Sand cost will rise if mining is stopped : Amaraweera

COLOMBO (News1st): Environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera has cautioned that the cost of sand in Hambantota will increase if sand mining is banned in the area, adding that he is prepared to do so. "If there is a proposal here, I will ban it. There is a problem. After the ban, the price of a cube of sand will increase by about Rs 5,000," Amaraweera said Monday. He made these remarks during a meeting of the Hambantota District Coordinating Committee. The talks had revolved around environmental destruction caused by archaeological excavations in various areas of the district. The Surakimu Sri Lanka Organization also expressed its views regarding the sand mining taking place in the area. "(During the meeting) MP Upul Galappaththi and a politician asked that it (sand mining) must not be stopped," Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero, the chairman of the organization pointed out. He insisted that such attempts destroy the environment in the area.