Over 190 gem miners' licences suspended

The licences of 197 gem miners in the Ratnapura district who used backhoe and sucker machines were suspended, an official of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) told the Daily News.

He said that investigations are on to find out whether they had violated NGJA conditions.

He said that their licences will be cancelled if found guilty.

The officials also said that the NGJA has not issued any new licence for gem mining with the use of backhoe machines.

This decision was taken as a result of the out cry in Paradise Estate in Kuruwita where a number of cracks appeared in houses and ground water levels had receded.

The official said that 60 gem miners whose licences were suspended were allowed to use backhoes only to wash gem gravels which had already be taken out.

"We have to be fair by the gem miners as well, since they have spent millions for gem mining", the official said.

DM