National Gem and Jewellery Authority:

Toll free number to inform malpractice

Bandara Athapattu

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority has introduced a toll free direct contact number 0715235235 to provide information on illegal mining as a preventive method to the growing problem of unauthorized mining due to which a number of environmental hazards have been reported in the recent past, the authority announced.

In addition, the authority has expedited islandwide raids to crack down on illegal miners who pose a threat to the environment.

The new system was introduced on the directives of Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayanth who directly got involved in implementing the programme.

Accordingly, the public can forward complaints on any suspicious activities of illegal mining, dysfunction of officials and fraud or malpractices of the authority on the 24 hour toll free number.

Apart from complaints, suggestions or proposals are also welcome, the authority said.