Minister to ban Teak exports

COLOMBO: Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has drawn his attention towards imposing a ban on the export of Teak. The Minister has found that Teak which is a valuable resource is being exported by certain parties including the State Timber Corporation saying there is excess production.

Ranawaka said the State Timber Corporation had been engaged in the export of Teak logs and timber for a long period even though it had no right to engage in this export trade under its present legal framework. Even through it is ilegal to export Teak he had to sanction the export of 4 container loads recently as the corporation was in the process of executing an export order.

However, no more teak exports will be allowed in future.

An Environment and Natural Resources Ministry release said the Forest Conservation Department too had sold teak to private institutions for export citing an excess of production.

The Minister who has directed officials to take immediate measures to ban all exports of Teak has appointed a committee headed by his Ministry Secretary to find out the validity of the excess production claimed by consulting industrialists and other persons and submit a report to him within 3 days.