Illegal sand mining has increased following the Government’s decision to cancel sand transportation licences, despite Sri Lanka being a signatory to protect the environment and with the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development taking place later this month.
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| The long line of lorries transporting sand after the laws were relaxed (above) and Deduru Oya river banks gouged by sand miners (below) |
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Illegal sand miners were arrested in Deduru-Oya on Friday by officers attached to the Kurunegala branch of the Bribery and Corruption Commission under the supervision of Kurunegala Division Police Superintendent Cecil de Silva.
At the time of the arrest three backhoes used for sand mining and large piles of sand have been confiscated while police said that due to the use of heavy machinery, the river banks have been eroded.
Police also found 25 lorries ready to transport sand to various parts of the country. The illegal sand mining was coordinated by a wealthy businessman in the Mawathagama area
Due to the relaxing of sand transport laws sand that is mined illegally can now be lawfully transported throughout the country.
Mahaweli ‘C’zone legal sand miners association secretary S. Kahathuduwa said the purchase of sand cubes from legal miners has rapidly declined due to the low price of sand cubes sold by illegal sand miners.
He said that previously three cubes of sand could be sold for Rs. 10,000 but now it is difficult to sell three cubes for even Rs. 6500.
Mr. Kahathuduwa said as licence holders the legal miners have to pay a royalty as well. |
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