SLAMERP holds Annual General Meeting for 2017

It was a night of success and splendour as the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) celebrated its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2017 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo on 16 January; the 31st AGM was followed by a gala cocktail brimming with endless entertainment and exhilaration. 

From left: SLAMERP Treasurer Keerthi Bandara, SLAMERP Vice Chairman Ravi Dadlani, State Minister of Finance and Mass Media Eran Wickramaratne, SLAMERP Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe and SLAMERP Secretary Dr. Sisira Ranatunga - Pic by Indraratne Balaysuriya

The association was inaugurated in 1985 with the primary objective of comprehensive representation, advocacy and champion to all manufacturers and exporters of rubber products in Sri Lanka.

Prabhash Subasinghe was re-elected Chairman of SLAMERP for the third consecutive year during the association’s Annual General Meeting.

SLAMERP Chairman Subasinghe, with a vision of SLAMERP being a catalyst for the next generation of growth in the rubber industry, and his fervent desire is to provide the right impetus for continuing growth and to achieve new heights and more success with the rubber industry in Sri Lanka, opened his address with gratitude and acute foresight with the promise that he will bring about further success, progress and growth to SLAMERP in 2018. 

The turnover of Sri Lanka’s rubber industry today stands at approximately $ 1 billion, a majority of this turnover is contributed by SLAMERP’s member companies. For 2017, it is estimated that Sri Lanka recorded rubber product exports worth $ 855 million, this reflects a year-on-year growth of approximately 11%. 

Subasinghe however pointed out with disappointment that rubber production in the country grew only 7% to 85,000 tons in 2017. “The local demand for rubber is almost 130,000 tons, this creates a major shortfall and inefficiency.”

He went on to speak on the championing efforts of the association; SLAMERP had successfully engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka in a number of key discussions with the aim of removing obstacles and assisting with industry growth. In 2017, Sri Lanka had to face an unjustified anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties (CVD) charge imposed by the USA for pneumatic OTR tyres. SLAMERP took immediate action in response to this claim, and it was with the able assistance and support of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Department of Commerce and the Attorney General’s Office, they were able to minimise the consequence of this anti-dumping charge. 

Subasinghe spoke in depth about the Rubber Industry Master Plan, the brain child of the Sri Lanka Society of Rubber and the Rubber Secretariat, and which has been endorsed by the Government.

SLAMERP’s Chairman then took time to stressed upon the critical activities that need to be implemented in order to make the rubber industry Sri Lanka a $ 3 billion industry by 2020: “Sri Lanka needs to be known as a serious player in raw material production, there is no question that our overall rubber production needs to increase, moreover, all of us in this room must take necessary action to fully execute the vision and actions laid out in the Rubber Industry Master Plan.”

Chief Guest State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne, who attended the function, congratulated the newly-appointed committee and underlined that the rubber industry had made a tremendous contribution to the country since its inception in 1876 and was becoming a pioneer in the natural rubber industry in Asia. As of now Sri Lankan natural rubber has become an industrial raw material with global significance, its economic benefit has been significant in attracting investment, job creation and raising foreign exchange earnings. 

Wickramaratne further stated: “Friends, our National Unity Government envisions an export orientated economy in our development strategy; the Ministry of Plantation and Industries will collaborate with various stakeholders to implement Sri Lanka’s Rubber Industry Master Plan for the period 2017 to 2026. The master plan targets achieving an annual gross industry turnover of nearly $ 4.4 billion by 2025; this requires an investment estimated at over $ 1.5 billion over the medium term to augment the existing investment to reach such potential.

“The rubber industry has untapped potential and I am happy that our Government is determined to ensure that we make the most of what we can in this industry, we are committed to strengthen the industry by providing critical industry infrastructure upon demands of the private sector.” 

He then gave his viewpoint of the rubber industry: “This industry I believe, has a much greater potential in the long haul when opposed to other traditional industries, we will therefore play a pivotal role in the rubber industry by bringing more productivity, enhancing technology and harnessing production innovation so that we can compete against fierce global competition.”

Taking note on the Chairman’s address, he stated: “I’m impressed with the performance of the rubber industry; Subasinghe mentioned that we are the world’s leading solid rubber tyres manufacturer with market share of over 60%, we much now raise the ante in other areas, I also just heard that we are going to soon have an agriculture rubber tyre production centre in Sri Lanka. I am sure that we now moving in the right direction.”

Dr. Sisira Ranatunga took the opportunity to make a presentation on the Finite Element Analysis and Simulation Centre (FEASC), one of the 25 projects included in the Sri Lanka Rubber Industry Master Plan. This project will provide the necessary support in enhancing the rubber industry’s technical capabilities, in order to produce high value-added products, the project objectives include developing necessary skills via the use of FEAS for modelling and simulation of rubber products and other items. 

In full support of this project, the Government has granted an investment capital of Rs. 50 million. Dr. Ranatunga spoke of the possibilities that this renowned technology could contribute to various industries such as defence, aerospace, automobile, etc., thereby promising great potential compared to other conventional industries in the country.

Export Development Board (EDB) Chairperson Indira Malwatte gave her input on the SLAMERP Chairman’s note with respect to the lack of a skilled labour force in the labour industry. She stated that the Export Development Board collaborated with SLAMERP and arranged many international training programs for personnel in the rubber industry. 

Over 100 personnel from the rubber industry attended the University of Cochin to be trained in advanced rubber technology. A training was arranged in the United Kingdom for 10 senior personnel from the Rubber Industry for Technical Training and Exposure at the Abdul Razak Research Centre, UK. 

She further gave her views of opportunities for the rubber industry: “The automobile controlling sector, even though limited in production, could be identified as a niche market that could utilise rubber from Sri Lanka.” 

Malwatte then ended her address on a high note: “I wish the association the very best for 2018 and assure you that the Export Development Board will be there to hold your hand along the way.”