1962 – 9th.September – Institution of Rubber Industry Ceylon was inaugurated, Chairman, Dr. E.D.C Baptiste and Hony Secretary / Treasurer Mr. M.S. Wijeratne
1965 – First ever educational Programme in Rubber Science and Technology in Sri Lanka, inaugurated with a Batch of 20 students. Lecturers were Mr. M.S Wijeratne, CISIR, O.M.R Sirisena, late Mr. M. Nadarajah of the RRI and Mr.E.S.R. (Cosmo) David worked in an honorary capacity. Later the course was conducted at College of Technology at Moratuwa (Presently the University of Moratuwa)
1967 – Mr. Richard Pieris was appointed as the Chairman of the Institute. “Walter Rutnam Memorial Scholarship” was awarded to late Mr. Denis White to follow I.R.I. Associateship Course at the National College of Rubber Technology in U.K
1968 – After the demise of Mr. Richard Pieris, Sir Cyril De Zoysa was appointed as the President and inaugurated the Richard Pieris Gold Medal for the best performance at the Licentiate Examination. The first medal was presented to Mr.W.D.J.Phillip of the Tyre Corporation by then Premier late Hon. Dudley Senanayake. Office of the Institute opened at the YMCA Fort through the kind courtesy of Sir Cyril De Zoysa.
1972 – Office was shifted to All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Building at 380, Bullers Road, Colombo 7. Activities like Awards Night, Annual Outing and Newsletter were started.
1975 – Two delegations participated at the International Conferences held in Calcutta and Kuala Lampur. In UK the amalgamation of the Rubber and Plastics Institutes took place
1981 – Commencement of the TPRI course, followed by the Grad PRI course.
1985 – Silver Jubilee Celebrations were initiated by Mr. Chulaka De Soyza. Rubpla-Lanka, first International Rubber Conference and the Exhibition was held at the BMICH. Conference Committee was headed by Mr. Mevan Peiris and Chairman of the Exhibition Committee was Mr. Ranjith Samarasinghe.
1991 – Mr. Mahendra Amarasuriya was elected as the President
1993 – Mr. Karu Jayasuriya takes over as the President
1994 – Two PRI delegations were sponsored by Technology Initiative for the Private Sector (TIPS) of USAID to attend International Rubber Conferences in USA and Australia.
2000 – PRI office was shifted to RRI -Ratmalana through the kind courtesy of Dr. L.M K Tillekeratne, the Director of RRI who offered office space when the Institute was faced with numerous difficulties
2001 – President Tilak De Zoysa’s initiative and untiring efforts and the support from Hon Minister Indika Gunawardena, UDA land was obtained to build our own Headquarters at Rajagiriya support extended by USAID and our patron members, and the role played by the energetic Secretary Mr. Ananda Caldera, to complete this Project successfully was specially appreciated
2002 – 30th January, Opening of the new Headquarters by Hon Minister Prof. G.L Peiris in association with Hon. Minister Karu Jayasuriya.
2003 – 8/9th Feb, Corporate Plan for the PRI, sessions held at Mansion Nugawela, Kandy, brainchild of the President Mr.Anil Wickremaratna for the first time in the history of the PRI, sponsored by Microcells and conducted by Mr. Gerry Suraweera.
2005 – 26th Feb, Opening of the DSI library after the AGM by Mr. Kulathunga Rajapakse, Managing Director, DSI Group, The donations of books received from the Asia Foundation was much appreciated.
2007 – 7th July, Inauguration of the Graduateship in Rubber Technology, under the Presidency of Mr. Ananda Caldera. Three stalwarts, Mr. O.M.R.Sirsena., M.S Wijeratne and late Mr. M Nadarajah who rendered Invaluable pioneering services to the technical education In Rubber, were felicitated and their photographs were unveiled on the 1st of December. The Loadstar IT centre was also declared open
2008 - Mr. Sunil Liyanage, an industrialist representing both Plastics and Rubber Sectors was appointed as the President. Due to the serious downturn In the Industry, experienced during the year the Committee decides to have the Annual Awards Ceremony at our own Auditorium.
2009 - The launching of the PRI Journal was done after a lapse of few years at the Annual Awards Ceremony held on 20.3.2009. Now the Library offers the Patron Members the facility to borrow books. The PRI Website was re-launched in August. The IT Centre offers training facilities to the employees of the Patron Members
