The Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, C.B. Ratnayake says that a Cess levy will be imposed on Pine timber imports in the future.
This measure is to control pine timber imports in a backdrop where sufficient pine timber is available in the country, he says.
Noting that a host of quality issues has been risen with regard to imported timber, the minister said that a committee would be appointed to regulate timber imports.
Accordingly, imported timber is to be tested at the Timber Corporation's laboratory in the future.
The annual demand for timber in the country is at 1.6 million cubic meters and between 15,000 - 18,000 cubic meters of pine timber is imported annually.
