Sri Lanka’s Rubber Development Department, together with the EU-funded Green Recovery Facility, recently convened a stakeholder workshop in Colombo bringing together around 80 participants from across the rubber industry to plan a capacity-building programme on emerging international sustainability requirements.

The consultation brought together government agencies, plantation companies, smallholder organisations, processors, exporters, manufacturers, industry bodies and development partners.

Implemented by Expertise France under the EU Global Gateway strategy, the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve Sri Lanka’s preparedness for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and to strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of the rubber sector.

Opening the session, Plantation and Community Infrastructure Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe stressed the need for the industry to remain competitive while adapting to evolving global sustainability standards and opportunities in international markets.

Discussions focused on current awareness and compliance levels related to the EUDR, the role of public institutions in supporting implementation, international best practices, traceability systems, and key training needs across the rubber value chain.

Findings from the workshop will guide the design of a capacity-building programme, including a three-and-a-half-day Training of Trainers course and targeted stakeholder training sessions. Around 280 participants across the sector are expected to be trained as part of the initiative.