Rajarata Uni awarded ‘Letters Patent’ to manufacture Zirconium

Rajarata University 

• Zirconium manufactured locally could be used for jet engines in aircraft, space shuttles, and for the manufacture of ceramic products, and filaments in electric bulbs
• Sri Lanka exports Ilmenite and imports Zirconium at heavy expenditure of foreign exchange

Rajarata University has received letters patent to manufacture Zirconium on the result of research conducted by the Faculty of Technology.
Vice Chancellor of the University and President of the University Vice Chancellors’ Association Prof. Sanjeewani Ginigaddara told the media in Anuradhapura, that a team of researchers under Prof. Ananda Karunaratne conducted research to manufacture Zirconium from Ilmenite, which is a mineral sand found in several areas in the country. She pointed out that Ilmenite found in Pulmanai is the best in the world.

“Zirconium is a precious material as gold. Sri Lanka exports Ilmenite and imports Zirconium at heavy expenditure of foreign exchange. However after receiving letters patent, the Zirconium manufactured locally could be used for jet engines in aircraft, space shuttles, and for the manufacture of ceramic products, and filaments in electric bulbs. Rajarata University has now gained title for this technology. However, the university is not allowed to invest in trade and commerce nor is it in a position to bear the heavy production cost. We are able only to provide technical knowledge. Several private sector companies have expressed their willingness to invest in such a project.

“Rajarata University has recorded this victory by receiving letters patent for Zerconium manufacture and come first in the research segment among  the 17 universities in Sri Lanka.  The faculties of Agriculture, Applied Science, Social Science, Humanities, Medical and Allied Sciences were largely instrumental in this achievement.  
“Rajarata University has implemented several employment generating projects including the manufacture of compost, model farm projects and  international training exchange projects.  Steps are being taken to inaugurate a climatic change monitoring centre in a couple of months and to boost research programmes.

“Established in January 1996, Rajarata University, which stood the 6000th in the international grading, now stands the 3015th.  The university which had been in the 13th in position among the universities in the country is today the 6th in position. Rajarata University is the only university in the country providing hostel facilities to the students for four years of their university career,” Prof. Ginigaddara said.  
She further said that she expected to receive University Grants Commission approval for another five post graduate degree courses.