Twenty held over illegal sand mining in Valaichchenai

The Valaichchenai Range Forest Officers along with the Special Task Force (STF) arrested 20 persons who engaged in illegal sand mining along with six tractors in the Kiran Secretariat Division on January 21.

The suspects from Oddamavadi, Valaichchenai, and Poththanai in the Kudumbimalai forest area were engaged in these illegal activities in the Maduru Oya and Kilachchimadu area in a plot of land belonging to the Range Forest Department, Valaichchenai.

Valaichchenai Range Forest Officer S. Thanikasalam said illegal sand mining is common in the Kiran area and the department is determined to stop it. Batticaloa District Forest Officers Pranith Suraweera and Additional District Forest Officer M.A. Jayah participated in the raid.