Mission

Taking actions to uplift the economic conditions of the rubber small holders and thereby, strengthening the entire local rubber industry and contributing them to the development of the country, through increasing the productivity and improving the quality of the rubber industry

Introduction

Thurusaviya Fund is a corporation which was established under the Thurusaviya Fund Act No.23 of 2000 by Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. It is situated at the premises of the Ministry of Plantation Industries, No.74, Kaduwela Road, Battaramulla.

Rubber small holders contribute to a large amount that is, about 70% of the foreign exchange earnings from the rubber industry of Sri Lanka. There is a tendency of rapid increase in the demand for natural rubber in the local market as well as the world market.

Strengthening of the rubber small holders at national level through improvement in the quality of their products and expansion of the market is undertaken by the Thurusaviya Fund. The primary Thurusaviya Societies have been established through mobilization of rubber smallholders scattered in Kalutara, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Kandy, Ratnapura, Monaragala, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Colombo, Gampaha and Ampara districts and representing those primary Thurusaviya Societies, 05 regional Thurusaviya Societies (district organizations) have been established for the districts such as Kalutara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Galle and Colombo. The Sri Lanka Rubber Smallholders Development Society Forum has been established representing regional Thurusaviya Societies.

Objectives

• To inculcate in rubber smallholders the habit of savings and uplift their social status and economic conditions.
• Promotion of investment opportunities important in the rubber industry.
• Acquisition, improvement or establishment of rubber processing units, rubber factories and other facilities required to convert the yield of rubber small holdings into products.
• To promote and enhance sales of the rubber products processed in such rubber processing units or factories.
• Registration & regularization of Rubber Smallholders Development Societies (Thurusaviya Societies) and providing assistance to the society members who have registered with the Fund.
• Taking measures that would be required for the uplifting and benefit of those who engage in rubber production activities in rubber small holdings.

Strategic development objectives

• Providing high quality products.
• Sustainable development through the environmental conservation.
• Fixing price for products of the rubber small holders.
• Uplifting the socio- economic living standards of the rubber small holders

Duties of the Head Office of the Thurusaviya Fund

• Execution of the powers vested under the Thurusaviya Fund Act No.23 of 2000.
• Mobilization of the rubber small holders scattered at grass root level, making them aware and establishment of Thurusaviya Societies.
• Registration of the Thurusaviya Societies with the Thurusaviya Fund.
• Providing services to the members of the Thurusaviya Societies established for the betterment of the rubber small holders.
• Providing technical know–how for production of high quality rubber products.
• Providing equipment of high standards for production of high quality rubber sheets.
• Making rubber small holders aware of the socio-economic values of a society with well management.
• Introducing and implementing loan schemes for rubber small holders.
• Finding immediate solutions to the proposals and issues received from the Ministry and other institutions for development of the rubber cultivation.
• Carrying out administrative and accounting activities.

Services rendered by the Regional Officers

Coordinating officers of the Thurusaviya Fund deployed for official duties of the districts, supervise the regional level Thurusaviya Societies in each district and following services are rendered by them.

• Forwarding monthly future programmes to the Head Office and obtaining approval for the same, submission of the revised programmes, if any revision is made to the monthly future programmes and the reports of works done at the end of the month to the Head Office and review of the same, seeking instructions for the required assignments on the works to be done in next month and taking actions accordingly.
• Attending the General Meetings held once in 03 months.
• Forwarding the supervisory reports of the Thurusaviya Societies to the Head Office.
• Establishment of new Thurusaviya Societies at rural level and regional level.
• Making necessary arrangements to reactivate the defunct Thurusaviya Societies.
• Referring the farmer problems to the Head Office and finding solutions for the same.
• Holding elections.
• Introducing loan schemes and making rubber smallholders aware of the same.
• Making necessary arrangements to construct Group Processing Centers at district level and regional level.
• Creating a market for Group Processing Centers.