The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development
On behalf of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, figures were provided on gem-mining permits issued by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority from 2020 to 2024, rising from 4,665 in 2020 to 7,897 in 2024, with a peak of 8,286 in 2023. For Badulla District, 1,434 licensed gem mines were reported for 2021-2024 across DS Divisions, with the highest numbers in Lunugala, Haldummulla and Passara, and active mines increasing from 181 in 2021 to 434 by end-2024. It was also stated that lists of mines properly closed and backfilled according to standards for 2020-2024, including licensee and site details, have been compiled and are available with the Authority.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, I provide the answer.
¶ 02 (a) (i) Number of gem-mining permits issued by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA):
¶ 03 - 2020: 4,665 - 2021: 4,434 - 2022: 5,322 - 2023: 8,286 - 2024: 7,897
¶ 04 (ii) Number of licensed gem mines in Badulla District by Divisional Secretary’s Division (DS Division), for 2021-2024 (data for 2020 is not available due to the legacy IT system and sub-permits not being traceable by DS Division):
¶ 05 - Badulla: 24 - Lunugala: 414 - Bandarawela: 33 - Ella: 15 - Haldummulla: 286 - Ridimaliyadda: 114 - Hali Ela: 17 - Sorabora/Soranthota: 13 - Haputale: 60 - Mahiyanganaya: 12 - Meegahakivula: 77 - Passara: 320 - Uva Paranagama: 3 - Welimada: 34 - Kandeketiya: 8
¶ 06 Total (2021-2024): 1,434
¶ 07 As of 2021 there were 181 active mines in the district; by end-2024 there were 434. The highest concentrations are in Lunugala, Haldummulla, and Passara DS Divisions.
¶ 08 (iii) and (iv) Lists of mines that have been properly closed and backfilled in accordance with standards for 2020-2021 and 2022-2024 have been compiled, with specific licensee names, DS Divisions, land parcel descriptions, and file numbers (examples include sites in Passara, Lunugala, Meegahakivula, Ridimaliyadda, Haldummulla, etc.). These detailed lists are available with the Authority.
¶ 09 (b) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Monday, 3 March 2025 ·No. 1742268353096939 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe - Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 3 March 2025. No. 1742268353096939. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/18324