Destruction of coconut land tackled – Walpola

By Thameenah Razeek

Illegal activity in sand, soil and clay mining, causing the destruction of coconut land, has been successfully tackled by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB).

GSMB Chairman Anura Walpola informed Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera that action taken to prevent such activity has brought progressive results.

Recently, it was revealed that several groups in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts were carrying out a racket of purchasing coconut lands for illegal sand, soil and clay mining. Due to this situation, considerable amount of coconut lands were bulldozed illegally. This led to the situation where the country suffered a low coconut harvest, which eventually caused a rapid increase of coconut prices. Amaraweera has instructed Walpola to immediately suspend the issuance of permits for sand, soil and clay mining in coconut lands. During the past two months, no permits were issued in this regard.