Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has become an important health problem in Sri Lanka. Dickwella Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) located in southern Sri Lanka has been identified as a highly endemic focus for CL. However, to date, the potential sandfly vectors of the Leishmania parasite causing CL have not been elucidated in this focus. This study aimed to determine the species composition and population dynamics of sandflies prevalent at three sampling stations representing different ecological conditions in two high-risk areas in Dickwella DSD, over a period of 27 consecutive weeks. Resting sandflies (i.e. indoor collection) were collected from the lavatories of human households using Castro aspirators at weekly intervals. In addition, cattle-baited traps were deployed at bi-weekly intervals to capture foraging sandflies (outdoor collection). Sergentomyia zeylanica Annandale was found to be the only sandfly species and hence was considered as the potential vector of the Leishmania parasite that causes CL. As a whole, 84 and 96% of the sampling occasions were positive for resting and foraging sandflies, respectively. Seventy-six per cent of the lavatories sampled contained sandflies regardless of the sampling station. Altogether, 34,481 sandflies were captured from lavatories, whereas 691 were collected in cattle-baited traps. The ecological habitat, which comprised dense vegetation and a stagnant water body, seemed to be highly productive for this sandfly species. However, dryness and heavy rains negatively affected its population density. The sex ratio of the sandflies was male-biased at 1:2 (females:males). The findings of this study suggested that the management strategies of S. zeylanica could be targeted on lavatories especially after moderate rains.

Rice bran is a cheap, easily available, widely used fish feed ingredient in Asian countries. In this study, contribution of rice bran on the growth and fatty acid profile of fillets of genetically improved farmed Tilapia (GIFT) fish was evaluated. Two diets with 30 % protein and different lipid levels (7.70 % in Diet I and 12.55 % in Diet II) were formulated. Diet I had 9 % rice bran and 18 % maize whereas Diet II had 24 % rice bran and 3 % maize. Other ingredients were common and used in same percentages. GIFT fingerlings were randomly stocked in 8 cages (quadruplicate/treatment) at a density of 75 fingerlings/ m 3 and fed with the two test diets for 210 days. Growth performances were recorded monthly. At the end of the experiment proximate composition and fatty acid profile of GIFT fillets were determined. Crude protein and crude lipid percentages were higher in fillets of fish fed with Diet II. Total poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), total omega (n-3) fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in fish fed with Diet II were higher and significantly different from the fish fed with Diet I (p = 0.00). Mono unsaturated fatty acids were significantly low (p = 0.00) in fish fed with Diet II. No significant difference was observed in mean final weight, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio or survival rate in fish fed with the two diets revealing that incorporation of rice bran into the diet at a higher percentage could improve the nutritive quality of GIFT fillets while maintaining the growth and survival.