Govt aims to uplift rubber industry

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The government is planning to increase annual rubber production by a further 50,000 metric tons by expanding new plantations, providing better incentives to growers and employing sophisticated manufacturing systems.

Plantations Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said his ministry has planned a number of programmes to increase rubber production with the target being a minimum of 50,000 MT annual growth.

Hambantota District parliamentarian and Chairman, Tharunyata Hetak organization Namal Rajapaksa drives a car out of a ship at Hambantota Port. Deputy Ports and Highways Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena is also in the picture. Picture by Sudath Malaweera

Addressing members of the 'Thurusaviya Fund' during their annual all island convention, the minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has allocated adequate funds from the last budget to carry out the above programmes to further uplift the industry.

The Thurusaviya Fund was established under Act No. 23 of 2000 with the aim of uplifting living standards of Rubber Small Holders by facilitating the production of quality rubber sheets and ensuring a fair price.

The minister said, "the government has done more than any of its predecessors to uplift the rubber industry and those aligned with it. It already provides a number of subsidies to growers".

He said plans are afoot to provide further assistance,such as, subsidy on rain covers, improving quality, financial assistance for re-planting, increasing monies allocated for new plantations etc.

'Thurusaviya Fund' Chairman Suranga Hidellarachchi said the authorities have maintained a stable and a fair price for rubber during the past year and assured that all efforts will be made to continue the trend and expand on it to give a higher price for the growers.

Rubber manufacturing has been a solid part of Sri Lanka 's economy since the early 1930s. Sri Lanka is the world's sixth largest exporter and eighth largest natural rubber producing country.