RUBBER INDUSTRY

SRI LANKA in

INTRUDUCTION

• Scientific name: Hevea brasiliensis• Introduction of the rubber plant to sri

lanka: Sir Henry Wickham• First planting of rubber:

• Henarathgoda botanical garden• Peradeniya botanical garden

• Reason for expansion of rubber:The eventual destruction of the coffee plantations

Basic Requirements for Rubber Cultivation

• Temperature :27 c• Rain fall over 2000 mm• Uplands between 0-300 m• Literate soil

Suitable Soil Classes for Rubber Cultivation

Parambe soil classHomagama soil class Agalawaththa soil classRathnapura soil classDeniyaya soil class Matale soil class

Water (56% - 60%) Rubber (30% - 40%) Protein (0.2%) Sugar (0.1%) Resin (0.05%)

Preservation of Latex Coagulation of latex takes place when pH

is less than 4.5. An alkaline media is used to prevent that.

• NH3

• Na2CO3

• Na2SO3

Methods of Preparing Rubber

Sheet rubber Crape rubberBlock rubberConcentrated rubber

Tapping

Collecting latex

Coagulation of latex Drying ribbed smoke sheets

Storing

Rubber Production Rubber Production of Sri Sri LankaLanka

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Sheet rubber

Crape rubber

Centrifuged latex &other

Kg (mil;)

Main Exporter

China

Sub Exporters Singapore Japan Pakistan Korea

Mexico England German

Trade of Rubber1999 2000

Production (million kg.) 97 87 Area of Cultivation (ha) 159 158 New Planting (ha) 218 251 Local Consumption (million kg) 54 55 Export quantity (million kg.) 43 33 Export Income (million Rs.) 2.305 2.179

THE END

Thanks ANUPAMA Nang & Malli