Parliament

'No permit needed for timber transport for furniture'

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1 pm yesterday.

After presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up several regulations under the Forest Conservation Ordinance for debate.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa:

We intend to relax only the regulations pertaining to transportation of timber. This is done to help the construction boom. The laws and regulations intended against illicit timber transporters would remain the same. Certain types of timber could not be transported without permits.

The conditions of obtaining prior permission are applicable not only to the private transporters but also to the Timber Corporation. The existing laws do not permit the transport of timber for furniture. We decided to relax these regulations considering requests from the public. Accordingly, the people need not obtain permits to transport timber meant for furniture.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP):

Government members make contradictory statements on timber transportation from time to time. Some members said permits are not needed to cut trees. Some others said permits are necessary to fell trees. This has confused the people.

Deputy Transport Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake:

This ordinance is timely. Our forest areas have reduced to 29 percent. There was a time, trees were felled without a limit. The government will not allow anyone to cut trees and transport timber illegally. We must make sure that forests are protected.

The government is sensitive for the needs of the people. That is why several regulations were relaxed with regard to timber and furniture transportation. We want to increase the green cover in the country. That is why we encourage the people to grow plants in their home gardens. Saplings are provided for the people who are willing to plant trees.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA)

It is reported that some politicians are engaged in the illegal timber business. Many offenses have been reported with regard to timber transportation. The government should impose strict laws to prevent these illegal activities. Removal of regulations would encourage illegal timber transportation. The government must increase the number of checkpoints to inspect timber transportation. Raids should be intensified.

It is reported that most illegal activities are happening in urban areas.

Janaka Wakkumbura (UPFA):

The people face problems in transporting timber and furniture that are brought from timber stores in the town.

Thalatha Athukorala takes the Chair.

A person cannot cut a tree that he planted in his home garden to take timber to construct his house. So, this motion in timely. The minister should pay his attention to providing provisions for school development committees to use the timber of trees planted by students, to construct school buildings if they need rather than giving them to the Timber Corporation.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa:

We attend to that matter too.

Ranjan Ramanayake (UNP):

There are sub forests in our district. Kotakethana is one. Around 14 were killed that areas at various occasions. Police posts have also been set up there.

Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa:

Investigations have been initiated on them. Still they are in progress.

Social Service Minister Felix Perera:

There is a forest cover of 22 percent. There is a 27 percent of open forests. However, trees are being felled today. Even, during the late Minister Gamini Dissanayake's period, not only trees and forests, even temples, Kovils and mosques were sent underwater in reservoirs for development.

We need a good forest cover to promote eco-tourism.

S. Sritharan (TNA)

The people in our area are facing a revere drought. So they cannot engage in cultivation.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair

The forest cover in our area is reducing due to the activities of the forces. Trees are cut down in the Ampalan, Pokkanai and Murugandy areas. The people cannot go to their villages. There are no trees in their villages.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): Sri Lanka is at the fourth place in the global list of deforestation. So, the nation supports this negative trend. The government should take measures to increase the forest cover. Strict rules should be imposed on the illicit felling of trees. Illegal timber businesses are carried out with the blessings of the Police and politicians.

Gayantha Karunathileka takes the Chair.

Radhakrishnan (UPFA): The forest cover has dwindled due to reasons of increasing population, agricultural activities and industrial activities. Water resources have been affected by the felling of trees.

A H M Azwer (UPFA): The transport of timber is essential for commercial and domestic purposes. Difficulties faced by those who are engaged in the timber business, especially in Moratuwa area, have been eased with new regulations on timber transportation. We should cultivate coconut, Palmyra and coco trees. We must initiate a scheme of reforestation in the North and East. The people who had been chased away by LTTE terrorists have come back to their original places and commenced the Palmyra cultivation.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa: We have not given permission to construct anything in the Sinharaja forest. We can prevent illegal activities by imposing strict laws. The forest cover has reduced to 20 percent due to man made activities. I thank all members of Parliament who assisted to pass regulations.

At adjournment

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha yesterday stated that the ministry has directed to audit all the purchase of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation from 2011 August to July this year to the Auditor General. He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Tissa Attanayake.

Tissa Attanayake (UNP): Corruptions are rampant in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. This is pathetic situation.

A number of buses, cranes rail compartment have broken due to substandard diesel. Low quality air craft fuel has also been imported. This is a great loss to the nation.

But no action has been taken against the company which imported low quality aircraft fuel. It has been proved that there are officials in the corporation, who work against the instruction of the minister. No action has been taken against those who were responsible for importing substandard petrol and diesel.

John Amaratunga (UNP): The minister should be responsible for the import of substandard diesel.

Air crafts arriving in Sri Lanka do not purchase our fuel due to low quality. Work of the Colombo Port was affected due to the use of substandard diesel.

This has happened for the fourth time. The government should not let it happen again. We condemn this kind of acts.

Shantha Bandara (UPFA): The government has paid Rs. 28 million as compensation for the people whose vehicles were broken down due to the use of substandard petrol. We have taken action to conduct investigations with regard to the import of substandard diesel. We have appointed a committee to probe the issue. We will take stern action against the responsible parties following the committee recommendations. The tender was granted by the procurement committee. The Minister and the Deputy Minister were not involved in the decisions taken by the procurement committee.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP):

Shantha Bandara takes the Chair.

Now, substandard oil is imported. Cars, vans, buses and ships would be safe if their engines stopped. But what will happen if the same happens to aircraft. Corruption is everywhere. I think the minister has no powers. Today, a litre of petrol could be imported at Rs 79.00. It is sold at Rs 155.00

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha: This imported 20,000 tons of fuel was proved to be in conformity with the specifications, at two tests. However, complaints were made by government institutions first. Affected were the modern vehicles. Samples of fuel were sent to overseas laboratories to find out if there were any different type of issue.

This particular company was blacklisted sometime back. However, only this company agreed to procure low suffer furnace oil to the Keravalapitiya Power Plant during the drought. So the director board of the CPC decided to allow it to procure oil.

It is advised to use super petrol or diesel in modern vehicles.

Otherwise, various complications could appear. However, we have decided to update the specifications of fuel.

We have taken measures to take actions against the responsible officers in all previous incidents. They are to be charged. We have paid Rs 28 million to 1,088 persons as compensation.

We have directed the transactions to be audited by the Auditor General. But the normal procedure is to audit at the end of the year. If it is done so, years will be taken to take actions against the culprits. Now, it can be taken before the COPE committee. There were complaints that fuel, when transported, is added with other fuel on their way. There are more than 200 private bowsers that transport fuel. A special equipment will be connected to these vehicles to monitor over a special computer system.

The House was adjourned until 1 pm today.

Z-score issue: Justice for all

Higher Education Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake yesterday stated that the government would not take any measure to cause injustice to any student based on the z-score issue.

He made this observation in response to a special statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament under standing order 23 (2).The Deputy Minister said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed the authorities to find a solution without causing injustice to any student.

He said the Vice Chancellors of all universities have discussed the issue.

The Deputy Minister said around 6,000 to 8,000 students have faced difficulties due to the change of the z-score. He said solutions should be taken in line with the ruling issued by the Supreme Court.

The Opposition Leader stated that there was no sign of reaching a solution to the matter. Students have fallen frying pan into the fire.

Report on substandard oil issue within two weeks

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha yesterday stated that the three member committee report on the substandard oil issue would be submitted within two weeks.

The minister said in Parliament that the interim report on the issue would be submitted at the end of this week.

The minister stated that though fuel comes within specifications, there could be different types of fuel within the same specifications.

Sometimes, one such kind could cause a problematic situation.

However, he said that the samples of fuel have been sent to laboratories in Europe and Middle East for tests.

The minister said that a three member committee has been appointed to function, when the reports of the tests are received.

He said steps have been taken to set up a technical committee in this connection and to update the specifications of fuel to be imported.

Minister Premajayantha stated that the laboratories meant to check fuel samples will be updated.

He said it has been directed to audit the purchase and stock controls made between 2011 August to July 31, 2012 by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to the Auditor General.

Minister Premajayantha was responding to a special statement made by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake under standing order 23 (2).