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Army and Police personnel deployed:
Special security to gem mine
Disna MUDALIGE
Special security has been provided to the gem mine discovered in
Thammennawa area in Kataragama, said National Gem and Jewellery
Authority Director General Nimal Bandara.
He said that Army and Police personnel have been deployed to provide
security to this land belonging to the Forest Conservation Department.
The Road Development Authority has obtained a pile of soil necessary
to widen the Kataragama-Lunugamvehera road under the Maga Neguma project
from this land. Residents of the area have discovered gems in this pile.
With this discovery, there had been an agitation among people looking
for gems in this land.
As soon as this incident was reported, Environment Minister Anura
Priyadarshana Yapa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa have
intervened to provide necessary security to this land.
The court has declared this area a prohibited zone with effect from
last Thursday. He also said that the Authority has planned to divide and
auction this piece of land to enable more people to engage in legal gem
mining. The auction will be held on February 24 at the Kataragama
Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium at 10am. |
