Tense situation in Kantale : Stand-off between sand traders and area residents

Co0lombo (News 1st): A tense situation arose between the area residents of Suriyapura-Thunmodera, Kantale and a group of sand traders in the areas. A group of sand traders engaged in a protest in the Kantale town claimed that a company affiliated to state institutions is mining sand in the guise of constructing a safety bund of the Mahaweli river in Suriyapura, Thunmodera. They claim that the divisional office of the Mahaweli Authority has instructed that the sand be reclaimed and sold and the funds received from selling the sand be used for the renovation activities of the bund. The group who were protesting marched to the location where the security bund is being constructed after they were informed that a group of farmers and the officers attached to the divisional office of the Mahaweli Authority had arrived at the location. A tense situation broke out between the traders and the farmers after the farmers seemed to be in agreement with the decision of the officers of the Mahaweli Authority. The Police and the Police Special Task Force was called to the location to control the situation. According to News 1st correspondent in the area, the crowd had dispersed after a decision was reached to discuss the matters between the two groups in the future.