THE BIRTH OF THE PLANTATION INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA
It is difficult to envisage what the history of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) would have been had not Governor Sir Edward Barnes fostered the growing of coffee. Due almost entirely to his personal effort and enthusiasm there grew up an industry which laid the foundations of the prosperity of the Island for, although coffee itself subsequently failed, the indomitable planters built up an even greater industry, Tea, to take its place. Similarly, Governmental enterprise ensured the establishment of the rubber industry when seedling of Hevea Braziliensis were obtained from Kew Gardens and brought to maturity at Heneratgoda. From these few seedlings stemmed the vast rubber plantation industry of South East Asia.
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Bronze Plaque presented to the Planters' Association by H.K. Rutherford Esqr.
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