Residents of the Trincomalee district have not yet been given priority in issuing sand mining permits. Therefore, the Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GS&MB) to give priority to the people living in sand mining villages in Trincomalee in the future when issuing permits for sand mining.
Recently, the Minister paid an official visit to Trincomalee to inquire into sand mining and other environmental issues. A discussion on sand mining was held at the District Secretariat. In order to eradicate poverty in the villages, the benefits of the natural resources available in the village should be given to the villagers.
Therefore, from now on, priority should be given to the permanent residents of the villages, especially in the Trincomalee District, in issuing sand permits.
The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau should take necessary action in this regard.
The people of the village should be given the right to the resources of the village. No villager wants to see people from the outlying areas plunder their village resources.
The other thing is that there is some truth in media reports that there is a great deal of environmental damage in the Trincomalee district.
The situation is very serious, especially with regard to the filling of lagoons. Lagoon filling is also done in other areas. This work is done using soil removed from the tanks. Therefore, the law should be enforced against such persons irrespective of their rank.
Some of our officials are also promoting these activities. We have information about that. So we want to punish some of our officers who help to destroy the environment, regardless of rank. Take action. I would like to remind you that natural resources should be used sparingly. Environmental resources are limited. We do not have infinite resources. Therefore, the available resources should be managed, the Minister said.
Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe and officials from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau were also present on the occasion.
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