'Large quantities of sand deposits found in North and East'

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Sand deposits have been found in large quantities in areas cleared by the Security Forces in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka. He said they expect to dredge the sand and release it for public use next year.

The deposits have not been used for as many as hundred years contributing to floods in other ares in its vicinity, he said. Ranawaka said so when he called on the Mahanayake Thera of the Malawatte Chapter Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera to pay his obeisance. He said, that the people do not want to use sea sand over some misconception and said, he plans to conduct a programme which will remove this unfounded fear

He also told the Mahanayake Thera, he expects to prohibit all kinds of sand mining in the Kelani river in three years.