Issuance of inland sand mining permits temporarily suspended

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday (13) instructed the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau to temporarily suspend the issuance of inland sand mining permits.

 

The Minister said that there were reports of massive environmental damage due to inland sand mining and that the village of Walewatta in Ambalantota itself had been completely destroyed due to inland sand mining. It has also been observed that cultivable paddy lands as well as economically cultivated lands such as coconut lands have been destroyed due to inland sand mining.

 

Therefore, it is proposed to deploy a special team by the GSMB to conduct a comprehensive investigation and obtain a report and to decide on the next steps based on the recommendations of that investigation report. Until then, the Minister instructed to take steps to temporarily suspend the issuance of inland sand mining permits.

 

The village of Walewatta has become like a dead village due to inland sand mining. Homes are over. The coconut trees and Jack trees has fell on the ground. People have left the whole village. It has been decided to rehabilitate Walewatta village under the Surakimu Ganga program. It costs is very high. Therefore, I have directed the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau to immediately suspend the issuance of mining permits island wide, ”Minister  said.

 

Some people claim to be gem miners and obtain permits to carry out inland sand mining. Gem mining permits are not issued by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. However, there is a racket of mining and selling inland sand using licenses obtained from another institution. Due to this a large number of cultivable lands as well as cultivated lands in some parts of the island have been severely damaged.

 

He also said that due to the non-rehabilitation of these places, a huge environmental damage has been caused.