Agrochemical poisoning in Sri Lanka

Mortality resulting from agrochemicals met within the Office of the Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo, which is the premier Medico-legal Institute in Sri Lanka, are analysed over a 3-year period and the morbidity and mortality rates of the entire country are examined over a 10-year period. The number of patients admitted to hospitals in Sri Lanka during the period 1975-1983, stood at around 11,000-15,000 each year, with the year 1983 recording 16,649 admissions. The number of deaths during the same period varied from 900 to 1500 each year, while the year 1983 recording 1521 deaths. About 75% of such cases of poisoning were due to self ingestion while accidental and occupational poisoning formed the balance. Principal agricultural districts like Kurunegala, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Nuwara-Eliya and Badulla recorded the highest incidence of poisoning. The mortality figures of the Office of the J.M.O., Colombo, indicated that 4% of all bodies subjected to autopsy were those of agrochemical poisoning. The male/female ratio was 2:1. Seventy-five percent of deaths from agrochemical poisoning were recorded in the 15-39 year age group, while 33% of deaths belonged to the 20-24 age group. One third of cases of agrochemical poisoning were dead on being brought to hospital, while 50% were dead within 2 h and 60% dead within 24 h. Organophosphates accounted for 57.6% of all cases of agrochemical poisoning, while paraquat accounted for 21.2% of cases. Deaths were also reported from what are called safe chemicals like Carbamates and Pyrethrums due to their lethal additives.     

Drugs--a growing problem in Sri Lanka

Cannabis, hashish and opium were the drugs generally abused in Sri Lanka. The laws relating to drugs were consolidated in 1935. Heroin is the most widely abused drug today. Tourists are mainly responsible for the introduction of heroin into Sri Lanka. The separatist terrorists of Sri Lanka are engaged in trafficking in drugs to find the money for the purchase of arms and ammunition.     

An unusual case of fatal accidental paraquat poisoning

Paraquat, a useful contact herbicide is now used in over 130 countries of the world, including Sri Lanka. The number of cases of accidental poisoning reported with paraquat is small, relative to instances of suicide. When a clear history is not available, accidental paraquat poisoning is sometimes difficult to diagnose. A 9-year-old boy was admitted to a peripheral hospital with a history of diarrhoea and vomiting. He later developed abdominal pain, subcutaneous emphysema and difficulty in breathing. Following transfer to a district hospital and then to a teaching hospital, poisoning with paraquat was suspected only on day 11 of the illness. On persistent questioning, on day 13 of the illness the child remembered that the day prior to the onset of illness, on his way from a shop, he felt thirsty and having found an empty bottle of Gramoxone (paraquat) on the wayside he used it to drink water from a water tank. The child died on day 17 and the histology of the lung showed typical changes of paraquat poisoning. This tragic episode emphasises the need for proper disposal of empty containers of all poisonous substances.     

Injuries caused by home-made explosives

Eighty-six cases of injuries caused by home-made unconventional explosives were studied. The use of this type of explosive is common in India, Sri Lanka and other Eastern countries. Injuries are due to the blast effect, shrapnel and flash. The blast effect is seen only when the explosion occurs at close range. Accidental injuries to handlers and manufacturers conform to a particular pattern.     

Retrospective analysis of factors affecting rate of skeletonization within a tropical climate

Estimating the post mortem interval (PMI) in skeletonized cases is an extremely challenging exercise. Sri Lanka lacks adequate taphonomic research which is a serious limitation when assessing PMI in forensic death investigations. Methods that have been proposed to estimate PMI using the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) are mainly based on data from continental and temperate climates and have shown less reliability in tropical climates. With the intention of developing a region-specific, evidence-based guide which would be applicable to tropical climates like Sri Lanka, we selected thirteen skeletonized remains with known PMIs from forensic case records and analysed their taphonomy in relation to selected weather data. We also compared the ADD values within our dataset with reference ranges calculated using published formula.All except one were found from outdoor locations. The TBS ranged from 24 to 32 and had a weak positive correlation with the PMI. The earliest appearance of skeletonization was 15 days in a body found indoors. The highest rate of skeletonization was seen in a body with a TBS of 32 and a PMI of 23 days. The average daily temperature and relative humidity were similar across all the cases however, the amount of rainfall varied. Bodies exposed to monsoon rains (n = 6) had a lower mean rate of skeletonization compared to those that were not exposed (n = 4) suggesting lower rates of decomposition during periods of heavy rainfall.No correlation was found between ADD and TBS. In 9 (69.2%) cases, the actual ADD was much lower than reference ADD ranges for TBS values, indicating poor applicability of TBS and ADD based formulae in estimating PMI within the Sri Lankan climate. Our study shows a strong need for taphonomic and entomological research in tropical climates to further explore the impact of monsoons on biotic and abiotic factors affecting skeletonization.     

Beyond ‘Don't Be Evil’: The European Union GSP+ Trade Preference Scheme and the Incentivisation of the Sri Lankan Garment Industry to Foster Human Rights

Orthodox discourse on business and human rights tends to conceive of the human rights responsibility of corporations in terms of minimising the negative human rights impacts of their own activities, as opposed to exerting a net positive effect on human rights. On 15 August 2010, however, Sri Lanka's access to the EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)+ trade incentives was withdrawn for reasons relating to that country's human rights record, creating an actual positive economic incentive for Sri Lankan businesses to actively engage the government on its human rights record. In this context, the author explores the potential for the Sri Lankan garment industry, which is highly dependent on exports to the EU, to effect positive human rights change in Sri Lanka.     

Forensic medicine and medicolegal investigation in Sri Lanka

In a small country such as Sri Lanka, very interesting applications of forensic medicine and medicolegal investigation exist. We present information that provides an important addition to the knowledge of medicolegal investigators all over the world.     

Digital thombos: A new source for 18th century Sri Lankan family history. Research note

The Sri Lanka National Archives (SLNA) in Colombo preserve under the names of head thombo and land thombo several hundreds of eighteenth-century registers on family composition and landownership. At the time of their compilation by the Dutch East India Company or VOC the thombos suited a general administrative purpose; currently they are used only in genealogical research and in court cases concerning land disputes. Demographic, family and colonial history, however, can profit considerably from this neglected source. In the following we describe a project to digitize the registers of the Colombo province, and we discuss and evaluate the variables in the database by focusing on the family groups of a relatively small district.     

Sudden unexpected death due to familial hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a familial condition with a very distinct risk of sudden death in males in certain families. The disease appears to be not uncommon in Sri Lanka. A sudden death in a 26-year-old healthy man is reported: At autopsy the heart was 500 g due mainly to left ventricular hypertrophy, and showed histological changes consistent with cardiomyopathy. Symptomless family members of the deceased were subsequently referred to a cardiologist. Cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in one of them.     

Effective prison rehabilitation system： Special reference to Sri Lanka

Prison is one of the main and important agencies which involves in the criminal justice process. Offenders who are sentenced to imprisonment are sent to this institution for rehabilitation. The main objective of the prison institution is to rehabilitate prisoners thereby helping them to understand what was wrong with their behaviors and helping them to become productive citizens in the future after releasing from prison. In order to achieve this task, the prison system should take necessary steps to conduct an effective rehabilitation process during the imprisonment period and to ensure the protection of their human rights. The present situation in prisons, the increasing rate of the reconvicted and the recidivism demonstrate that the prison system in Sri Lanka is not able to successfully reach its main goal that of the adequate rehabilitation of offenders and sufficient protection of their rights. This paper focuses on an effective prison rehabilitation system for Sri Lanka through the protection of rights of prisoners. To reach this goal, the role and the importance of the concept of rehabilitation as a main objective of punishment, present international regional and national laws relating to the rights of the prisoner, existing prison system in Sri Lanka, the current problems in our prison system and reasons for the problems are discussed. Furthermore, the initiatives and the measures that could be taken for an effective prison rehabilitation system in Sri Lanka and the role of the public and privates institutions in this regard are also considered.     

性别鉴定中amelogenin基因座变异的研究进展

Amelogenin基因座变异,分为amelogenin引物结合区突变和包含amelogenin基因座的Y染色体微缺失两种类型,以后者最为常见。Amelogenin引物结合区突变的发生机制是核苷酸点突变,包含amelogenin的Y染色体微缺失的发生机制可能是非等位同源重组或者非同源末端连接。在全世界人群中,位于印度次大陆地区的印度人群、斯里兰卡人群和尼泊尔人群amelogenin变异率非常高。Amelogenin变异对生育能力和表型影响非常小,但在性别鉴定中会导致错误的性别鉴定结果。采用包含常染色体STR基因座、amelogenin基因座和多个Y-STR基因座的复合扩增试剂盒进行检测可有效避免因amelogenin变异导致的性别误判。     

The emergence of restorative justice in Sri Lanka: a review essay

Within the framework of retributive justice, crime is understood as an offence against the State and is defined as a violation of law. It represents the punitive approach of reaction to crime, where the offenders are considered as an unwanted group who should be punished. However, with the development of criminology, offenders are identified as the persons needing rehabilitation and reintegration into the society as law abiding citizens. This novel thinking has paved the way to the establishment of the concept of restorative justice where crime is understood to be an infringement on man and human relationship. It involves reintegration of both the offender and victim within the community. The restorative justice principle could be found in community service orders, probation, parole, and other noncustodial measures as alternatives to the traditional incarceration, victim offender mediation, sentencing, peacemaking and healing circles, police cautions, and active participation of victims in the criminal justice process, and so on. This article evaluates Sri Lanka's transformation from retributive justice to restorative justice by incorporating the above-mentioned means and methods to the criminal justice system. Further, it examines how these innovations have affected the crime rate in Sri Lanka.     

Common law country update on international humanitarian law: annual update on national legislation, 2010

The article highlights the challenge before the courts to the decision of the parliamentary select committee to remove the former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka in January 2013. Parliament and the President proceeded with the impeachment and removal of the Chief Justice, despite court decisions, on the basis that this was a power specifically granted to the parliament under the constitution. The article examines how the legitimacy of impeachment proceedings of superior court judges can be ensured within the concept of the separation of powers without adversely impacting on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.     

Acute ethanol poisoning: a two-year study of deaths in North Carolina

A 24-month study of fatalities in North Carolina with high blood ethanol levels (300 mg/100 ml or over) revealed 502 cases with either acute alcoholism or the effects of this range of blood ethanol concentration having caused or contributed to death. This investigation reassessed the criteria for ethanol poisoning, including its cause and manner of death, and revealed recurrent patterns common to this syndrome. This inquiry also contrasted the frequency of ethanol poisoning in different areas of the country.     

中毒死亡案件的法医学分析

目的分析中毒性死亡案件和与中毒死亡有关的医疗纠纷案件的法医学特点,探讨此类案件的防护重点和鉴定要点。方法对四川大学法医学院1985～2004年106例中毒死亡尸体剖验病理材料进行回顾性统计分析。结果性别:男性61例,女性45例,男女比例1.36:1;年龄:以21～40岁年龄组(60.38%)为主;死亡方式:意外死亡最多见(52.83%),其次为自杀(33.02%)和他杀(14.15%);死亡原因:CO中毒、有机磷类中毒、毒鼠强及药物中毒多见(72.64%);医疗纠纷:发生医疗不当12例(11.32%),7例为医源性中毒性医疗纠纷,5例为中毒后在医院抢救中发生的医疗纠纷,主要发生于乡镇医院和县级医院(83.33%)。结论加强毒物的管理、提高安全意识、加强法制教育、增加生产安全等是减少中毒性死亡的重要手段。提高城乡医疗水平,加强中毒急诊抢救临床技能是防止中毒性医疗纠纷的关键。     

Production networks in China and India: a comparative analysis

In this paper, we examine and compare the two important production hubs in Asia: China and Greater China and India and South Asia. We show that in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, manufacturing trade has continued to be highly relevant, with trade in parts and components growing in importance. In contrast, in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, trade in parts and components remain limited. We then calculate various revealed comparative advantage (RCA) indices, which China having more components with RCA values exceeding one. Some of the most important components exported by China include electronic parts and telecommunication parts. One explanation is to why India is relatively weak in parts and components trade is that India is strong in service trade. Other reasons may be related to better port infrastructure, higher research and development intensity and higher educational enrollments in China.     

铊中毒的法医毒理学研究进展

由于铊盐溶液无色无味,且毒性剧烈,所以近年来利用铊盐投毒的案例时有报道。利用铊盐投毒隐匿性强,给案件的侦破带来很大难度,同时也因诊断不及时而耽误治疗。本文结合文献,从中毒方式、毒代动力学、毒理作用、中毒症状、中毒致死量、尸体检查所见、法医学鉴定及鉴别诊断等方面,对铊中毒的法医毒理学研究进展进行综述。     

铊（TI）投毒案检验

目的　通过 11例中毒者分析研究铊中毒的症状 ,达到了解和认识铊中毒的目的。方法　收集 11例铊中毒的相关资料 ,分析铊中毒的特征。结果　铊中毒的共同特征是出现症状的时候都有四肢疼痛或麻木 ,同时伴有严重脱发。结论　铊中毒依个体的年龄、性别、状态及中毒量不同 ,其发病前具有一定潜伏期。但性别、年龄与死亡的时间关系目前尚不清     

54例氯化琥珀胆碱中毒案件的法医学分析

目的观察分析氯化琥珀胆碱中毒案件的法医学表现,以期提高氯化琥珀胆碱中毒的检验鉴定。方法收集54例氯化琥珀胆碱中毒案例,通过病理学、毒理学变化及案件特点进行回顾性分析,观察氯化琥珀胆碱中毒的检验鉴定规律。结果氯化琥珀胆碱中毒的病理学表现以急性肺淤血、肺水肿等一般猝死改变为主,部分死者心肌排列紊乱及断裂。死者心血中均检见琥珀胆碱成分,皮肤组织部分检见琥珀胆碱成分。结论氯化琥珀胆碱中毒具有死亡快、手段隐蔽、难以抢救、易漏检等特点。对于猝死案件、死因可疑案件应将氯化琥珀胆碱作为常规检验指标,防止此类案件的未检或漏检。