N95 mask irradiation machine handed over to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital

An N95 mask irradiation machine indigenously manufactured with the technical expertise of the Sri Lanka Navy, allowing to reuse N95 masks once used, was handed over to the Emergency Treatment Unit of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya by Commander Southern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera on 16th December 2020.

Sri Lanka Navy was a party to the research project on reuse of used N95 masks, with the guidance of Prof. Ajith Malalasekara of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. The commitment of the team members from University of Moratuwa, Microbiologists and Virologists from medical institutes and with funds from well-wishers raised by the Rotary Club of Capital City, brought the project to fruition where making of prototypes based on disinfection methods of hydrogen peroxide vapor and ultra-violate irradiation / dry heat (70 C⁰) were done to perfection at the Command Engineering Workshop (South), Galle.

Meanwhile, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne endorsed continuity of SLN involvement of this project in view of saving foreign exchange required for the importation of such units. Moreover, this machine will reduce the amount of discarded N95 mask accumulation as waste into the environment, as it enables reuse of used N95 mask by irradiation.

The 1st N95 mask irradiation unit of this nature, improvised by the Navy, was handed over to the Teaching Hospital Colombo North and its intended results received much appreciation from the medical staff as well. As such, Sri Lanka Navy will continue to contribute towards similar social responsibility initiatives in the future as well.

The occasion to handover the mask irradiation unit was attended by Deputy Director Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Dr. Harshani Ubeysekara, medical staff, Head of Naval Engineering Technical Team of the project and a group of senior officers from Southern Naval Command.