News
Ratnapura, particularly Kiriella, turning into Wild West?
Authorities turning blind eye to mechanised gem mining
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Some powerful businessmen in Ratnapura were engaged in unauthorised mechanised gem mining with the backing of powerful politicians, and their illegal operations caused severe environmental damage and affected the lives of many people, Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) alleged yesterday.
Chamikara told The Island that those businessmen only cared about raking in profits. “However, thousands of people are suffering because they face a serious shortage of water, threat of landslides. There is nothing they can do because politicians and businessmen have suppressed their voice.”
Chamikara alleged that the Police and the Gem and Jewellery Authority had refused to carry out their duties. Officers did not raid the illegal mining sites.
“There has been an increase in the number of licences issued for gem mining. This has encouraged illegal mechanical mining. Gems are expensive but the long-term damage to the environment and the society will be greater.”
Many places along the Ve Ganga were being dug up with backhoes, bulldozers and extractors, and mechanical excavation, was damaging the water sources of the area, he said.
“When the excavated soil is cleaned, a large volume of sediment gets mixed with the river water. Mechanical mining also damages riverbanks, deepens the rivers and affects underground water levels. Because of this, many people are not able to use their wells or to supply water to their farms,” he said.
Chamikara said that there were many adverse social and environmental effects even when mechanical gem mining was done legally. Most of the authorised mechanical mining operations were done in paddy fields, in the Kiriella Divisional Secretariat area, he said. Approval of the Department of Agrarian Services was needed for gem mining in paddy lands and department officials had authorised the mining of some of the most fertile paddy lands in Ratnapura although excavation makes it impossible for these paddy fields to be used again.
“The Gem and Jewellery Authority only allows mechanical mining in sites over an acre. There are many such sites in the district now. Those engaged in this practice, pump out water from the paddy fields to make it easy to dig the mine. However, when they do this, it becomes impossible for nearby paddy fields to operate as well because there is no water. Then there is the depositing sediment in nearby lands when excavated soil is cleaned. This has made hundreds of acres of paddy land uncultivable, but the Department of Agrarian Services has allowed the practice to go on.”
Latest News
Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
News
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.
Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:
“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.
Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.
This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”
The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.
The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.
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“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
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