COVID-19 experience opens up new awareness and opportunities for the rubber, plastics trade

The COVID-19 experience has opened up new awareness and opportunities which will be explored by the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL) in its efforts to serve its members, said Kaushal Rajapaksa, who was re-elected Institute President at its 55th Annual General Meeting held recently. 
The meeting which was a hybrid event had both physical and online participants, according to a media release issued by the President. 
Speaking further Mr. Rajapaksa said, “The rubber and plastics industries with their high value addition will have a leading role to play in the recovery process, and PRISL as the apex body in the polymer education in the country should be in a strong position to support the industry.”
The following were elected during the AGM: Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa (Kalhari Enterprises) - President; R. A. L. Sampath Ramanayake (Ex Camso Loadstar) - Vice President; Kalyana Dhirasekera (Aqua Packaging) - Vice President; P. P. Perera (Sri Lanka Representative PIN365) - Secretary; Lalith Jayawardene (DSI) - Treasurer and Prabath Jayasinghe (Gislaved Gummi) - Assistant Secretary.        
Executive Council: Ananda Caldera (Global Rubber Industries), Dr. Susantha Siriwardena (Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka), B.M.H.I.B. Wattegedara (Camso Loadstar), Janadara Jayawarna (Laugfs),  Pio Perera (Vaughan Chemicals), K.A.C. Vidyarathne(Vanadium Lanka), AnuraHerath (Penguin Lanka), Sumudu Bowatta (Camso Loadstar), H.N. Hari (Midas Group - Industrial Clothing’s), Parakrama Jayatissa (Champion Recycle), Dr. Upul Rathnayake (Dipped Products Lanka), Dinesh Gunasekara (Trelleborg Lanka), Kapila Sooriyabandara (Ansell Lanka), Kersten Rausch (Eu-Retec Continental) and Sharad Kakati (Ceat Kelani).
Mr. Rajapaksa also pointed to the prominent representation of the dry rubber, latex and plastics industry sector in the new committee, and stressed that this would add strength to the PRI Sri Lanka to face the challenges due to the current social, economical, political and environmental scenario both locally and globally. With the gloomy global forecast on an uncertain recovery and the sluggish economic downturns predicted, countries like Sri Lanka will be facing the adverse fallout effects, he said. 
The Complast and Rubber Expo scheduled for August 2020 had to be postponed due to the current health situation. A virtual exhibition will be organised instead, in October 2020, he added.