GRI opens natural rubber center to support local rubber farmers

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Specialty tire maker Global Rubber Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. (GRI) has opened a natural rubber collection center in the Monaragala district of Sri Lanka in order to support local rubber tree planters.

The center, which is part of GRI's GREEN-X Circle initiative, will allow local farmers "to earn fair value for their hard work" in growing natural rubber. It opened June 25.

In addition, the center serves as a meeting point for the rubber farmers who belong to the GREEN-X Circle to put on regular forums on related topics as well as offer training programs.

"We are a company built on quality, authenticity and integrity," GRI CEO Dr. Mahesha Ranasoma said in a statement. "We will help the rural farming community to achieve their ambitions. "

He said the farmers' natural rubber product will be used in the country "to build our high-grade agriculture tires that are fitted on the machinery of farmers across the world, creating a unique value chain which begins and ends from 'Farmer to Farmer.'"

GRI said the center will illustrate what it calls the GREEN-X Circle: the rubber farmers, the GRI community and the agriculture farmers whose produce are consumed globally.

"We aim to unite farmers by underscoring the fact that farmers connect the world we live today," Mr. Ranasoma said. "The opening of this new rubber collection center is an important step towards building our GREEN-X Circle."

Prabhash Subasinghe, GRI's founder and managing director, said the company aims "to move humanity to make a positive impact on our planet. Our purpose is to inspire greatness."

Colombo-based GRI produces radial and bias-ply ag and construction tires and solid materials-handling tires, with offices in nine countries.