Industrial estates to boost wooden furniture industry

Wood and wood based Industrial estates will be set up in Buttala and Bibile to boost the wooden furniture industry. This will be done by the Ministry of Industrial Development at the request of Uva Province Chief Minister Wijithamuni De Soyza.

The ministry has earmarked a 50-acre block of land in Buttala and in the first phase work will start on 25 acres. At present the ministry is in the process of aquring the land from the Department of Wildlife. Once we get the land we will provide the infastructure including the access roads, water, electricity and telecommunication facilities as well, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Industrial Development.

At present wood is transported to Moratuwa, the hub of the furniture industry from Moneragala, Wellawaya and Bibile. The furniture is manufactured in Moratuwa and then transported all over the country including the areas where the timber was purchased.

Around 250 lorryloads of timber come to Moratuwa daily from Moneragala, Wellawaya and Bibile. The wood based industrial estates in Buttala and Bibile will not only give a boost to the furniture industry but will also eliminate unnecessary costs, provide employment to the rural youth and help realise the dreams of the Mahinda Chintana by taking industries to rural areas.

A meeting attended by Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama and high officials from Sri Lanka Telecom, Wildlife Department and Environment Ministry was held in Buttala recently. Timber fellers said that they find it difficult to obtain permits to fell trees.

It was decided to launch a program to plant a tree for every tree cut, to protect the environment for future generations.