By Franklin R. Satyapalan
The government yesterday declared the site of the second gem deposit (illam) at Kataragama, close to the Thammennawa tank, out of bounds to all prospectors with immediate effect.
The ban would be in force till such time a team of eminent persons carries out a detailed examination of the soil from the said land for its gem content, authorities there said.
The Chief Conservator of Forests H. M. P. Hitisekera said that since both locations of the gem land came under the Forest Conservation Department’s purview they had the moral obligation towards the state to ensure that the country ‘s natural resources were protected and not destroyed or plundered by anyone .Therefore they had to declare the sites out of bounds.
They also had to ensure that matters connected with mining were carried out in an orderly manner in keeping with the country’s laws.
"Mainly, we had to make sure that that there were no loss of valuable revenue," he said.
Hitisekera said that the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment had advised him yesterday to ensure that a team of eminent persons, experts in the field of gemology were at hand to make an assessment of this second land for gem deposits before a decision was taken.
The Chairman of the UPFA led Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha Chanaka Amil Rangana said yesterday that of the 52 blocks of gem land that were available at the first site 49 were publicly auctioned whilst three blocks were kept back for distribution amongst area residents.
"After Kataragama Divisional Secretary T. B. M. Atapattu certified the recommendations made by the Grama Niladharis the three blocks were distributed amongst 43 low income families in the area." he said.
A final decision in connection with the second gem land would be taken at a meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Moneragala District Development Committee and Minister Jagath Pushpakumara with the participation of Moneragala Government Agent S. Pathinathan at Kataragama on Wednesday (29), he said.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=46271
The government yesterday declared the site of the second gem deposit (illam) at Kataragama, close to the Thammennawa tank, out of bounds to all prospectors with immediate effect.
The ban would be in force till such time a team of eminent persons carries out a detailed examination of the soil from the said land for its gem content, authorities there said.
The Chief Conservator of Forests H. M. P. Hitisekera said that since both locations of the gem land came under the Forest Conservation Department’s purview they had the moral obligation towards the state to ensure that the country ‘s natural resources were protected and not destroyed or plundered by anyone .Therefore they had to declare the sites out of bounds.
They also had to ensure that matters connected with mining were carried out in an orderly manner in keeping with the country’s laws.
"Mainly, we had to make sure that that there were no loss of valuable revenue," he said.
Hitisekera said that the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment had advised him yesterday to ensure that a team of eminent persons, experts in the field of gemology were at hand to make an assessment of this second land for gem deposits before a decision was taken.
The Chairman of the UPFA led Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha Chanaka Amil Rangana said yesterday that of the 52 blocks of gem land that were available at the first site 49 were publicly auctioned whilst three blocks were kept back for distribution amongst area residents.
"After Kataragama Divisional Secretary T. B. M. Atapattu certified the recommendations made by the Grama Niladharis the three blocks were distributed amongst 43 low income families in the area." he said.
A final decision in connection with the second gem land would be taken at a meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Moneragala District Development Committee and Minister Jagath Pushpakumara with the participation of Moneragala Government Agent S. Pathinathan at Kataragama on Wednesday (29), he said.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=46271
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