Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka

Ministry of Plantation



Research Managers

Acting Director

Susantha Siriwardene, PhD
dirrri@sltnet.lk   director@rrisl.gov.lk   ddrt.rrisl@gmail.com

Dr. Susantha Siriwardena excelled from St. Servatius College, Matara and completed his B.Sc. Hons degree at the University of Ruhuna in 1986 and Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Technology at the University of Colombo in 1991. He joined the Raw Rubber Process Development and Chemical Engineering Department of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka as an Assistant Rubber Chemist in 1991. Having completed Masters in Engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia, he was promoted to the Senior Research Officer level. He obtained his PhD in 2003 from the University of Sains Malaysia, Malaysia in the field of polymer composites. He was promoted to the grade of Principal Research Officer and subsequently appointed as the Head of the same department in 2005 and held the position for nine years until he was appointed as the Deputy Director Research (Technology) in 2014. He was appointed as the Actg. Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka with effect from 01st January, 2023.

He has more than thirty years of experience on Research and Development work on processing of all types of raw rubber grades. Development and implementation of single day drying system for drying of sheet rubber was a major breakthrough he made with his technical team in the field of rubber drying in Sri Lanka for which the team was awarded the National Science & Technology “the best scientist of the year” award in 2008 in the category of Development and Adaptation of Technology for SME Sector. Also, he was also able to introduce a simple, cost effective and efficient drying system for drying of skim and brown crepe rubber. He won the PRISL Merit Award in 2014 for the significant contribution made towards the development and growth of the polymer industry in Sri Lanka.

He has more than 70 publications in international refereed journals, conferences and local journals for his credit. He serves as a reviewer for international and local publications as well as an evaluator for theses submitted for postgraduate degrees in the field of rubber technology and as a committee member in many professional organizations and advisory boards related to the rubber sector. He has been a project supervisor for many undergraduate and graduate students of various local universities. Also, he serves as a visiting lecturer for undergraduate and postgraduate level rubber technology courses conducted by several national universities and professional institutions.

 

Acting Additional Director

Mrs. D.G. Edirisinghe, PhD
adrrisl@sltnet.lk   ad@rrisl.gov.lk   dilharae@yahoo.com

Mrs. Dilhara Edirisinghe, B.Sc.(First Class Hons.), M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., MPRI, Acting Additional Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) serves also as the Head of the Rubber Technology & Development Department, RRISL. She has thirty three years of research experience in the field of “Rubber Technology”. Her current research areas include development of latex / dry rubber based composites of natural and synthetic rubbers for special applications, green rubber composites with plant-based materials, latex / dry rubber based cellular rubber products, rubber composites with nano materials and environmental friendly, cost effective modification processes for latex and dry rubber based compound / product waste. She has more than 100 international and local publications, 4 patents and an industrial design to her credit. She won the National Science & Technology Award in 2010 in the category “Development of eco material / eco-friendly processes for the industry”, Presidential Award in 2012 for the best invention in the “Environment” category, PRISL Merit Award in 2015 for the significant contribution made towards the development and growth of the polymer industry in Sri Lanka, Technology Award of Excellence from the National Science Foundation in 2016, Presidential Merit Award in the “Chemistry” category in 2018 and Award for “Scientific Excellence” in the Rubber Sector during 2016-2018. She serves as a committee member of several advisory committees of government organizations. Also, she has served as a visiting lecturer and currently serving as a research supervisor, research reviewer for diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses conducted by several national universities and professional institutions.

 

Acting Deputy Director Research (Bio)

Mrs S P Withanage, PhD
ddrb@rrisl.gov.lk   ddrbrrisl@gmail.com   pamuditharama@yahoo.co.uk

Mrs. S.P. Withanage, B.Sc. (Agri.) Honours (Second Class Upper Division) from University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, M.Sc. Honours (First Class) in Genetics and Biotechnology from Punjab Agricultural University, India., Ph.D. (First Class) in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Sciences from University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. She is the Acting Deputy Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) and currently holds the position of the Head, Genetics and Plant Breeding Department, RRISL. She won the Silver Medal in International Bio Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (MOSTI) (2009) and the Gold Medal at the Exhibition of Invention, Research, and Innovation (PRPI 2009): University Putra Malaysia. She has more than 60 international and local publications. She serves as a visiting lecturer and has supervised around 40 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Also, she serves as a committee member and the Chairperson of several national committees of government organizations and as the country representative of the Plant Breeding Group of the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB). She has gained twenty five years of research experience in the genetic improvement of Hevea planting material. Her current research interests focus on genetic diversity expansion of the breeding pool incorporating non-Wickham genetics, screening of stress tolerance and acceleration of the breeding procedure using conventional and molecular strategies.

 

Deputy Director Research (Technology)

Susantha Siriwardene, PhD
ddrt.rrisl[at]gmail.com

Dr. Susantha Siriwardena excelled from St. Servatius College, Matara and completed his B.Sc. Hons degree at the University of Ruhuna in 1986 and Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Technology at the University of Colombo in 1991. He joined the Raw Rubber Process Development and Chemical Engineering Department of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka as an Assistant Rubber Chemist in 1991. Having completed Masters in Engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia, he was promoted to the Senior Research Officer level. He obtained his PhD in 2003 from the University of Sains Malaysia, Malaysia in the field of polymer composites. He was promoted to the grade of Principal Research Officer and subsequently appointed as the Head of the same department in 2005 and held the position for nine years until he was appointed as the Deputy Director Research (Technology) in 2014.

He has more than thirty years of experience on Research and Development work on processing of all types of raw rubber grades. Development and implementation of single day drying system for drying of sheet rubber was a major breakthrough he made with his technical team in the field of rubber drying in Sri Lanka for which the team was awarded the National Science & Technology “the best scientist of the year” award in 2008 in the category of Development and Adaptation of Technology for SME Sector. Also, he was also able to introduce a simple, cost effective and efficient drying system for drying of skim and brown crepe rubber. He won the PRISL Merit Award in 2014 for the significant contribution made towards the development and growth of the polymer industry in Sri Lanka.

He has more than 70 publications in international refereed journals, conferences and local journals for his credit. He serves as a reviewer for international and local publications as well as an evaluator for theses submitted for postgraduate degrees in the field of rubber technology and as a committee member in many professional organizations and advisory boards related to the rubber sector. He has been a project supervisor for many undergraduate and graduate students of various local universities. Also, he serves as a visiting lecturer for undergraduate and postgraduate level rubber technology courses conducted by several national universities and professional institutions.


For Information

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Contact Info

  • Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka.
  • Dartonfield, Agalawatta. 12200
  • 034 - 2247426, 034 - 2247383
  • 034 - 2248459, 034 - 2295540
  • 034 - 2247427
  • dirrri@sltnet.lk