Iron Ore deposit found in Buttala

Shirley Wijesinghe

BUTTALA: Preliminary investigations conducted by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) for Iron Ore deposits in Buttala has found 50 million tons of the deposit per Square Kilometre, said Industrial Development Ministry Additional Secretary R. V. D. Piyathilake.

He said that the Iron Ore deposits were initially observed by the Geological Survey Department (GSD) during the geological mapping programme.Uva Province Chief Minister Wijith Wijemuni Soysa and the Provincial Industrial Minister Dayaratne Bandara visited the area recently with officials where the deposits were located.

The responsibility lie in organising programmes to start the Iron Ore based industries in the country to a Committee comprising representatives from GSMB, Ministry of Science and Technology, Members of the Parliament representing the area, Peradeniya University and Uva Provincial Council, the Additional Secretary added.