Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi, says the absence of a national policy on mineral sands had led to operations at an ilmenite mining site near the Wilpattu Sanctuary.
During an observation visit to the site, the minister revealed that the Environmental Pollution Control Unit of Walana had intervened to halt operations at the ilmenite mining site.
Minister Handunneththi said, currently, a national policy on minerals is being formulated in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries, the Board of Investment, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the Ministry of Environment, and other relevant institutions.
He further said that the Sri Lankan government believes that the policy decisions to be implemented in the near future will strengthen the country’s mineral economy.
Parliamentarians from the Puttalam District, officials from the Ministry of Environment, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, and other state officials participated in the observation tour. (Islandnews)
