Lalan Rubber (Private) Limited.

The rubber plantation industry in Sri Lanka has been established over 150 years. Through nationalization program in 1975 these rubber plantations were managed by the Government Cooperative until 1992. Following a World Bank Report these plantations were then re-privatized to 23 plantation companies. Lalan Plantations Ltd has been awarded a long term sub-lease of 53 years ending in 2045 from Bogawantalawa Plantations Ltd. to manage plantation in 4 regions (Mahaoya, Pitiyakande, Sapumalkande and Udabage) consisting of 13 estates. This arrangement has been approved by the Golden Share Holder and Ministry of Plantation Industries. In addition, Miyanawita and Dabar estates are managed by Lalan Rubbers (Pvt) Ltd under an agreement with Bogawanthalawa Tea Estates PLC.

FOREST RESOURCES TO BE MANAGED

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Description of silvicultural and/or other management system, based on the ecology of the forest in question and information gathered through resource inventories.

As has been the long-term norm for this region, Lalan Plantations Ltd. has been planting rubber trees from recommended clones of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka for latex and scrap production. Tapping is normally initiated at age 6 and the economic life span of the trees is around 25 – 30 years. After the peak production period the trees are felled and sold to local factories as fuel wood. At present 56% of the rubber planted area consist of mature trees, with 26% immature trees and 20% are in the replanting process. Tree felling and replanting preparation is conducted in small blocks and minimum earth works were observed. Replanting is done with seedlings supplied from a central nursery. These seedlings are produced by grafting onto germinated seedlings from seeds. The bud-grafting technique is employed using buds harvested from cuttings collected from a clonal orchard established in a central nursery.

For the tea plantation around 84% consist of mature tea bushes with the remaining covered by immature plants. Almost all the coconut planted area consists of fruit producing palms. A small area of 169 ha, particularly along roads in the rubber plantation, has been planted with forest species, specifically Teak and non-native Mahogany, most of which are young trees. There is no harvesting from the residual natural forests, all of which are marked for protection.

The latex produced is sold to its parent company for the manufacture of rubber gloves which are mainly for export. The green tea leaves is sold to local tea factories while the coconuts are sold as timber and nuts mainly for local markets.

Agricultural practices at current will be improved further with the recommendations proposed by the land use Policy Planning Division of Land Ministry.

Latex is the main product from the plantation followed by tea and coconut. During the replanting phase, the felled rubber trees are collected by contractors who sell them as fuel wood.

Timber and fuelwood is planted and selective felling silvicultural system is used.