Sri Lanka gems at risk! by Brian Tissera
The only national treasure Sri Lanka has in abundance is its natural resource of gems and precious stones. However, this is also at risk, Ratnapura District UNP Parliamentarian Mahinda Ratnatilaka said at a media briefing in the office of the Leader of the Opposition on Thursday.
The threat is from Plantation Companies who hold major plantations on lease seeking mining rights in the lands they have been given for agricultural development.
He said that when the UNP government handed over these estates in 1991 only agricultural work was specifically permitted. But when the agreements were redrafted the rights of mining were left undecided:
If they are given mining rights mass destruction of the estates would result with pits which would only add to the threat from Malana while the companies will find gem mining much more profitable than agricultural development, Ratnatilaka warned.
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