Browsing by Author "Perera, N"

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Open Access
Chronic diseases: An added burden to income and expenses of chronically-ill people in Sri Lanka
(PLOS ONE, 2020-10-28) Jayathilaka, R; Joachim, S; Mallikarachchi, V; Perera, N; Ranawaka, D
In the global context, health and the quality of life of people are adversely affected by either one or more types of chronic diseases. This paper investigates the differences in the level of income and expenditure between chronically-ill people and non-chronic population. Data were gathered from a national level survey conducted namely, the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) of Sri Lanka. These data were statistically analysed with one-way and two-way ANOVA, to identify the factors that cause the differences among different groups. For the first time, this study makes an attempt using survey data, to examine the differences in the level of income and expenditure among chronically-ill people in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the study discovered that married females who do not engage in any type of economic activity (being unemployed due to the disability associated with the respective chronic illness), in the age category of 40–65, having an educational level of tertiary education or below and living in the urban sector have a higher likelihood of suffering from chronic diseases. If workforce population is compelled to lose jobs, it can lead to income insecurity and impair their quality of lives. Under above findings, it is reasonable to assume that most health care expenses are out of pocket. Furthermore, the study infers that chronic illnesses have a statistically proven significant differences towards the income and expenditure level. This has caused due to the interaction of demographic and socio-economic characteristics associated with chronic illnesses. Considering private-public sector partnerships that enable affordable access to health care services for all as well as implementation of commercial insurance and community- based mutual services that help ease burden to the public, are vital when formulating effective policies and strategies related to the healthcare sector. Sri Lanka is making strong efforts to support its healthcare sector and public, which was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) in early 2020. Therefore, findings of this paper will be useful to gain insights on the differences of chronic illnesses towards the income and expenditure of chronically-ill patients in Sri Lanka.
Embargo
“Cradle to Gate” assessment of material related embodied carbon: A design stage stratagem for mid-rise housing in Sri Lanka
(Elsevier, 2021-01-01) Jayawardana, A; Perera, N; Perera, R
Achieving low carbon buildings is seen as a key concept in order to reduce carbon emission and mitigate climate change. In contrast to operational emission, material related embodied carbon (EC) in the built environment plays a pivotal role, with the continuous consumption of high carbon emitting materials. This research relates to the ‘Cradle-to-Gate’ system boundary, while limiting its focus on building design stage decisions. A hybrid analysis approach was adopted - a bottom-up process with steps encompassing mass analysis, EC calculation, highlighting carbon hotspots, and ultimately the identification of critical building components. As a case study, multi-storey housing was selected as a critical building typology, in Sri Lanka. The results reveal ‘walls’ as a carbon hotspot that needs to be explored in strategies for mitigation. Substantial EC savings were seen in the selection of fly ash blocks as an alternate material to clay brick or cement block. Changes to the configuration of walls, specifically, bonding patterns and non-inclusion of a plaster layer, also showed savings. This paper, contributes to the understanding of material selection implications - in the cradle-to-gate stage - for the reduction of carbon emissions in mid-rise housing, in the context of Sri Lanka.
Open Access
Do chronic illnesses and poverty go hand in hand?
(2020-10-23) Jayathilaka, R; Joachim, S; Mallikarachchi, V; Perera, N; Ranawaka, D
In the global context, the health and quality of life of people are adversely affected by either one or more types of chronic diseases. The chronic pain associated with diagnosed patients may include heavy medical expenditure along with the physical and mental suffering they undergo. Usually, unbearable amounts of medical expenses are incurred, to improve or sustain the health condition of the patient. Consequently, the heavy financial burden tends to push households from a comfortable or secure life, or even from bad to worse, towards the probability of becoming poor. Hence, this study is conducted to identify the impact chronic illnesses have on poverty using data from a national survey referred as the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), with data gathered by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) of Sri Lanka in 2016. As such, this study is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, declaring the originality of the study based on data collected from the local arena. Accordingly, the study discovered that married females who do not engage in any type of economic activity, in the age category of 40–65, having an educational level of tertiary level or below and living in the urban sector have a higher likelihood of suffering from chronic diseases. Moreover, it was inferred that, if a person is deprived from access to basic education in the level of education, lives in the rural or estate sector, or suffers from a brain disease, cancer, heart disease or kidney disease, he is highly likely to be poor. Some insights concluded from this Sri Lankan case study can also be applied in the context of other developing countries, to minimise chronic illnesses and thereby the probability of falling into poverty.
Open Access
Factors influencing IMF assistance in the Sub-Saharan African region
(PLOS ONE, 2024-07-16) Abeywickrama, K; Perera, N; Samarathunga, S; Pabasara, H; Jayathilaka, R; Wisenthige, K
This study examines the determinants influencing the likelihood of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF, as a global institution, aims to promote sustainable growth and prosperity among its member countries by supporting economic strategies that foster financial stability and collaboration in monetary affairs. Utilising panel-probit regression, this study analyses data from thirty-nine SSA countries spanning from 2000 to 2022, focusing on twelve factors: Current Account Balance (CAB), inflation, corruption, General Government Net Lending and Borrowing (GGNLB), General Government Gross Debt (GGGD), Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDPG), United Nations Security Council (UNSC) involvement, regime types (Closed Autocracy, Electoral Democracy, Electoral Autocracy, Liberal Democracy) and China Loan. The results indicate that corruption and GDP growth rate have the most significant influence on the likelihood of SSA countries seeking IMF assistance. Conversely, factors such as CAB, UNSC involvement, LD and inflation show inconsequential effects. Notable, countries like Sudan, Burundi, and Guinea consistently rank high in seeking IMF assistance over various time frames within the observed period. Sudan emerges with a probability of more than 44% in seeking IMF assistance, holding the highest ranking. Study emphasises the importance of understanding SSA region rankings and the variability of variables for policymakers, investors, and international organisations to effectively address economic challenges and provide financial assistance.
Open Access
In Silico Analysis of the Diversity of DPYD Gene Variants Aff ecti ng Fluoropyrimidine Toxicity: A Comparison of South Asians with Other World Populati ons
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Perera, N; Weerasinghe, M; Kasturiarachchi, J; Ranasinghe, P
Fluoropyrimidine (FP) chemotherapy drug is uti lized to treat colon, head, neck and breast cancers. Apart from its eff ecti veness, toxicity is a limitati on. DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase) enzyme, which aids in the FP metabolism is produced by the highly polymorphic DPYD gene. Mutati ons in the DPYD gene cause the defi ciency or non-functi onality of the DPD enzyme which varies among diff erent populati ons. This research aimed to compare allele frequencies of common DPYD gene variants of South Asians (SAS) such as DPYD*2A(rs3918290), DPYD*9(rs1801265), DPYD*5, rs2297595, DPYD*6, rs17376848, rs56038477, DPYD*4(rs1801158), rs67376798 and rs75017182 with Africans (AFR), Amish (AMI), Lati n Americans (AMR), Ashkenazi Jewish (ASJ), East Asians (EAS), Finnish (FIN) and Non-Finnish (NFE). Allele frequencies were obtained from the Genome Aggregati on Database in the PharmGKB database. Χ² analysis was performed. p<0.05 was deemed to be stati sti cally signifi cant. The study found a signifi cant diff erence between the SAS populati on and AFR, AMR, ASJ, EAS, FIN and NFE populati ons for the DPYD*9A gene variant, except for the AMI populati on. The distributi on of the DPYD*2A gene variant of SAS was found to be signifi cant in the AFR, ASJ, FIN and NFE populati ons, except for AMR and AMI. The prevalence of DPYD*5, DPYD*6, rs17376848, and rs56038477 in the SAS signifi cantly diff ered from all above-menti oned populati ons. The distributi on of the rs75017182 gene variant in SAS has shown signifi cant diff erences with AFR, AMR, ASJ and EAS except for NFE and FIN. This study highlights the variati ons in pharmacogenomics data specifi c to populati ons that could lead to personalized medicine and the need for DPYD genotyping before cancer treatment, especially in SAS communiti es where clinically signifi cant geneti c variati ons and haplotypes occur. Study fi ndings pinpoint the potenti al contributi on of DPYD gene variati ons to individual variability in anti -cancer dosage requirements among SAS.
Open Access
The interconnectedness of energy consumption with economic growth: A granger causality analysis
(2024-09-15) Perera, N; Dissanayake, H; Samson, D; Abeykoon, S; Jayathilaka, R; Jayasinghe, M; Yapa, S
In considering today's energy challenges, the link between the usage of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and economic growth has gained substantial policy attention. This research examines the complex relationship between these three variables to understand how non-renewable energy consumption and renewable energy consumption interact and what that means for economic growth. This study uses the Granger causality approach to explore the relationships between non-renewable energy consumption, renewable energy consumption, and economic development. It draws on a comprehensive dataset from the Word Bank database, including 152 nations from 1990 to 2019. The analysis is further disaggregated by four subgroups of countries; least developed, developed, transitional economies and developing countries. The result of this study provides valuable empirical evidence of uni-directional causality running from renewable energy consumption to economic growth and non-renewable energy consumption to economic growth in transitional economies. Furthermore, policymakers should focus on both variables when making decisions because the results show that energy consumption and economic growth are interconnected. Implementing global energy efficiency standards, reducing fossil fuel usage, and adopting regulatory measures are all viable policies for limiting adverse effects on the environment while encouraging economic development.
Open Access
The interconnectedness of energy consumption with economic growth: A granger causality analysis
(Elsevier Ltd, 2024-09-15) Perera, N; Dissanayake, H; Samson, D; Abeykoon, S; Jayathilaka, R; Jayasinghe, M; Yapa, S
In considering today's energy challenges, the link between the usage of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and economic growth has gained substantial policy attention. This research examines the complex relationship between these three variables to understand how non-renewable energy consumption and renewable energy consumption interact and what that means for economic growth. This study uses the Granger causality approach to explore the relationships between non-renewable energy consumption, renewable energy consumption, and economic development. It draws on a comprehensive dataset from the Word Bank database, including 152 nations from 1990 to 2019. The analysis is further disaggregated by four subgroups of countries; least developed, developed, transitional economies and developing countries. The result of this study provides valuable empirical evidence of uni-directional causality running from renewable energy consumption to economic growth and non-renewable energy consumption to economic growth in transitional economies. Furthermore, policymakers should focus on both variables when making decisions because the results show that energy consumption and economic growth are interconnected. Implementing global energy efficiency standards, reducing fossil fuel usage, and adopting regulatory measures are all viable policies for limiting adverse effects on the environment while encouraging economic development.
Open Access
Nexus between carbon emissions, energy consumption, and economic growth: Evidence from global economies
(PLOS ONE, 2023-06-23) Dissanayake, H; Perera, N; Abeykoon, S; Samson, D; Jayathilaka, R; Jayasinghe, M; Yapa, S
Renewable energy holds a remarkable role in clean energy adaptation due to the much lower carbon footprint it releases compared to other fossil fuels. It also has a positive impact by slowing down the rate of climate change. The study has examined the links between renewable and non-renewable energy use, CO2 emissions and economic growth in developed, developing, and LDCs and Economies in Transition between 1990 and 2019 in 152 countries. Granger-causality has been used as the methodology to investigate the link between the variables. The findings of the existing studies on the relationship between the consumption of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and economic growth are inconsistent, indicating that there may or may not be a relationship between the two factors. Apart from having a few empirical studies so far have examined the link between the above-mentioned variables, analysis has yet to encompass all the regions in the four sub-groups discussed above. The results indicated that no Granger-causal relationship exists between GDP and REC outside of Economies in Transition. Additionally, the GDP and CO2 of all countries have a one-way relationship. Nevertheless, research indicates that GDP and CO2 have a bi-directional link in Economies in Transition, a uni-directional relationship in developing countries, and no meaningful association in developed and LDCs. Therefore, it is essential to emphasise actions to lower CO2 emissions and develop renewable energy while also stimulating the economy. Ultimately, more nations should choose renewable energy sources to build a more sustainable future.
Open Access
A Study on the Diversity of Pharmacogenomic Variants Aff ecti ng Dapsone Hypersensiti vity: A Comparati ve Study Based on South Asian and Other World Populati ons
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Weerasinghe, M; Perera, N; Kasthuriarachchi, J; Ranasinghe, P
Recent data from Sri Lanka indicates an increase in leprosy cases, emphasizing the necessity of dapsone as a drug vital for managing it. Ironically, dapsone eff ecti veness is accompanied by dapsone hypersensiti vity syndrome (DHS) which varies among populati ons. We postulate that this is due to signifi cant diff erences between SNP frequencies in HLA-B*13:01, CYP2C9*3, rs701829, rs17211071, and rs201929247. As per our reading, no comparati ve study has been done so far on DHS and related genes between South Asian (SAS) and other world populati ons. Therefore, this study compares the allele frequencies of SNPs from PharmGKB and dbSNP of world populati ons against SAS using chisquare (χ²) tests. For HLA-B*13:01; it is reported that Europeans, Africans, African others, and African Americans have demonstrated signifi cant diff erences, and Asians, EAS, Other Asians, and Lati n Americans have shown no signifi cant diff erences. For CYP2C9*3 and rs701829; Americans, Africans, Amish, Ashkenazi Jews, East Asians (EAS), Finns, and Non-Finnish Europeans (NFE) all have demonstrated a signifi cant diff erence from SAS. For rs17211071, Africans, Amish, Americans, East Asians, Finns, and NFE demonstrated no signifi cant diff erence, and ASJ showed a signifi cant diff erence. For rs201929247, Africans and Finns had no signifi cant diff erences, whereas Americans, Amish, ASJ, EAS, and NFE had. Hence, compared with other populati ons, allele frequencies of some studied SNPs were signifi cantly diff erent in SAS, and these may likely account for the variability of DHS occurrence among these populati ons. Signifi cant allele frequency diff erences between SAS and the rest of the world populati ons’ impact personalized medicine in leprosy treatment. Clinical research needs to determine the opti mal dapsone dose alterati ons, considering environmental and other factors behind DHS.