Attached
Imported sawnwood and panel prbducts have become popular
in S~i Lanka recently, especially around Colombo due to
scarcity of local good quality timber. Their availability
in varying sizes and quantity, the comparatively low price
and lllfl t ase of transport wi th relatively free movement
has resulted in its widespread use both in construction and
furniture. Various technical and anatomical properties
of imported wood evaluated in the study revealed that they
were of an acceptable quality.
Sawn timbers are imported mainly from Malaysia and lesser
quantity from Hongkong, South africa, New Zealand, Australia
and Indonesia. Major species imported are Kempas, Tualang,
Balnu, Resak, Keledang, Kulim, Keruing, Bitis etc. Most
timber merchants sell these species as Kempas, but some
species are better than Kempas and some have properties
inferior than Kempas. Density of these species ranges
f rom 1.18 to 0.61 g/cm3.
Major panel products imported to Sri Lanka are plywood,
mediulIIdonsity fibreboards, particle boards, and cement
bonded boards. They are mainly imported from Malaysia,
South afrj.ca, and India. According to the survey there
are iJl:ferlorquality MDF but these are low in prices.
Users ulno use them only in suitable places. Howover almost all the imports of MDF are acceptable in
quality in terms of density. Density ranges from 0.71
to 0.80 g/cmJ. According to the quality analysis, it is
cLoar that MDF with lower density and higher thickness
aro Llle best in quality.
