| The Rubber Committee
of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
which had looked after the interests
of the Rubber Trade since 1891
noticed the need for a separate
body to look into the interests
of the Rubber Industry. A meeting
was held on the 27th of November
1918 when the Colombo Rubber Traders'
Association was formally inaugurated.
The members at this meeting were
well known in the business circles
of Colombo such as M/s. Hayley,
Durrent, Mackwood , Oldfield,
Henry De Mel, John Y Tarbat. The
British Government knighted the
last two gentlemen. The first
Chairman of the CRTA was Mr. J.
Lochore of Carson & Co. Ltd.
The Committee initially had nominees
from the sellers and buyers. The
Brokers joined the committee thereafter.
The representatives on the
CRTA were exclusively European
till Mr. S T L De Soysa from
C W Mackie & Co. Ltd became
the buyer representative on
the CRTA Committee in 1945.
The first rubber sale was
held on 4th of November 1910
before the formation of the
CRTA. The war years saw the
rubber auction being suspended.
The first crepe auction after
the war years was held on
2nd June 1950. The first sheet
auction was held on the 30th
of April 1981, after the termination
of the Rubber/Rice pact with
the Peoples Republic of China.
The First sale of latex by
Auction was held on the 24th
of January 1997. |
