SOLAR NEWS

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...