New rubber sheet moulding machine introduced

Milton Dharmasinghe, Bulathsinhala Special Correspondent

BULATHSINHALA: The Sri Lanka Rubber Research Institute and Department of Advisory Services introduced a new rubber sheet moulding machine imported from India to promote production of quality sheets at a seminar held at Keselhenawa in the Madurawala Divisional Secretariat Division.

The seminar organised by Govinna Rubber Extension Officer K. A. Jayasingha aimed to educate small rubber cultivators in Madurawala, Govinna and Millaniya on the new development in the industry. This machine named Lohashilpi can mould four hundred sheets an hour. More than thousand sheets could be produced a day minimising labour cost and time wastage.

Jayantha Sinhabahu set up this machine at Keselhenawa for the benefit of rubber cultivators in the area.

A new rubber tapping lamp which could be used to tap rubber from dawn was also introduced on the same day.

This lamp produced by Ranil Fernando of Govinna, a small rubber cultivator is powered by a portable battery and fixed to a helmet.

He said the rubber tapping technicians in his estate are using this light to tap rubber in the dawn. Sri Lanka Rubber Institute Director Dr. Anura Dissanayaka and over two hundred rubber cultivators participated.