News
State Minister expects tea and rubber exports to bring in USD 8.5 bn. by 2025
Plantations State Minister Kanaka Herath said that a targeted programme was being implemented to increase the export earnings of the tea and rubber sector to US $ 8.5 billion by the year 2025.
He said tea exports were expected to reach US $ 5 billion, while rubber exports to US $ 3.5 billion by 2025, bringing the total revenue to US $ 8.5 billion.
The State Minister made this observation addressing a progress review meeting in the tea and rubber export sectors yesterday.
Tea exports are expected to generate US $ 1.5 billion this year, while rubber exports are expected to generate US $ 1 billion.
Aiming to achieve these set goals by 2025, a special programme has already been launched to establish a number of tea and rubber-related industries.
Accordingly the focus is on maximising revenue through value addition rather than exporting as a raw material. Most of the rubber production in Sri Lanka in particular has been exported as a raw material for a long time. Instead of exporting as a raw material, steps have been taken to promote the rubber based manufacturing processes and export of finished goods. Under this, the Rubber Development Department and the Industrial Development Board have jointly made arrangements to conduct rubber sector industrial training workshops in several districts for persons, who wish to enter the field of rubber-related products.
On average, there were at least 400 rubber-related products in a motor car, most of which could be manufactured locally using local rubber as a raw material, he noted.
State Minister Herath said that at least five more industries were expected to be set up around one industry for industrial promotion.
“Also, in order to earn more export earnings, local tea and rubber production should be increased. The subsidy for tea and rubber plantations has been increased by about 50 percent,” the State Minister said.
He however pointed out that it would take several years to reap the benefits of this cultivation process. He pointed out that rubber growers were frustrated due to the lack of a market for rubber during the previous government and that rubber plantations were being converted extensively for other crops. The Minister of State emphasised that the protection of existing plantations as well as the establishment of new plantations was essential to increase rubber production.
In the short term, the process of increasing production and market diversification has enabled tea production to increase from 124 million to 136 million kg in the last six months.
In the last few months of this year, tea export earnings have increased from US $ 573 million to US $ 657 million.
He also predicted that the target of US $ 8.5 billion in export earnings of tea and rubber by 2025 would be achieved through the medium and long term targeted programmes implemented.
Latest News
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 27 April 2025, valid for 28 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Latest News
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that for the first time in history, mosques in Kandy had opened their doors to accommodate the needs of devotees visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and that people have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans beyond dividing into ethnicities and religions.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held in the Paragahadeniya area in Kurunegala.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
“This country is undergoing a transformation we expected,so accordingly, we must operate in new ways. People are beginning to feel that we must work towards a new transformation. We can see this change even within our ministries. These days, sometimes when we visit ministries even after 5 PM, and ask if it is possible to have discussions, the officials are always open. Today, public officials are willing to work late into the night, until 9 or 10 PM. Officials have now started working without fear.
Remarkably, for the first time in history, Muslim mosques in Kandy remained open throughout the night to accommodate pilgrims visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. They even provided space for devotees to rest. There were no ethnic or religious tensions. What we saw was respect for other ethnicities and religions. This is happening because there is now a sense of a government that represents all Sri Lankan people, not just Sinhalese, Muslims, or Tamils”.
The event was attended by the candidates for the local government election including the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has urged the NPP government to prevent Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Company from selling its 51% ownership stake in the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) to Indian government-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, a leading shipbuilder.
FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island yesterday (27) that the move seemed to be in line with the overall India-Sri Lanka understanding on the basis of the recently signed memorandum on defence cooperation.
Against the backdrop of deteriorating financial situation, the Japanese company has informed the board of directors of CDL of its plans to divest its 51 percent ownership stake in the international shipbuilding and repair company. The Japanese shipbuilder made the announcement in early Dec last year.
Alleging that an agreement has been reached on the sale of Onomichi’s controlling ownership stake to the Indian ship builder, Jayagoda questioned
the move as Mazagon primarily built a range of warships and attack submarines. Jayagoda pointed out that according to Mazagon’s profile, the Indian government-owned business undertaking was involved with European companies engaged in ship and submarine construction.
Addressing a Local Government election meeting at Weeraketiya, Pallekanda, in support of those contesting the May 6 election on the ticket of Jana Aragala Sandhanaya (JAS), the executive committee member of JAS Jayagoda emphasized that in terms of the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan, Onomichi couldn’t sell its stake without the Sri Lankan government’s approval. Therefore, the NPP government should intervene to halt the Japanese-Indian move, the FSP spokesman said while urging the parliamentary opposition to publicly oppose the planned sale of the Japanese stake.
Among other stakeholders are Sri Lanka Insurance, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and EPF.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaittivu and Kurunegala districts.
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