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SOC on Environment discusses the progress of implementation of the recommendations mentioned in the report submitted to the Parliament with regard to the Local Pinus Timber Promotion

The consideration of the progress of the implementation of the recommendations mentioned in the committee report with regard to the Local Pinus Timber Promotion presented to Parliament by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development on December 12, 2023, took place in that committee.

This was considered when the said Sectoral Oversight Committee met in Parliament recently (08) under the chairmanship of Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma, Member of Parliament.

Officials representing Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Central Environment Authority, Sri Lanka Customs, Department of Forest Conservation, Department of Wildlife Conservation, State Timber Corporation and Pines Import and Export Companies were present in this committee meeting.

Also, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation Hon. Pavitra Vanniarachchi, participated in this committee.

Explaining the Committee report Chair Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma mentioned that pine timber is imported into Sri Lanka in the form of pine sawn timber and ceiling timber worth 05 million USD annually. He pointed out that due to this, the activity of local wood mills is reduced and because of this, nobody buys pine trees in the current commercial forestry in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, in this report, it has been shown that the forest conservation department should take measures for these issues by using the pine wood reserve in this country.

The Chairman of the Timber Industry Association, who was present at the committee, said that it is important to prepare a national policy regarding the production of pine wood.

Thus, the opinions of the respective parties were obtained at length and the ability to implement the recommendations of this report was discussed. Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation who was present, pointed out that it is appropriate to hold a debate in Parliament on the matters included in this report.

Accordingly, the Committee made recommendations to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation to refer the report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee for a debate in the Parliament, as a solution to the shortage of pine wood currently in the market, to issue the currently approved pine wood tender within a week, to work according to an agreed plan between the Forest Department and the Land Reform Commission regarding the felling of pine wood, to take a policy decision so that the businessman can continue to supply pine wood at a low cost by increasing the amount of pine wood released to the market, and to invite open tenders in issuing wood tenders by the State Timber Corporation.

Members of Parliament Hon. Jayantha Katagoda, Hon. Thushara Indunil Amarasena and Hon. Tilak Rajapaksa also participated in this committee meeting.

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