Minister of Plantation Industries, Lakshman Kiriella concludes official visit to Kuala Lumpur
Minister of Plantation Industries Laksman Kiriella successfully concluded his official visit to Malaysia on 11th May. Minister Kiriella led the Sri Lanka delegation to the Special Session of the Association Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) Assembly at Ministerial level which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 7-8 May 2015. The meeting was attended by Ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Senior Officials from India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Philippines. The ANRPC meeting was chaired by YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities of Malaysia. Mr. Anura Jayawickrama, Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation, Mr. R.B. Premadasa, Director General of Rubber Department of Sri Lanka and Mr. S.D. Kalansooriya, Coordinating Secretary of the Minister also participated at the ANRPC meeting.
The ANRPC meeting agreed to submit concrete proposals to strengthen the price structure for natural rubber prices to be considered for the consideration of the next annual ANRPC Assembly to be held in October 2015. The participants noted the weak performance of the natural rubber market and continuous low prices that had affected rubber farmers, particularly small scale rubber farmers. The Ministers agreed to establish an expert group and invite the private sector for a dialogue with ANRPC to explore the possibility of establishing a common trading platform for natural rubber linking the existing systems in the member countries.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
Kuala Lumpur
18th May 2015