Timber supply under STC control soon

BY CHAMIKARA Weerasinghe

THE harvesting, processing and marketing of timber such as black ebony, satin, Kumbuk (Terminalia Gabara) and Nedun will come under the strict control of the State Timber Corporation (STC) shortly in keeping with the Government's policy to protect State-owned natural forests and forest cultivations.

STC Chairman, S.A. Premaratne said he had directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest Department, Wildlife Conservation Department and the Central Environment Authority in this regard.

Addressing Environment Ministry officials and STC workers at Sampathpaya yesterday, the STC Chairman said he planned to develop the State timber sector as a self-sustaining industry in Sri Lanka.

The officials discussed the Government's plans and action to develop the State timber sector under the Mahinda Chinthana.

Environment Agriculture, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Ministry Secretary Ravi Jayalath Dissanayaka and Conservator General of Forests M.P. Sarath Fernando were present. Premaratne said the task of completing the Government's accelerated plan for developing the State timber sector under the Mahinda Chintana was before him.

"We have to complete it within three years as against the corporation's five year plan," he said.

Steps will be taken to set up a timber export centre and a training institute for timber under the envisaged programme, he said.

"We plan to train between 100 to 200 youth in timber crafts on a yearly basis using the training centre. They will be known as timber craftsmen in the near future opening self employment avenues," Premaratne said.

"We plan to export Sri Lankan furniture with wood carvings styled on Sri Lanka's traditional timber craft, which has a good demand in foreign markets," he said.

Sirisena pledged that the STC will not be privatised.

He said: "Steps will be taken to strengthen Government institutions under the Mahinda Chinthana. Our position is clear in this respect. We will not sell State institutions to private business operators."

The minister solicited employees' support to minimise corruption at the STC to move forward its plans.

He had appointed the Ministry Director of Inquiries to investigate corruption at the STC with Cabinet approval.

He requested STC Trade Unions to place the corporation above any other interest adding that it was the duty of the Trade Unions to protect the Corporation first.

"If an employee was denied justice by the Board of Directors, TU representatives and other ministry officials, I am prepared to intervene in such matters," he said.