Rubber production 6 percent increase in 2005

COLOMBO: The Rubber Research Board of Sri Lanka has said the total rubber production in 2005 was 104,500 MT which is a 6% increase as against production in the previous year.

Board Director L. M. K. Tillekeratne refering to a news item titled rubber production in crisis appeared in the Daily News of May 18 says:

The total production in 2005 was 104,500 MT which is nearly a 6% increase over the production in the previous year. This increase could only be attributed to; a) Good performance of RRIC clones occupying nearly 80% of the plantation now, b) Use of rain guards by the RPCC in 2005 in a big way, c) Due to very high price of rubber (close to Rs. 200/KG) prevailed throughout the year.