Dr. C.K. Jayasinghe Wins Tan Sri B.C. Sekhar Gold Medal for Research Excellence
  This Gold Medal, instituted by IRRDB is to honour the memory of Tan Sri Dr. B.C. Sekhar, world – renowned visionary leader who devoted his whole life to revolutionize the rubber industry. This spectacular event was taken place on the day 15th of December 2011 at the charming city of Chiang Mai in the kingdom of Thailand.  The occasion was graced by the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Secretary General of the IRRDB and Chief Executives of the Rubber Research Institutes of 18 rubber growing countries.
  This is the first time in the history; a Sri Lankan Scientist was honoured in recognition of the contribution to the rubber industry by presenting a prestigious award from a world reputed organization consisting of all most all rubber growing countries. At present Dr. Jayasinghe is holding the position of the Additional Director of Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka and serving as the IRRDB Liaison Officer for the Plant Protection Specialist Group.
 
Dr. W.M.G. Seneviratne has been assumed duties as the 12th Director of RRISL
  Dr. Seneviratne obtained his Bachelors degree in Chemistry from the university of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 1983 and Joined the RRISL as an Assistant Rubber Chemist in 1984. Having worked at the RRISL for two years he proceeded to UK for his post graduate degree and obtained his PhD in Polymer Science and Technology from the university of Sussex in the year 1989. Since then he has been actively engaged in research work in rubber technology and transferred to Raw Rubber Process and Chemical Engineering Department of the RRISL since 1991. He was made the head of department in the year 1994 and has made significant contribution to the rubber industry in Sri Lanka. During this period he has made vital breakthrough in the rubber process effluent treatment by discovering a highly cost effective microbiological treatment process. The process is commercially implemented in large number of rubber factories in Sri Lanka and Dr. Seneviratne acclaimed with prestigious international and local  awards for this innovation.
  In addition, his contribution to the rubber industry in Sri Lanka in general is quite significant. He has been actively engaged as a visiting lecturer in polymer Science and technology for degree and post graduate courses in many universities in Sri Lanka.  In addition, he has been closely associated with activities of Plastic and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka over two decades as member of the Board of Management of PRISL and the member of the academic board of the institute. He has been awarded the prestigious PRISL merit award in the year 1998 considering his services to the industry. He is also a ISO consultant and rendered his services to many organizations to obtain accreditation in respective areas. Dr. Senevirate is a widely travelled personality associated very closely with organizations such as IRSG, IRRDB and ANRPC in many of their activities. He is a post doctoral scholar in the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and CISIRO in Australia during 1995-1996.
  He was made the Deputy Director of the RRRISL in the year 2001, in charge of the Technology wing of the RRISL, which post he held until he became the Director of the RRISL. He is 53 years of age has few more years to serve at the RRISL during which he has already brought forward may strategies for the advancement of the Rubber industry both in Rubber Agronomic and Product industry sectors.
 
Farmer training programmes by the Advisory Services Department
The programmes cover the following areas.

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 Control of White Root Disease (WRD)

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 Mobile Tapper Training Schools

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 Skill Development of Rubber Tappers

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 Quality improvement of RSS

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 “Vihidum Sathkara”  Group extension strategy

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 Awareness creation on technology adoption

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 “Nipunatha Saviya” - National Level Rubber Tapping Skill Development

All programmes are conducted free of charge.
 
Rubber trees in Eastern province began to give latex
Rubber was introduced to Eastern province in 2004 by the Adaptive Research Unit of RRISL in collaboration with RDD. At the moment, there are about 230 acres of rubber in this region. First two rubber holdings reached the standards required for harvesting and therefore to commemorate His Excellency the President’s swearing-in for the second-term, the first rubber tree was tapped on the 21st of November with the participation of Hon. Minister of Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe. The land of Mr. A. P. Attanayake, the very first farmer to grow rubber in Eastern province was the venue. All other farmers, top officials in the region and other well-wishers witnessed - this historic inaugural harvesting of rubber trees in Eastern province. In addition to the increase in rubber production, paradigm shift in rural livelihood and environment benefits are expected. At this moment, we thank all who assisted us to cultivate rubber in the East.
 
"Power Mat" is commercially available now...
The cost of the mat and other required details can be obtained by contacting
 
Mr. Sarath De Silva, General Manager of Laugfs Corporation (Rubber) Ltd.
email: sarath@laugfs.lk
Tel: 0115566222 Mobile: 0773558400
or
 
Mr. Anuruddha Silva, Factory Manager of Laugfs Corporation (Rubber) Ltd.
email : anuruddha@laugfs.lk
Tel: 0115623816 / 0115623817
Mobile: 0777887294 Fax: 034 2253168
 
Cover crop Mucuna can harbour White Root Disease (WRD)
It has been observed that WRD causing fungus can infect Mucuna and this cover crop harbour a heavy inoculum due to its deep and extensive root system. The consequence will be the transmission of WRD to naighbouring rubber plants through root contacts.  Hence, it is essential to adhere to RRISL recommendations on management of WRD during uprooting of old stands and when undertaking preliminary work to prepare lands for replanting.
 
New rainguard sealent for a lower cost
New rainguard sealant with enhanced adhesive and water proofing properties has been developed by the scientists at RRISL using a waste rubber material. Dr Renuka Nilmini, the principal inventor of this new product, claims that the new sealant could be applied even on wet surfaces and also cheaper (~ Rs. 40.00 per kg with labor and fire) compared to the conventional sealant.
 
Officials of the Polymer Chemistry Department, RRISL, have found a solution to another problem in sealant preparation. Currently, rainguard sealants are prepared by hand mixing and this has resulted some quality inconsistency among batches. Therefore, they have designed a machine to prepare the sealant and a prototype was designed and tested at the Sapumalkanda Estate of Lalan Rubber Products. As the performance of the machine was very successful, the company has agreed to manufacture a large scale machine to prepare 1 ton batches.
 
 
 
 
Immediate action needed: Collar Rot Condition is spreading in nurseries
If the above symptoms appear in your nurseries, you are advised to commence the application of the fungicide mancozeb at a concentration of 5g per litre (75 - 100 ml per poly bag) to control the spread of the disease at 7 day intervals. It is also essential to monitor your nursery plants with adequate watering etc. to avoid the predisposing factors.

For further Assistance:
Contact:
Plant pathology & Microbiology Department
Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka.
 

 
 
RRI Scientist wins prestigious SLASS GRC award 2009
 
Dr. V.H.L. Rodrigo, Head of Biochemistry and Physiology Department has been awarded the General Research Committee Award– 2009 by the Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science (SLAAS). Presentation of the award took place recently at BMICH Colombo during the inauguration of 65th Annual Scientific Session of SLAAS. This is the second instance a RRISL scientist has won this award.  Earlier, Dr. L.M.K. Tillekeratne, Ex Director of RRISL bagged this award in 1997. To offer this prestigious award, General Research Committee of SLAAS carefully considered Dr. Rodrigo’s contribution in rubber based farming systems, harvesting latex, carbon sequestration and expanding rubber cultivation into marginal areas of the country. Dr. Rodrigo has the world authority on rubber based farming systems research having the highest number of research publications in this field.
 
RRISL introduced new clones
Five new clones, RRISL-Centennial 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, were registered to mark 100 years of research and development work at RRISL. These clones have given the highest g/t/t values ever in small scale clone trials.  Clone RRISL 201 was released for the smallholder sector for adaptive research trials.  This clone has proven to be the fastest growing clone (both pre and post harvest) recommended so far by RRISL.
 
Training opportunities: 
  Tapping Quality for Sustainable High Yields
Harvesting is one of the most important practices in a rubber plantation.  It is an accepted fact that the quality of tapping has been deteriorated to a level that it has started to threaten the sustainability of the rubber plantations today.  We strongly believe that  training programmes for latex harvesters and field staff on quality tapping through close supervision and follow up programmes will help to lessen the gravity of  this problem.
 
RRISL has decided to adopt a training-of-trainers approach as a way of efficient resource management.  It was decided to train estate staff who can then train all the harvesters on estate as well as to monitor the tapping quality and correct them.
Training schedule: Second and the Fourth Wednesday of every month
 

Venue: RRISL, Agalawatta

 
You may take this opportunity to develop the human resources available on  estates by making the field staff and junior managers participate in this programme..
 

Further, this knowledge of the field staff will be very useful to implement the report submitted by us after inspecting the mature fields under the suggested programme “Improving the tapping quality for sustainable high yields”.
 
Nominal fee of Rs.500/= per person will be charged (paid in advance) for lunch, refreshments and for any materials provided.
 
Protect your plantations
The majority of such techniques are aimed at increasing yields by the use of stimulants. Further, use of ethylene gas is recommended for stimulation in those techniques.
 
This is to keep the growers informed that when ethylene gas is used, a large quantity of stimulants enter into the tree. Hence, the initial yields will be high but trees will not be able to sustain due to biological limitations of the tree. As a result in the long run the yields will drop to very low levels and the growers will be at a huge disadvantage.
This is to caution the growers with regard to such technologies