Destruction of sandalwood in Jaffna: Another ill-effect of war

Although sandalwood is known to grow well in the montane areas of the intermediate climatic zone of Sri Lanka, there were many evidences that it grows in the driest areas of the country - Jaffna. Jaffna is located in the flat lands of the dry zone in the very northern part of Sri Lanka and it has suffered due to the war prevailed over 25 years. 

In a recent visit, it was surprising to see the value of sandalwood written on the top of a wall of an abandoned and half-ruined Hindu temple as "EMULSION OF SANDALWOOD PASTE ENGULFS HARMFUL ORGANISMS ON SKIN" in both native Jaffna language (Tamil) and English.

When inquiring about the presence of sandalwood after seen this temple, it was possible to locate an area in Jaffna where sandalwood has grown successfully. Later on the visit to those lands, it was unfortunate to discover that almost all large-diameter sandalwood trees were felled and burnt for land clearance by the owners, not knowing the real value of it. On the field visit to those lands, it was, however, possible to see a few small-diameter sandalwood trees are growing. There is also a tendency of cutting those trees also for land clearances for growing other crops. 

Moreover, it was possible to know that an entire sandalwood plantation established in Mullathivu was bulldozered by armed forces to clear the landmines.