Demand for natural rubber rises

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

COLOMBO: The demand for Sri Lankan natural rubber has gone up as never before and today's prices for rubber will be stable for another 25 years.

Therefore we have to develop the rubber industry to meet the future demand and earn foreign exchange, Petroleum Resources and Development Minister A.H.M.Fowzie said.

He was addressing the Rubber Smallholders in Western Province at a workshop organised by the Ministry of Plantation Industries at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday (11) He said that those who removed rubber trees and planted other crops last year must be regretting their mistake.

With reference to his recent visit to Iran he said that a car manufacturing company there wanted a huge quantity of rubber for tyres. There is a high demand from China as well.

He appreciated the effort of Plantations Industries Minister D.M.Jayaratne in getting Cabinet approval for an allocation of Rs.30 million for the Thuru Saviya Fund to develop the industry in every district. He pointed out the importance of finding alternative methods for energy to reduce the production cost of rubber products until oil exploration in Mannar is completed in 2010.

Director Rubber Research Institute Asoka Nugawela, Director General N.Rubasinghe and Secretary to the Minister of Plantation Industries J.Abeywickrama conducted lectures and discussed the problems of rubber small holders. Chairperson Thuru Saviya Fund Sriyani Fernando also spoke.