Rubber subsidies expedited

Shirley Wijesinghe

Plantation Industries Minister D.M. Jayaratne has taken measures to expedite the provision of subsidies to rubber growers for rubber re-planting and new-planting.

According to Ministry sources, subsidies for rubber growers will be finalised before the end of this month.

The Minister has already granted a cheque for Rs 15 million to 1,500 rubber growers recently at the Kegalle Town Hall. The subsidies have been granted through the allocation of funds of the Rubber Development Department.

Addressing the ceremony organized to distribute subsidies, Minister Jayaratne said that action will be taken to double rubber production within the next year.

“Thereby, it is envisaged to increase the export earnings from rubber products during the year 2010 up to Rs,150 billion. It was Rs. 76 billion in the year 2008,” he said.

He said that a significant increase in the demand for natural rubber had been observed during this year and no change of this situation would be expected from next year due to environmental issues as a result of the byproducts of the synthetic rubber industry and their application in manufacturing of hygienic products for health services.

Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Consumer Affairs Minister H.R. Mithripala and Rubber Development Department Director General R.B. Premadasa participated at this occasion.