Defence Ministry research unit innovates in fight against COVID-19

The Centre for Research and Development (CRD) of the Defence Ministry, taking a lead in providing much-needed cost effective innovative solutions in assisting the Government’s effort to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in Sri Lanka, showcased a few of its innovations at the Defence Ministry premises on Wednesday.

An interactive remotely operated robotic platform (Dr. Robot) to assess patient status, a disinfection corridor, and two mobile disinfection platforms were the key highlights that were displayed at the ministry.

Defence Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Kamal Gunaratne paid an inspection visit to the site, had commended the efforts undertaken by the CRD to come up with innovation to support the frontline fighters against the spread of the virus.

The Defence Ministry Secretary also handed over a gift to Theejana Dewumina, a student at the President’s College, Embilipitiya, for his interactive robotic platform innovated to reduce the risk involved in treating coronavirus infected patient by the medical staff.

The CRD’s Director General Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Renuka Rowel, speaking to defence.lk, said these innovations had gone beyond prototyping and could be scaled-out for production, and although the CRD had no intention to commercialise these innovations, the interested parties could collaborate for large-scale manufacturing with the CRD, he said.

“We do not intend to discourage potential commercial production of these innovations,” Maj. Gen. Rowel said. “The CRD intends to drive the nation’s innovative aspirations, also focusing at harnessing the potential of Sri Lanka’s future inventors to promote their innovations.”