Illicit sand mining in state owned lands in Hambantota District coming under the purview of Mahaweli Authority headed by the President has continued unabated since 2016, official sources revealed.
As such, due to illegally mining an area of about 6 acres to a depth of 30 feet, the environment had been affected detrimentally whilst causing the Government to sustain a financial loss of Rs. 23 million,an audit inspection revealed.
Unauthorized Soil Mining was taking place at a Government-owned land belonging to the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka and located in the Police division of Angunakolapelassa in Hambanthota district.
05 complaints had been made by the villagers from time to time to the Divisional Manager of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, and the Regional Mining Engineer of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau.
The said institutions had not produced the culprits before the Court by conducting investigations properly in that connection.
Despite the availability of adequate evidence with respect to the violation of conditions in the mining licenses, and breaching the provisions of Mines and Minerals Act, No. 33 of 1992 and Offences against Public Property Act, No. 12 of 1982, no action had been taken to produce the responsible license holder before the Court.
As such, due to illegally mining an area of about 6 acres to a depth of 30 feet, the environment had been affected detrimentally whilst causing the Government to sustain a financial loss of Rs. 23 million.
The audit query issued to the Inspector General of Police in that connection on 13 December 2017, was not replied even up to 30 June 2018.
(LI)