Lanka scientist's proposal for Gulf Oil spill for Technical Review

A Sri Lankan scientist has come out with a unique proposal to stall the alarming oil spill over in the Gulf of Mexico.

Senior Sri Lankan Scientist in Rubber Latex Technology Dr. W. Sunil E Fernando has proposed two possible solutions using Natural Rubber latex to block crude oil gushing from the broken undersea pipe line by instantaneously coagulating latex in the pipe line and, removing the crude oil spill from the surface of the sea by binding it to a rubber film based on natural rubber latex.

This oil spill has now become a serious environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. This proposal is now under consideration by the technical review committee for alternative technology proposals. Dr. Fernando was a Peradeniya University Chemistry Honours graduate and later obtained Master of Science and PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Aston in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Among other innovations to his credit is a rubber based blast protection device for "Buffel" troop carriers used by the Sri Lankan army to reduce the impact of land mine blasts. He was awarded the National Award for Scientific Achievements (Vidyabisadan National Awards) in 1990 for important scientific contributions to the rubber industry and innovative products and the processes developed by technology of rubber manufacture.