travel – STAGING Namo magazine

Autism awareness is growing in Sri Lanka

N Omella Outschoorn — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 07:54:00 +0000

According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 270 individuals worldwide experience ASDs and Sri Lanka reports a prevalence of 1 in 93 children as having ASDs

Autism and its early detection

On the second of April every year the world lights in blue to spread awareness on Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the rights of individuals’ worldwide living with ASDs. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 270 individuals worldwide experience ASDs (1) and Sri Lanka reports a prevalence of 1 in 93 children as having ASDs (2). ASD is a neurodevelopment disorder which begins during early childhood and may persist into adolescence and adulthood. ASDs in children can often be identified and diagnosed during the ages of 2-3 years or even as early as 6 months. Several factors including the interaction of genetic and physiological factors especially when combined with a non-stimulating environment is seen as prominent in influencing the development of this group of diverse disorders.

ASDs are characteristic of deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities. These characteristics often affect the social development of those who experience ASD as they may lead to;

reduced ability in effectively communicating with others

reduced sharing of emotions

reduced interest in actively listening to another party during conversations

reduced maintenance of eye contact when interacting with others
difficulty in initiating and maintaining friendships

Due to the aforementioned factors, the relationships between children with ASD and their parents/primary caregivers and peers may seem distant. However, though social development may be affected, it is noteworthy that hindered intellectual development is not characteristic of ASDs, even though it can act as a co-occurring condition.

Children with ASD may prefer spending time on their own and in doing so they may prefer playing with a certain part of a chosen toy (e.g. the wheels of a toy car) or an object with a lot of attention directly focused on it. They may also prefer arranging certain items or their toys in a

preferred order. These can be a result of the need for a strict and familiar schedule that is characteristic of ASDs which makes it uncomfortable for them to experience novelty where the need for routine makes it challenging to adapt to new activities. Below are some red flags that will help in identifying symptoms of ASD from an early stage and may signal the possibility of ASD.

Signs in toddlers and infants

At 6 months – the child does not reciprocate smiles given by others and is not able to understand when others are trying to interact with him/her.

At 6 – 12 months – the child does not give or maintain eye contact with those who try to connect/communicate with him/her, the child does not communicate through smiles, cries, or any other form of communication other than speech, as commonly noticed by caregivers the child does not respond to their name being called despite of having normal hearing

At 12 months – the child does not point at things and express his/her needs

At 12 months – the child does not say single words

At 24 months – the child finds it difficult to form meaningful sentences which may at least consist of two words
At any stage of childhood – observed loss of developmental skills (social skills, speech skills) acquired during early childhood.

Signs that may indicate ASD at any stage

An inability to maintain eye contact may be visible – however, it is noteworthy that this alone should never be considered symptomatic of ASD and those who experience shyness, social phobia as well as hearing difficulties too can show a lack of maintaining eye contact during interpersonal interactions.

Complete lack of speech skills or late development of speech skills.
Preferring to spend time alone or stay isolated.
Difficulty interacting with others, esp. on an emotional level.
Repeating the same word or phrase continuously
Inability to adapt to changes in the daily routine or changes that may happen in their surroundings.
Exclusive interest in a limited number of things or one chosen thing
Repetition of activities (e.g. showing behaviours such as rotating in the same place)
Hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity to noises, tastes, smells, light, and colours

However, it is noteworthy that individuals without ASD may show similar behavior and most importantly everyone who experience ASD may not collectively show all these symptoms. Therefore it is advisable to consult your physician in case you see such characteristics in your child. It is also important to attend routine checkups with your paediatrician to understand the developmental milestones your child is reaching and to see if any deviations have happened so that developmental delays/disorders can be detected and addressed early.

While medicine will not cure ASD, professional interventional methods ensure successful management of it. These include speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skill-building, evidence based psychosocial interventions such as behavioural therapies and engaging parents in the management process. Moreover, to ensure the right of education for every child, engaging the school systems in such interventions can also be immensely helpful as it will collectively help the child to adjust to situations better and improve their social skills. If you have concerns about this

condition it is always best to visit a psychiatrist, a psychologist or your child’s paediatrician for further professional advice.

Omella Outschoorn BSc (Hon) Psy (UK), MPhil in Clin Psy. (Col, SL)

Clinical Psychologist | Assistant Researcher, Faculty of Medicine,

University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

World Health Organization. Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2021. Available from: Autism spectrum disorders (who.int)

Perera H, Wijewardena K, Aluthwelage R. Screening of 18–24-month-old children for autism in a semi-urban community in Sri Lanka.

Annals of Tropical Pediatrics. 2009;55(6):402–405. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmp031.

Mr Trudeau; It’s SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR!

Benedict De Saram — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 06:51:00 +0000

I wish all Sri Lankans a healthy and very prosperous new year. Today there is a very good reason to wish for good health.

Every year on April 13 and 14th Sri Lankan’s all over the world will celebrate the “Sinhala and Tamil New Year”. This colourful event will highlight unique traditions, and cultural practices, traditional sports activities, music, and cuisine. For hundreds of years the “Sinhala and Tamil New Year “was celebrated with dignity and respect by all communities in Sri Lanka.

What will be the Prime Minister Trudeau’s message for “Sinhala and Tamil New Year” this year?

Canada is a country that hosts many Sri Lankans of different races and contributes to the development of the nation. Despite being far away from their home they too make a point to celebrate the “Sinhala and Tamil New Year” every year in a grand way.

On this day all Sri Lankans receive many wishes and greetings from heads of states all over the world including various organizations.

But to everyone’s surprise in 2020, the Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Justin Trudeau from the Liberal party made an awkward remark on the event. He took a step that brought concerns to all Sri Lankans living in Canada and Sri Lanka. Intentionally or not he openly extended his wishes of the event to Tamils only ignoring the Sinhalese, where he breached all protocols as the head of state.

Recognizing this event only as a Tamil New Year comes as a surprise. Or was it? The Prime Ministers’ actions raised many queries within the government officials themselves and certainly in Sri Lanka.

It’s believed a small group of Tamils living in Canada has convinced the PM of their intentions. To ignore the Sinhalese and recognize the Tamils was the motive. For what purpose is the question. Why was the PM deceived with wrong information?

However, it was a shocking statement by a head of state. A fine way to encourage good diplomacy between two countries. Many Sri Lankans will not be surprised by this move as they will be aware of the genuine intentions.

When an individual is politically motivated he sees everything from a political point of view. To get elected and getting re-elected will be his supreme motive. For this purpose, the politician needs votes, from the community.

Did Trudeau decide to change certain principles, ethics, and long-standing traditions to fulfill his personal needs? Was he trying to please the Tamil community for his survival?

Sri Lanka is moving forward after a war that lasted for nearly 30 years. A small group of brainwashed Tamil rebels took up arms to establish a separate state in Northern Sri Lanka. But the majority of the Tamils, at all levels had a different opinion. Clearly they were not against Sri Lanka or the Sinhalese and their only desire was to continue the peaceful life they were enjoying as before.

The time has come to correct the mistake. We shall wait and see.

The Science of Addiction

Benedict De Saram — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 09:44:00 +0000

After the defeat of terrorism, this will be the next humanitarian mission in Sri Lanka.

A popular method of ingesting morphine, heroin, oxycodone or opium is to heat it on a piece of aluminum foil and, using a straw or tube, inhaling the vapour. In Hong Kong in the 1950s, this was known as “chasing the dragon.”

Repeated heroin use changes the physical structure and physiology of the brain, creating long-term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems that are not easily reversed. Studies have shown some deterioration of the brain’s white matter due to heroin use, which may affect decision-making abilities, the ability to regulate behavior and responses to stressful situations. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence. Tolerance occurs when more and more of the drug is required to achieve the same effects. With physical dependence, the body adapts to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly.

Withdrawal may occur within a few hours after the last time the drug is taken. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (“cold turkey”), and leg movements. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 24–48 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. However, some people have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months. Finally, repeated heroin use often results in heroin use disorder—a chronic relapsing disease that goes beyond physical dependence and is characterized by uncontrollable drug-seeking, no matter the consequences. Heroin is extremely addictive no matter how it is administered, although routes of administration that allow it to reach the brain the fastest (i.e., injection and smoking) increase the risk of developing heroin use disorder. Once a person has heroin use disorder, seeking and using the drug becomes their primary purpose in life.

Harmful health consequences resulting from the misuse of opioid medications that are prescribed for the treatment of pain, such as Oxycontin^®, Vicodin^®, and Demerol^®, have dramatically increased in recent years. For example, almost half of all opioid deaths in the U.S. now involve a prescription opioid. People often assume prescription pain relievers are safer than illicit drugs because they are medically prescribed; however, when these drugs are taken for reasons or in ways or amounts not intended by a doctor, or taken by someone other than the person for whom they are prescribed, they can result in severe adverse health effects including substance use disorder, overdose, and death, especially when combined with other drugs or alcohol. Research now suggests that misuse of these medications may actually open the door to heroin use. Some also report switching to heroin because it is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription opioids.

No matter how they ingest the drug, chronic heroin users experience a variety of medical complications, including insomnia and constipation. Lung complications (including various types of pneumonia and tuberculosis) may result from the poor health of the user as well as from heroin’s effect of depressing respiration. Many experience mental disorders, such as depression and antisocial personality disorder. Men often experience sexual dysfunction and women’s menstrual cycles often become irregular. There are also specific consequences associated with different routes of administration. For example, people who repeatedly snort heroin can damage the mucosal tissues in their noses as well as perforate the nasal septum (the tissue that separates the nasal passages).

Medical consequences of chronic injection use include scarred and/or collapsed veins, bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses (boils), and other soft-tissue infections. Many of the additives in street heroin may include substances that do not readily dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs. Immune reactions to these or other contaminants can cause arthritis or other rheumatologic problems.

Sharing of injection equipment or fluids can lead to some of the most severe consequences of heroin use—infections with hepatitis B and C, HIV, and a host of other blood-borne viruses, which drug users can then pass on to their sexual partners and children.

Three addicts using Heroin.

Poppy’ Cultivation and Heroin Processing

With its array of colours ranging from white to pink to red to purple to blue, the poppy is a flower that has graced gardens around the world. Yet the juice from this botanical beauty has sparked wars, created incalculable wealth, and wreaked indescribable suffering upon millions.

The poppy plant, Papaver somniferum, produces opium, a powerful narcotic whose derivatives include morphine, codeine, heroin and oxycodone. The term “narcotic” refers to opium, opium derivatives, and their semi-synthetic substitutes. Narcotics are used therapeutically to treat pain, suppress cough, alleviate diarrhea, and induce anesthesia. However, they are some of the most addictive substances known to man. As drugs of abuse, they are often smoked, sniffed, or injected.

The Wellness Hotels in Sri Lanka

Namo Magazine — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 06:02:00 +0000

The term “spa” currently applies to a few concepts with some ambiguity.

It encompasses a wide range of services and experiences, and can mean everything from a small facial and massage business to expansive destinations of pampering. .

“I don’t go to relax; I go to get rehabilitated,”

The word spa was first used as far back as the eras of Ancient Greece and Rome to describe naturally occurring thermal springs. These locations of bathing and relaxation were believed to benefit health and wellbeing, and in this sense not much has changed to date. Spas remain havens of luxury; the only difference today is that they have changed shape and form to fall into various different categories. Our top voter recommendations.

Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa

Laying between the Bentota River and the Indian Ocean. You reach the hotel via boat from across the river and welcomed into complete beachside luxury. Being a Thai chain, they provide Thai massages too.

Santani Wellness Resort & Spa

Surrounded by misty blue mountains, the resort offers soul sacred healing powers. Detox treatments, yoga and Ayurvedic wellness treatments specializes to suit your personal body type.

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF SPA TREATMENTS

1. HELPS TO DE-STRESS

It goes without saying that visiting a spa is a fantastic way to relax and de-stress. A visit to the spa offers a great opportunity to separate yourself from life’s everyday stressors and have some precious ‘me time’. Allowing yourself this time to wind down and relax has so many additional benefits, such as a clear mind and increased productivity once you leave your treatment!

2. HELPS WITH ANTI-AGEING

Many spa treatments can actually help with anti-ageing. Facials are known to help delay and prevent the onset of wrinkles by stimulating skin cells and hydrating the skin. Additionally, generally giving yourself time to relax and de-stress is a great anti-ageing technique in itself! It can be hard to afford the time for relaxation day-to-day, but assigning yourself some time to do so at the spa can be extremely advantageous.

3. PROMOTES A BETTER SLEEP

If you struggle with sleep, one of the many benefits of a spa trip is that many treatments can help you to catch more of those valuable Z’s. Massages completely relax your muscles and lower your blood pressure, also helping you to maintain a healthy heart rate, all of which contribute to a better night’s sleep.

4. RELIEVES ACHES AND PAINS

General aches and pains are a common occurrence for many, with exercise, sleeping on an unsupportive mattress, and sitting for long periods of time at a desk all contributing to them. A great way of relieving these aches is via a relaxing massage, either full body or one that focuses on your problem areas, which helps to fully relax the muscle tissue.

Our Hot Stone Massage, Swedish Massage, Deep Muscle Massage and Muscle Reviver are all fantastic at massaging out those nuisance aches and pains.

5. SUPPORTS WEIGHT LOSS

There are various theories when it comes to the relationship between spa treatments and weight loss, but many support a relationship between the two. Hot spa treatments open up the skin’s pores, help the body to ward off toxins, and also encourage the body to burn calories. Additionally, deep tissue massages can help the body to break down fatty deposits through the pressure and friction exerted on the skin.

Of course, all of these would need to be in conjunction with diet and exercise to have a profound effect, but it’s rather nice knowing that you’re burning a few calories and fighting off that cellulite during your lovely massage!

6. IMPROVED BLOOD FLOW AND CIRCULATION

Another fantastic benefit of a body massage, particularly when having them frequently, is that they regulate your blood pressure and also improve your blood circulation. This has many advantageous effects to your health, including support with helping the body to fight off illnesses. For more benefits of improved blood circulation.

7. PREVENTING VARICOSE VEINS

Being on your feet all day can really start to take its toll on your body. Standing up for long periods of time is linked to developing varicose veins, which are swollen and enlarged veins. However, leg massages can help to prevent varicose veins from developing in the first place. If you’re on your feet all day, treat your legs to the massage they deserve!

8. INCREASED HAPPINESS

Among the many benefits of spa treatments is the biological effect it has on your body, particularly in regards to your happiness levels. Massages at the spa are known to release serotonin, which is the hormone associated with happiness, and thus helps to improve your mood once your massage has finished! This doesn’t just have an effect post-massage, but you can reap the benefits of this boost for the following days too.

9. REDUCED FREQUENCY OF HEADACHES

Many of us are prone to headaches every now and then, but they can become particularly more frequent during periods of high stress. Luckily, one of the brilliant benefits of visiting a spa is that many treatments, such as head massages and hand massages, can contribute to decreasing the frequency of headaches. The reason behind this being that massages help to relieve the tension that often causes headaches in the first place.

10. PROMOTES RADIANT SKIN

If you have problem skin or your face is feeling particularly dry, a facial can help to thoroughly clean and hydrate the skin by giving it the nourishment it needs to look bright and glow. During winter, the harsh outdoor elements combined with home and car heating can take its toll on your skin and dry it out. However, a quality facial can help to relieve this by thoroughly cleaning and hydrating the skin.

We, alongside our wonderful ESPA products, offer some fantastic facials to rejuvenate your skin. Having expert therapists using quality products is imperative for allowing you to get the most out of your facial, which is why we offer only the best!

Is Canada a better country than the US?

Namo Magazine — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 07:45:58 +0000

As an American that lived in Toronto ON for 5 years here was my summation in the short time I lived there.

Canada is a damn great country. It seems like a family of people vs citizens. Sure families have their issues, they really do but they’re still family.

What I didn’t like

It’s crazy expensive. Gas, food, hydro. I used to go into Loblaws and be totally taken aback by prices and I moved to Toronto from New York City. We’re supposed to be the expensive place.

I won’t say the Canadian people are the most polite. I think that is a complete fallacy.

Where I worked in Toronto they were quick to talk about a shooting that would occur in the USA or some racially charged incident there…but I wouldn’t hear them discuss the same incidents that would occur a few miles away within Toronto.

I found it boring. Toronto is Canada’s largest city. I’d compare that to Minneapolis or Phoenix in terms of being large.

What I liked about Canada.

Less “red tape” when I moved there with my husband (same sex couple) I was waiting for a struggle at the border to obtain my work visa. In the USA you’d fight for something like that and it would take ages. I stepped up to the counter at the border ready to rumble! They took my paperwork, looked it over, asked for $150 and gave me a visa. It might have taken 3 minutes. A few days later I went to get my S.I.N. card. (Social Security card equivalent) It was just as simple.

I felt safer there. I slept better there because I worried less. Even though I didn’t find Canada to be “polite” I felt people would stand up for me if it was necessary and not ignore me. I felt included there. I felt people cared that you existed.

I liked watching Canadian television and seeing numerous cultures represented like Asians and Indians that rarely get seen on U.S. television as being part of the American culture. In Canada they were shown on an equal level and not “other-ized”. Even though I thought it was a completely sophomoric show “Little Mosque on the Prairie” would never make it onto a U.S. television station but I was super happy to see it on a Canadian one.

I’m not going to say which country is better than another. I don’t live in Canada any longer but I really miss it nonetheless.

I am a professional avionics systems engineer in the United States. My family and I have decided to move to Canada to be closer to her side of the family. (Vancouver British Columbia area). The wife and kids are Canadian citizens and I applied for permanent residency.

We are well established in the United States and make a good salary however its hard to put a price on being close to family where they will be able to help guide and raise our children, something which is extremely important to us as we have not received that support from my family located nearby.

I would be lying if I told you all I was not worried about job opportunities in the greater Vancouver area. However, the quality of life in regards to culture, education, and health care, coupled with a supportive family environment I believe will more than makeup for a decrease in salary. I also respect that your country has figured out how to keep police from killing its citizens and found ways to better educate your children and provide medical to all citizens.

What really sealed the deal for me is when I learned that my extended family located in BC pays an effective tax rate lower then I do in the United States. I have to pay 22% Federal 8.98% state income tax. My property taxes are 4,800 per year on a house valued at 200K. We also have a 7% sales tax. This is not including the outrageous prices for health care and the future education of our children. By the way, I live in a so-called conservative state Iowa in the supposed cheap mid-west which is run by republicans. I know home prices, gasoline, and you have HST in BC. However, I have a plug-in electric hybrid car where I will use little if any gas and will be able to stay rent-free while we save up for a down payment on a home.

Although I am concerned about finding a suitable job, I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree and 14 years in the aviation industry, I feel that I will most likely have to switch industries, I also do not expect to earn as much as I currently do. However what I will tell all of you that no matter how much money I make it never fills the void of lack of family support, quality of life, etc. I am also consistently worried when sick or injured to go to the doctor due to the costs. My deductible is $13,500 for my family. My wife and I have forgone going to the doctor/emergency room when we probably should have due to fear of the cost. Also, the insurance provided by your employer does not do you much good if you are laid off like those 40 million.

For those considering a move to the USA. I would not advise it at this time. The political divisiveness is exhausting (both parties really do not represent the interests of the majority of the people). No one is willing to hear anyone of an opposing viewpoint out. Many people here have the I got mine so F U attitude. Corporations rule this country and are in control of both political parties you are completely expendable. The second the business case is not there for your employment you are gone (at-will employment) usually means at their will you are let go with little or no notice. Business and the military is where most of our tax dollars go when 40 million people are out of work. Yes, you can make more money here but money will never fill your soul. Additionally, by the time you pay all the taxes extra costs for medical and education I think it is roughly a wash. I also believe it is a better family environment That’s why we have decided to make the move even with my job concerns.

I am lucky to have a supporting family that is willing to allow us to stay when them while we get settled in the Vancouver area and I look for work. Any advice for tackling the job market there would be most welcome or if you all have any further questions about the US or any other comments.