ජ්යෙෂ්ඨ කළමනාකාරිත්වය
අධ්යක්ෂ
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.
අතිරේක අධ්යක්ෂ
Mrs S P Withanage, PhD
adrrisl@sltnet.lk additionaldirector@rrisl.gov.lk 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.
වැඩබලන නියෝජ්ය අධ්යක්ෂ පර්යේෂණ (ජීව)
Mrs T H P Sarojini Fernando, PhD
deputydirector-biology@rrisl.gov.lk sarojinifernando787@gmail.com
Mrs THP Sarojini Fernando obtained the BSc Degree (Biological Science) in 1996 and later in the year 2000, obtained the MPhill degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She completed the PhD from the same University on the Corynespora leaf fall disease of rubber in 2011. She is the Acting Deputy Director Research (Biology) of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) and currently holds the position of the Head, Plant Pathology & Microbiology Department, RRISL. She has published over 150 national and international level scientific publications. The Scholarly output and performance in the contribution made to the rubber industry and for effectively accomplishing the research submitting and winning recognition from anonymous referees in open competition at an international level shows the H – index as 14. She was honored by the General Research Committee Post Graduate Award 2013 by the SLASS, Award for Excellence in Scientific Research 2011 by the Young Scientists Forum - NASTEC, seven President's Research Awards for the effective contribution made to the reputation of the country and award of “Best Researcher” for the contribution made to the Rubber Industry during 2014 – 2015 at the Plantation Crop symposium. She is the Country representative, Plant Protection Specialist Group of the International Rubber Research & Development Board (IRRDB) and a member of the ANRPC, Plant Protection technical Committee. She serves several national level committees: National Plant Protection Committee, Pesticide Technical & Advisory Committee (PeTAC) and the Pesticide sub-committee. She has received research grants from the National Research Council (NRC), National Science Foundation (NSF) & International Foundation for Science (IFS), Stockholm, Sweden. Recently, Dr. Sarojini was recognized by the FAO of the United Nations as an international Consultant to undertake a mission of the new leaf fall disease of rubber in the Philippines. She is a member of the Task Force on the management of Circular Leaf Spot Disease (Pestalotiopsis) appointed by the Ministry of Plantations. Recognized for skills in conducting advisory programmes to resolve complicated disease problems and national level training programmes on economically important diseases of rubber. The commitment to fundamental research is continuing with ongoing supervision of undergraduate research students, masters and doctoral research programs conducted at Sri Lankan universities. The contribution to the Rubber Research Institution for over 19 years and to the Rubber Industry has been playing an important role in determining future directions of Rubber Research in a nation whose agricultural production is so important to its economy.
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