Transportation of furniture made out of jak:

Call not to relax laws

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Maubime Diyaniyo Organisation requested the Environment Ministry not to relax laws on transportation of furniture made out of jak timber as food value of jak is greater than its commercial value.

Addressing the media at Sausiripaya last week, Maubime Diyaniyo Organisation national organiser Priyanga Kotalawala said the Forest Conservation Ordinance has been amended to relax laws pertaining to the transportation of wooden furniture and sawn timber.

"The amendments do not cover ebony, kalumediriya, nedun, sandalwood and satinwood. Jak should also be added to that list as it has a food value than commercial value," she said.

She said Maubime Diyaniyo Organisation has taken measures to promote food made out of jak.

"There are 34 varieties of jak in Sri Lanka. One variety with less harvest has been found from Sinharaja. It can be used to make furniture.

The annual jak harvest in Sri Lanka is 64,000MT. We use only five to 10 percent from that for consumption. The Maubime Diyaniyo Organisation has found 100 varieties of food made out of jak fruit and promote them among housewives," Kotalawala said.