COVID-19-critical rubber products sector wants moratorium

The country’s rubber products sector has asked for the moratorium already extended to several other sectors to be extended to it as well, to overcome the challenges faced by the COVID-19 crisis.

The Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) has written to the Government to make the rubber manufacturing sector an essential service as locally and internationally the demand for medical gloves and other protective gloves is increasing.

Additional it also needs to supply tyres for the agriculture sector and the heavy vehicle sector to support both international local demand.

SLAMERP said members were requesting the Government to extend the moratorium to the rubber sector for both loans and working capital as proposed to be given to other export industries.

It was pointed out that the sector directly supports the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka, with over 6,000 farmers and the rural communities depend on manufacturers and exporters to continue to purchase raw rubber in different forms.

“It is important to keep the factories running at this important juncture,” the association added.

It requested the Government to urgently take necessary action to support the $ 1 billion export industry to retain foreign exchange earnings and to provide employment and to ensure continuity to the farmers who depend on its operations.