Satyagraha in Madampe against sand mining racket

COLOMBO (News1st): The Sathyagraha campaign launched against a sand mining racket in Madampe entered its 5th day in Chilaw on Wednesday. It has been three days since the three protestors involved in the Satyagraha campaign launched a hunger fast in support of this cause. Residents of areas surrounding Madampe in Chilaw also expressed their support towards the fast today. Vehicular movement along the Kuliyapitiya-Madampe main road was disrupted for more than two hours due to the demonstration. The protesters then marched to the Chilaw Pradeshiya Sabha this afternoon calling on authorities to put an end to the sand mining racket. They then moved towards the Madampe Divisional Secretariat. Enraged protestors obstructed employees attached to the Madampe Divisional Secretariat from leaving the building. They urged the authority to cancel the permits issued for sand mining in the area. Meanwhile, the hunger fast launched by three protestors was called off this afternoon. The three individuals were taken to the Chilaw and Madampe hospitals in ambulances. The fast was called off following a telephone call received from the environment minister. The officer in charge of the Madampe Police Station informed the protestors that any individual would be allowed to mine soil or sand in the area until Wednesday.