Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure initiated a dialogue with all stake
holders in both the public sector and the private sector to draw a ten-year roadmap
(2026–2035) covering the entire rubber value chain. The initial workshop for this was
successfully concluded on the 28 th October 2025. Sri Lankan rubber industry claims a history
of nearly 150 years. It contributes 8.33% of the total exports earnings.is Rubber being the the
third-largest export sector has contributed USD 1,001.54 million in 2024.
There have been several attempts made and programs launched to push up the contribution of
rubber to export earnings, livelihoods and income generation especially in the periphery.
The “Rubber Industry Master Plan (2017–2026)”, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers
as the national agenda for rubber industry development. Rubber industry faces new
challenges with COVID 19 impact of climate change, introduction of EUDR, US Tariff hike
and unprecedented financial difficulties faced in the country These challenges have resulted
in dropping of the production and the yield with a negative impact on the prices. low prices
discourage growers especially the smallholder rubber farmers resulting them withdrawing
from rubber cultivation.
In light of these changes, rubber sector needs a fresh approach. Considering the urgency, the
Ministry intends to raw up road map for the period of 2026 to 2035.
State institutions, private sector organizations, and policymakers were engaged to ensure
participation of all the stakeholders of the rubber industry. The initial workshop was
concluded with the comprehensive participation of stakeholders successfully.
The workshop was attended by representatives from all state, semi-government, and private
institutions representing the rubber value chain.
the Department of Rubber Development, the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, the
Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development, the
Department of National Planning, the National Institute of Plantation Management, the
Export Development Board, the Industrial Development Board, Sri Lanka Customs, the
Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters
of Rubber Products, the Colombo Rubber Traders’ Association, the Planters’ Association, the
Association of Technically Specialized Rubber Product Manufacturers, the Small and
Medium-Scale Rubber Product Manufacturers’ Association, and the Smallholder Rubber
Plantation Owners’ Association were among the participation.
The consensus was reached among stakeholders to continue the dialogue with a series of
workshops and complete the exercise before the end of the year.