Plans are afoot to increase rubber related products aiming to provide a better price for rubber cultivators, and producers Plantations Industries State Minister Kanaka Herath said.
He added that many rubber products are imported to the country eventhough Sri Lanka produces quality latex. Measures will be taken to improve the quality of locally produced rubber products providing a boost to the industry.
“A large number of rubber products, which can easily be manufactured locally are imported to Sri Lanka. These products have been identified and produced locally,” the State Minister said. With the increase in local rubber production, rubber imports could be reduced. Small and medium scale enterprises will be utilized for local rubber production. "This will increase the country's GDP while granting the local rubber cultivators a better price," State Minister Herath said.
