Two illegal sand mining rackets raided

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Police arrested six people for engaging in illegal sand mining in the Malwathu Oya. The raid was carried out by personnel attached to the Thanthrimale entrance of the Wilpattu National Park. Our correspondent in the area noted that the suspects were mining sand in the Northern area of Wilpattu and two tractors were seized along with the suspects. The suspects are to be produced before the Anuradhapura Magistrate's Court. Meanwhile, police arrested another group of illegal sand miners from the forest reserve adjacent to the Mahaweli river. Our correspondent in the area noted that the police received intel on a group of around 40 people who were engaged in illegal mining adding that the illegal sand mining operations had adverse effects on the bridge set across the Mahaweli river in the area.