Who will feed these people? By Punyadasa Dammulla
Govipalagodage Priyantha (33) who has been engaged in sand mining from the time he left school said, "We live by sand mining. I am married and I have one child. Now I cannot do any other job. We have got used to this. Those days there were enough sand. We did sand mining without any obstacles. Now permits are not being issued for it. The government officials don't think of us, and our only request to the authorities is to see that justice is done to innocent people like us".
K. Piyathilaka, another person who has been engaged in sand mining, said that "now we are not getting permits. But sometimes we take sand secretly. We know that it is illegal. But what can we do. We don't have any other alternatives. We don't know at what time the police will raid us. They even destroy our boats. They take us to courts and we are fined very heavily. We, who have been engaged in sad mining activities, have now fallen from the frying pan to the fire. If the authorities do not ensure that justice is done to us, we have no alternative but to commit suicide.
Asst. Divisional Secretary, Baddegama,. S.P. Gunawardena, said that after discussing the problem with the officials of the District Development Committee, Galle and the Geological and Mining Bureau steps have been taken to issue permits for sand mining on four days a month.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/09/16/Rural/04.asp)
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