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Several progressive measures by Ministry - Rubber prices picking up

The rubber industry which was in the doldrums in the recent past has shown signs of a speedy recovery with sheet rubber fetching Rs. 75 per kilo in the local market as against the Rs. 48.21 per kilo recorded in January this year.

This follows several progressive measures to help the industry taken by the Plantation Industries Ministry under the initiative of Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

One such measure was the Conference of the International Rubber Producers Association held in Colombo in June hosted by the Plantation Industries Minister which had helped to stabilise natural rubber prices. A Ministry spokesman said following this meeting prices have started moving up gradually as larger producers Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand had cut down natural rubber, production by 4 per cent and exports by 10 per cent as agreed. This had greatly helped to stabilise the price of natural rubber.

The Ministry has now started a scheme to pass the benefit of this price increase to the rubber small-holders as well by organising them into 'Thurusaviya Societies" and rescuing them from the exploitation of middlemen.

Minister Kiriella who visited Kalutara district recently on an inspection tour emphasised the need for rubber smallholders to join Thurusaviya Societies as it would help them to obtain prices similar to the Colombo Auction prices for their rubber. The Minister addressing smallholders in the district said he had appointed a committee headed by Deputy Minister Naveen Dissanayake to provide relief and security to smallholders. The Treasury is now studying the committee's report to find out its financial implications, he added.

The Minister who said that he had arranged to revitalise the Thurusaviya Fund instructed officials to form Thurusaviya Units in all districts before July this year. He said 61 Thurusaviya Societies have been set up in Kalutara district so far. At this meeting the Minister also distributed funds and scales among Thurusaviya Societies. He said money will be released to societies in other districts by the end of July.

The Minister also emphasised that a life insurance scheme and a banking system will be launched through these societies for the benefit of rubber smallholders shortly.

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