Crackdown on sand mining at coconut estates

COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka's environment minister has ordered a crackdown on sand mining at coconut estates in the country's North Western Province. As part of the move, Mahinda Amaraweera, the environment minister, had ordered the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) to suspend permits issued for sand mining at these locations. He had pointed out that coconut cultivation has been severely affected due to sand mining. Amraweera has also called for a swift report from the GSMB on illegal sand mining taking place at the Hada Oya in Ampara. Steps have been taken to ramp up raids with the assistance of the police and its Special Task Force to counter sand mining, GSMB chairman Anura Walpola said.