Rubber Review issue 26 is now online
Bangkok, Thailand – In this issue we have a conversation with Dr. Upul Nishantha Ratnayake, a pioneering figure in the global rubber and glove industry. With more than three decades of experience spanning research, industrial leadership, and academic mentorship, his career has bridged science and industry in transformative ways.
Currently serving as Director – Technical & Research & Development at Dipped Products Plc (DPL), one of Sri
Lanka’s leading glove manufacturers, Dr. Ratnayake has been instrumental in driving product innovation, quality assurance, and technology development. Under his leadership, DPL introduced globally recognized glove innovations such as the Magneto Glove (awarded “Most Innovative Product of the Year” at the 2024 Presidential Export Awards) and multiple patented glove technologies that enhance safety, comfort, and sustainability.
His work reflects not only technical mastery in latex chemistry, polymer nanocomposites, and dipped product technology, but also strategic vision in positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive hub in the global glove market. Beyond industry, Dr. Ratnayake has made lasting contributions as a researcher at the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, a founding member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), and as a mentor to numerous MSc, MPhil, and PhD scholars in polymer and rubber science.
This conversation with Rubber Review explores his journey, technical contributions, industrial innovations, and his outlook on the future of gloves, rubber technology, and global markets.