Sri Lanka’s Minister of Plantation Industries, NavinDissnayake, said that the government is giving the research and development sector a ‘step motherly’ treatment and it should be corrected soon.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Sri Lanka Rubber Traders Association, he said that the staff of the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) are receiving low salary and does not offer any encouragement at all. He also said that he has taken up the issue with the Treasury on multiple occasions, but his suggestion to increase the wages of the researchers has been ignored.
He said that this might be a reason why the RRI is falling behind when it comes to introducing novel technology and high yielding rubber trees. “However, this is not an excuse and the time is right for a change of mind set by the RRI,” he added.
Dissnayakealso said that he is aware of the difficulties the rubber sector is facing mainly due to the global downturn, but is happy with how the industry is engaging with the government to find effective solutions for current issues.
The Minister said that the government has several plans including growing rubber in many new areas to develop the industry and they are working with the stakeholders regarding this.
He also said that Sri Lanka should also look at new markets and China would be one such market that has not been affected by the global down turn.
Chairman of the Association, M. S. Rahim said that the positive steps taken by the government has helped the local rubber industry to receive a minor boost. He also said that with the crude oil prices dipping, synthetic rubber production is increasing and this will have a negative impact to the local exporters.
“We feel that a further reduction or the complete removal of CESS would be another welcome move,”he said.