COLOMBO (News1st): Laws against those involved in environmental destruction would be toughened, environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera has said.

“We hope to toughen laws of the central environment authority, and extend the term of imprisonment for those who harm the environment,” the minister said on Saturday.

He pointed out that sand mining has become a major concern to the public.

“…we have instructed officials to reintroduce the sand corridor method, give priority on a district basis and to provide sand at a fair price,” Amaraweera noted.

He added that an app would be introduced in future to allow consumers to purchase sand directly from the seller, without an intermediary.

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