Illicit gem miners nabbed in Mahaweli reserve

Ridma Dissanayake

Five illegal gem miners in the Mahaweli reserve in Bagawanthalawa were arrested by the STF led by SI Perera yesterday.

The STF took into custody equipment used for gem mining. The suspects and the equipment were handed over to Bagawanthalawa Police. The suspects are residents of Bagawanthalawa. Meanwhile, three persons engaged in illegal sand mining in the Kelani river at Ranala were arrested by the STF.

A tipper and equipment used for sand mining were taken into custody. Meanwhile, a man transporting sand in a tipper without a licence in the Hambantota district was arrested by the STF. The suspect is a resident of Hambantota. A man possessing 235 grams of ganja at the Kurunagala-Dambulla road near the Welagedara stadium was also taken into custody.