The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment
The Minister tabled a written answer stating that a Geological Survey and Mines Bureau inspection found only small-scale tractor-based sand mining on the relevant coastal belt, which ceased after local opposition, with no clear evidence of large-scale illegal ilmenite mining or supply to processing facilities. He noted that two mineral sand mining licences had been issued to a private company for the Vakarai area but no mining occurred under them and they expired on 8 December 2024. The answer further stated that no current health, livelihood, or drinking-water impacts had been observed, and that any future licensed activity would be subject to recommendations from relevant authorities, while illegal mineral activities are addressed under the Mines and Minerals Act through enforcement by Police, the STF, and other forces as needed.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer.
¶ 02 Answer tabled:
¶ 03 (a) (i) According to a field inspection conducted by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau from 2025.01.08 to 2025.01.09, a small-scale sand mining activity had taken place along that coastal belt using a tractor. There was strong opposition from local residents, and therefore illegal mining has not continued. It has not been possible to ascertain for what purpose and to which area the mined sand was transported.
¶ 04 Ilmenite is an industrial mineral which, after extraction, must necessarily be sent to a processing facility; without such processing it cannot be utilized in Sri Lanka. There is no record of this mineral being supplied to any processing facility. Hence, there is no clear evidence that large-scale illegal mining has taken place.
¶ 05 However, mineral sand mining licenses bearing Nos. IML/A/HO/8489 and IML/A/HO/8490 have been issued to a private company for mineral sand removal along this coast, though no mining has been carried out under these licenses. The validity period of these licenses has expired as of 2024.12.08.
¶ 06 License details: - DS Division: Vakarai (Koralaipattu North) - GN Divisions: [As per license records] - Valid from: 2014.12.09 to 2024.12.08 - IML/A/HO/8489 - IML/A/HO/8490
¶ 07 (ii) In discussions with residents, it has not currently been observed that any mining activity has caused issues affecting health, livelihoods, or drinking water. Should such issues arise in future under any license now or hereafter issued, recommendations will be obtained from the relevant departments and institutions and decisions taken regarding the operation of the mining license accordingly.
¶ 08 (b) In terms of Section 28 of the Mines and Minerals Act, No. 33 of 1992 as amended by Act No. 66 of 2009, mining, transport, trade, exploration, export and processing of minerals must be carried out only under the authority of a license issued by the Bureau; otherwise, it is illegal. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Police and the Special Task Force, with support from the Armed Forces as necessary, conduct raids to curb illegal mining.
¶ 09 (c) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 25 February 2025 ·No. 1741258607035810 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 25 February 2025. No. 1741258607035810. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/26582