COLOMBO: The Customs today donated a stock of forfeited sandalwood to the Sri Lanka Ayrvedic Drugs Corporation, a press release by the Sri Lanka Customs stated.
The Biodiversity Cultural and National Heritage Protection Branch of Sri Lanka Customs donated sandalwood timber logs to the Corporation at the latter’s premises at No. 94, Old Kottawa Road, Navinna, Maharagama.
The event was attended by Customs Director General W. A. Chulananda Perera, Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation Chairman Lal Samarasinghe and officials.
Sandalwood logs weighing nearly half a metric ton was valued at Rs. two million. Customs officials deployed at the Airport, Harbour and other exit points detected illegal sandalwood consignment when attempting to export them by concealing in passenger baggage, courier cargo and in containerised.
This is a remarkable event held between two government institutes to protect revenue of the government. Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation manufactures drugs for local use at the cost of government and they mostly find difficulties in getting right raw material on right time.
Sri Lanka Customs with their work in protecting the fauna and flora of Sri Lanka, have forfeited a large haul of sandalwood by foiling smuggling attempts.
This donation of sandalwood help an uninterrupted production of drugs by the Corporation, It will also benefit the government to save money spent on imported raw materials. Not only the government but also the consumer is benefited through this donation by getting medicine on right time at a reasonable price.
