Sri Lanka, Jan. 30 -- By Emeritus Professor Asoka Nugawela
(Department of Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka & Former Director, Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka earned 930 million US$ from the export of both raw rubber and rubber products in 2023.
Out of that the major share, around 900 million US$, came from the export of rubber products. In the same year, Sri Lanka was able to produce only 64 million kilograms of natural rubber compelling the industries to import more than 30 million kilograms of natural rubber to the country.
Foreign exchange outflow from the country for importation of the shortfall in raw rubber requirement is around 50 million US$. But the country has the potential to save this ...