JCT Chemicals (Pvt) Ltd was formed for the original purpose of extraction and export of crude Pine Resin. The processing of pine resin and the Export of value added products such as Gum Rosin and Turpentine has also been envisaged in the future. The Company was incorporated on 10th February 1999 under registration No. N (PVS) 23027, and same year the project was approved by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka under registration No. 1930/18/03/99.

Pinus Plantations owned by the Forest Department of Ministry of Forestry and Environment situated in Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Ratnapura Districts totaling 1500HA were released to our Company under a 10 year Lease Agreement.

A brief description of the species Pinus from which resin is extracted by a tapping operation similar to rubber tapping is given below. The present operations of the Company have also been highlighted.

Pinus is one of the most widely distributed genera of trees in the northern hemisphere, extending from the polar region to the tropics. The genus is also one of the most widely planted exotics because of its adaptability to the new locations and its large scale use for timber and pulp. Pinus Caribaea being and exotic to Sri Lanka was introduced in late 1940s but systematic planning on large extents was started in late 1960 and in 1970.
Although the major objective of the establishment of this exotic plantation was for the production of fiber for the paper industry, neither the National Paper Corporation nor the state Timber corporation had concrete program for the utilization of pine wood. However even at later stages, it was realized that Pinus has other potential as a non- wood forest product, namely it can be used for tapping for resin which can then be distilled to produce Turpentine and Gum Rosin. Most Pinus species are capable of yielding resin on tapping but it is only economical to do so if the quaintly obtained is sufficient and its quality is acceptable. Both these factors are determined primarily by the species of pinus which is tapped. Pinus Caribaea which is the most common species available in Sri Lanka has both these factors on and economically acceptable level.

Today the forest department has well over 15,000 hectares of matured pinus plantations distributed mainly in the Wet zone districts of the island. The pinus plantations of Badulla, Galle, and Matara and Kalutara districts are already being allocated to three companies and tapping operations are in progress. However, our company is interested in the plantations situated in the Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Ratnapura Districts.