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.