Honouring an industrial chemist
View(s):Entrepreneur and renowned chemist Lakshman Perera, CEO of C and T Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd, who has made a significant contribution to chemistry in Sri Lanka and worldwide, was honoured at the Presidential Awards 2014 at Temple Trees on February 28.
The award is in recognition of his valuable contribution in the field of Industrial Chemistry.
The contribution that chemist Lakshman Perera has made to Sri Lankan society lies hidden, yet each day Sri Lankans benefit from his work.
Lakshman Perera
Mr. Perera has been in the field for over three decades. An old boy of St. Joseph’s College, he has B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry from the University of Colombo. He worked at Paranthan Chemicals Corporation in Paranthan, Jaffna as the Process Chemist in 1978 and was the last Sinhalese chemist at Paranthan just prior to the war.
It is noteworthy that Lakshman Perera was instrumental in manufacturing Rosin Size – a sizing agent for use in paper manufacture which was supplied on a large scale to the Embilipitiya and Valaichchenai Paper Mills. Before his efforts to manufacture this product in Sri Lanka, it was imported. Mr. Perera manufactured this product in Sri Lanka using a local gum called Rosin tapped from trees in the Central Province.
Mr. Perera was also instrumental in manufacturing the hospital disinfectant – Lysol BP (Cresol and Soap Solution B:P: 1968), which was used by the Medical Supplies Department of the Health Ministry. This product too was imported into the country in large volumes, from Coventry UK, prior to the local manufacture initiated by him.
Mr. Perera was also responsible for formulating a disinfectant which killed the H5N1 virus (Bird Flu) found in chicken faeces. The research was carried out along with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University in Thailand.
In 2009 Mr. Perera was involved in research on manufacturing Mineral Turpentine (Low Aromatic White Spirits) which is used in paint, and polish (both shoe and metal) industries. He holds Patents nos.15362 and 15935 for the title; Method of Manufacturing of Low Aromatic White Spirits (LAWS).
Another product which had been imported to the country forthe last three decades and manufactured locally by Mr. Perera to be used in rubber latex bleaching is currently gaining popularity among the rubber plantation industries in Sri Lanka.