a Medical Doctor and a Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in Madison, United States. That was where India’s Jayaprakash Narayan and Sri Lanka’s Philip Gunawardena had their university education a hundred years ago.

The younger two sons took to Engineering. The second son, Kalaichelvan, is Program Manager at Creation Technologies, an award-winning global electronics manufacturing service provider. And the youngest, Dhaksayan, is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), which is North America’s third-largest urban transit system.

All three have done their parents proud and Shan would have been gratified to see them achieve exemplary success in their chosen fields. A first class Engineer and a first class teacher, Shan was also a great father and a loving grandfather. As we remember Professor Shanmuganyagam, we extend our thoughts and sympathies to his beloved wife Kalamathy, his sons and their young families

by Rajan Philips

Opinion

Cannavarella: Estate once owned by OEG with a heritage since 1880

Published

1 day ago

2026/02/8

Thilina Walpola

Established in 1880, Cannavarella Estate stands among the most historically significant plantations in Sri Lanka, carrying a legacy that intertwines agricultural heritage, colonial transitions and modern development. Its story begins with the cultivation of cinchona, a medicinal bark used to produce quinine, which is a vital treatment for malaria at the time, introduced when coffee estates across the island were failing.

Under the ownership of Messrs Macfarlane, Cannavarella rapidly gained a reputation for producing cinchona at ideal elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level. At that time, the estate spanned around 750 acres and played a pivotal role in the island’s shift from coffee to alternative plantation crops during the late 19th century.

A transformative chapter began when Christopher B. Smith purchased the property and unified several surrounding estates- Moussagolla, Cannavarella, East Gowerakelle, and Naminacooly- into what became known as the Cannavarella Group. This amalgamation created a vast holding of approximately 1,800 acres. By 1915, nearly 1,512 acres of this extent were cultivated in tea, marking the estate’s full transition from cinchona to the crop that would define its identity for generations.

The Group was managed by the Eastern Produce and Estates Company from 1915 until 1964, after which stewardship passed successively to Walker & Sons Company Ltd, and then to George Steuart Company Ltd by 1969.

A defining moment in the estate’s history arrived in 1971 when Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, former Governor General of Ceylon, acquired the estate. Under his ownership, it came under the London-based company Ceyover Ltd., a name derived from “Cey” for Ceylon and “Over” for Oliver.

The estate remained under private ownership until the nationalization wave of 1975, during which Cannavarella was brought under the Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB). For nearly two decades it was managed under government purview until the plantation sector was re-privatised in 1992.

Sir Oliver Goonetilleke

Thereafter, Cannavarella Estate moved under the management of Namunukula Plantations Limited, first through BC Plantation Services, then under John Keells Holdings’ Keells Plantation Management Services and eventually under the ownership of Richard Pieris & Company PLC, where it continues today as part of the Arpico Plantations portfolio.

Blending heritage, landscape and community

Situated along the northeastern slopes of the scenic Kabralla-Moussagolla range and bordering the Namunukula mountain range, Cannavarella Estate spans a total extent of 800 hectares. Its six divisions rise across elevations from 910 to 1,320 metres above sea level, creating a landscape ideal for cultivating premium high-grown tea. Of the total land area, 351 hectares are dedicated to mature tea, while 54 hectares consist of VP tea, representing 16 % of the estate.

Among its most remarkable features are fields containing seedling tea bushes more than a century old, living symbols of Sri Lanka’s plantation legacy that continue to thrive across the slopes. The estate is also home to the origin of the Menik River, which begins its journey in the Moussagolla Division, adding an ecological richness to Cannavarella’s natural environment.

Cannavarella’s history of leadership reflects broader transformations within the plantation industry. The last English superintendent, Mr. Charles Edwards, oversaw the estate during the final phase of British management. In 1972, he was succeeded by Franklin Jacob, who became the first Sri Lankan superintendent of the Cannavarella Group, marking a shift toward local leadership and expertise in plantation management.

Development within Cannavarella Estate has never been confined to agriculture alone. Over the past decade, the estate has strengthened its emphasis on community care, diversification and improving living conditions for its workers. In 2022, coffee planting was initiated in Fields 7 and 8 of the NKU Division, covering 2.5 hectares as part of a broader effort to introduce alternative revenue streams while complementing tea cultivation.

The estate’s commitment to early childhood development is reflected in the initiation of a morning meal programme across all Child Development Centres from 2025, ensuring that children receive nutritious meals each day. A newly constructed Child Development Centre in the EGK Division, completed in 2020, now offers modern facilities including a play area, study room and kitchen, symbolizing the estate’s dedication to nurturing the next generation. In 2015, a housing scheme consisting of 23 new homes was completed and handed over to workers in the CVE Division, significantly improving quality of life and providing families with safer, more stable living environments.

A future built on stability and renewal

Cannavarella Estate is preparing to undertake one of its most important social development initiatives. A major housing programme has been proposed to relocate 69 families currently residing in landslide-prone areas of the Moussagolla Division. Supported by the Indian Housing Programme, this effort aims to provide secure, sustainable housing in safer terrain, ensuring long-term stability for vulnerable families and reducing disaster risk in the region.

Across its history, Cannavarella Estate has remained a landscape shaped both by the land and the people who call it home. Cannavarella continues to honour its roots while building a modern legacy that uplifts both the estate and its people. (Planters Association news release)

Opinion

From the Lecture Hall to the Global Market: How Sri Lankan students are mastering the “Gig Economy”

Published

3 days ago

2026/02/6

Thilina Walpola

Image : Courtesy South China Morning Post

Have you ever wondered how a university student, between heavy textbooks and late-night study sessions, manages to earn a professional income in US dollars? It sounds like a dream, but for thousands of Sri Lankans, it’s becoming a daily reality through online freelancing.

A recent study published in the Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies has pulled back the curtain on this digital revolution. By interviewing 21 successful student freelancers across Sri Lanka, researchers have mapped out exactly what it takes to turn a laptop and an internet connection into a thriving career.

The Rise of the “Earn-as-you-learn” Era

In Sri Lanka, the number of online freelancers has exploded from about 20,000 in 2016 to over 150,000 today. While our traditional education system often focuses on preparing students for 9-to-5 office jobs , these students are diving into the “Gig Economy” a digital marketplace where they sell specific skills, like graphic design or programming, to clients all over the world.

The Secret Sauce for Success

So, what makes some students succeed while others struggle? The research found that it isn’t just about being good at coding or design. Success comes down to six “Core Pillars”:

· A Growth Mindset: The digital world moves fast. Successful students don’t just learn one skill; they are constantly updating themselves to ensure they don’t become “outdated”

· The Balancing Act:

How do they handle exams and clients? They don’t use a magic wand; they use strict time management. Many work late into the night (from 6 p.m. to midnight) to accommodate international time zones.

· The Power of “Hello”:

Since most clients are in the USA or UK, strong English and clear communication are vital. It’s about more than just talking; it’s about negotiating prices and building trust.

· Proactive Problem Solving:

Successful freelancers don’t wait for things to go wrong. They update their clients regularly and fix issues before they become headaches.

Why This Matters for Sri Lanka

Right now, our universities don’t always teach “how to be a freelancer”. This study suggests that if we integrate freelancing modules and mentorship into our degree programs, we could significantly reduce graduate unemployment. It’s a way for students to gain financial independence and bring much-needed foreign currency into our economy while still in school.

You Can Do It Too

If you’re a student (or the parent of one), the message is clear: the global market is open for business. You don’t need to wait for graduation to start your career. With a bit of flexibility, a willingness to keep learning, and a proactive attitude, you can transition from a learner to an earner.

The Research Team Behind the Study

This groundbreaking research was conducted by a dedicated team from the Department of Business Management at the SLIIT Business School (Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology). The authors of the study include:

· Lihini Niranjana Dasanayaka

· Thuvindu Bimsara Madanayake

· Kalana Gimantha Jayasekara

· Thilina Dinidu Illepperuma

· Ruwanthika Chandrasiri

· Gayan Bandara

by Ruwanthika Chandrasiri