The government is planning to issue licenses for sand mining according to an accepted procedureMinister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweerasaid this at a special meeting held recently with the participation of Governor of the Eastern Province Anuradha Yahampath and other government officials.
The meeting was held using ZOOM technology after the Governor intervened to take several decisions to solve the existing environmental problems in the Eastern Province.
The Minister also revealed that despite the planto issue 300 sand mining permits in the Trincomalee District, 1300 such licenses had been issued during the last year. The Minister pointed out that necessary steps will be taken to change this situation in the future.
The Governor of the Eastern Province stated that the main reason for the irregularities in the issuance of licenses is due to the corrupt officials in her province. The governor also said that such officials would bring the government and the country into disrepute with the support of certain politicians.
The best solution for this is to issue licenses through a committee, she said. The meeting also discussed the statement made by Mr. Shanakayan Rasamanikkam, who had recently told parliament, details of the illegal sand mining trade in the Eastern Province.
Nevertheless,the Minister emphasized that sand has not been exported to any foreign country. He further stated that the country does not have enough sand deposits to meet the country’s demand..
The meeting was attended by officials representing the Environment Authority, the Forest Department, the Geology and Mining Bureau and the Chief Secretary of the Eastern Province, Trincomalee and the BatticaloaDistrict Secretaries and the Secretary to the Governor.
