Novel eco-friendly long lasting disinfectant introduced by two Lankan scientists

By Ifham Nizam

Two university academics yesterday introduced a new Eco-friendly sanitizer capable of killing coronavirus, other viruses and bacteria which can remain active for 28 days on any surface..

Dr. Prasanga Gayanath Manthilaka of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Peradeniya and Dr. Ranga Dissanayake, a Senior lecturer in Pharmacology of the Jayewardenepura University yesterday launched this Eco-friendly sanitizer at the Ministry of Environment under the patronage of Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera.

They spelled out that coronavirus could remain active on certain surfaces for up to 28-70 days.

They pointed out that almost all the sanitizers currently in use contained alcohol and thus rapidly evaporated. “Hands have to be cleaned frequently using sanitizers. But there are problems with disinfecting surfaces such as clothing, office chairs, and passenger coaches and other vehicle seats.”

Minister Amaraweera expressed concern about the increasing number of plastic bottles added to the environment on a daily basis as almost all of the commonly used sanitizers came in plastic containers.

He said that the uniqueness of the new product was that once it was applied to a surface, it remained active for 28 days and was active enough to destroy any germs.

Citing an example, he said if applied to a cloth, washing it twenty times would not destroy the quality of the product. It was odourless.

They said no other country in the world had ever produced a sanitiser that could last for 28 days.

The Minister also expressed his gratitude to the experts for introducing the product as it was also eco-friendly.