Rubber Research Institute – Polgahawela

Polgahawela Substation (Intermediate Low Country) located in the Kurunegala District was established only in 2004 in about 40ha given by the Ministry of Plantation Industries even without a request. The location is not very suitable to grow any crop and during the usual prolonged droughts periods even rubber trees perish. About 400 trees died in 2016 from rubber clearings aged 4-11 years.

Anyhow 22.5ha of rubber established in 2005 and 2006 are tapped at present giving an average yield of 1100 kg/h/yr. A processing centre was established in 2013, but during the dry months of the year tapping and processing of rubber are stopped.