Associate Professor Rohana Upendra Kuruppu, is the Consultant and the Lead of the Centre for Textiles, Fashion, and Clothing Technologies of Sri Lanka Technological Campus, Research University, Padukka. He has developed two-degree courses leading to textile and clothing technology; and fashion merchandise management and obtained the approval from the Ministry of Education.
He graduated in textile technology from Derby University, UK in 1977 and subsequently obtained an honours degree in clothing from the Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He was conferred Master of Science (MSc) in Textiles from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Chemistry of the University of Strathclyde, UK. in 1982.
He had a rare distinction when he was awarded the Albert Thompson Memorial Prize for outstanding success in textile technology at the Derby University in 1977 and the James Cunningham Memorial Medal for excellent postgraduate studies at the University of Strathclyde, UK in 1982.
He was conferred Doctor of Technology (honoris causa) by the Faculty of Engineering of the Open University of Sri Lanka in 2005 and later Doctor of Philosophy from the School of Fashion & Textiles of the RMIT University, Australia in 2009. He is a qualified Chartered Textile Technologist since 1987 and Fellow of the Textile Institute, Manchester, UK from 1997 onwards.
Kuruppu launched very successfully two Bachelor’s study programmes from the Manchester Metropolitan University, UK for those already engaged in the clothing industry and another for school leavers from the RMIT University, Australia during the period of1997 to 2019. Both these courses were conducted in Sri Lanka. He has supervised over 350 research based undergraduate dissertations from Manchester Metropolitan University and RMIT University during this period.
He has been serving as a review panel member of textile research papers of the University of Moratuwa and the Open university of Sri Lanka. He has made over 40 presentations and journal publications including papers in international conferences. He has made presentations and lectures in countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, UK, and Australia.
Kuruppu was conferred National Honours by Her Excellency the President of Sri Lanka at the Investiture of National Honours in 2005 for meritorious work rendered to the textile industry of Sri Lanka. He was presented the Textile Institute of UK the ‘Service’ award in 2010 and then the Textile Institute, UK the ‘Medal’ for distinguish service to the textile industry in 2011.
He was an Adjunct Professor of the School of Fashion & Textiles of RMIT University from 2013 to 2019. Prof. Kuruppu was the lead Tutor of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Textile Technology degree conducted by the RMIT University, in Sri Lanka.
He has held positions as Founder Director of the Clothing Industry Training Institute of the Ministry of Textiles from 1984 to 1996, the founder CEO of the Brandix College of Clothing Technology from 1996 to 2019. Kuruppu was the founder Director of Ayumi Apparels (Pvt) Ltd., a BOI venture under the 200 Garment Factories Project (200 GFP) from 1993 to 1996. He was a member of the Presidential Task Force on Reforms in Technical Education and Vocational Training from 1998 to 2003. He was the past President of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka from 2015 to 2016, founder Director of the Ranaviru Apparels of Sri Lanka Army from 1992 to 2018. He was a Board Director of the National Apprenticeship Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) and Board of Governor of the Textile Training & Services Centre, Ratmalana.
He is presently a member of the Executive Council of the Textile Institute Headquarters, UK from 1998 to date, present Chairman of the Textile Institute Sri Lanka section and currently he is the Vice Chairman of the Textile Institute, Head Quarters, UK. He is also the CEO of Panaluwa Textile Products (Pvt) Ltd, a company which produces decorative home textiles for the domestic market.