'End of terror paves way for sand deposit utilization'

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The end of LTTE terrorism created an opportunity to harness mineral sand deposits in Pulmudai, State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister Dayashritha Tissera said.

The minister was addressing a ceremony to distribute appointment letters, service permanent letters and job promotion letters to 130 employees at the Pulmudai Mineral Sands Corporation recently.

The minister said the utilization of the sand deposits will bring foreign exchange to the country, which Sri Lanka lost in the past 30 years.

"It will be a great aid to strengthen the country's economy," he said.

Minister Tissera and Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne provided vehicles worth Rs 36 million for the Mineral Sands Corporation. Rs 1,000,000 was given to a mosque for repair and Rs 400,000 to the Kuchchaweli Pradeshiya Sabha to establish street lamps.

The minister and the deputy minister also provided financial assistance for nine employees of the Mineral Sands Corporation to build houses.

Mineral Sands Corporation executive director Dishan Gunasekara and Corporation's instructor S.A. Nandadeva participated.