Sand-mining encroachers nabbed

By Jayampathy Jayasinghe

Around 15 persons who sailed in three boats to remove sand from a private land on the beach front at Kosgalawatte at Dankotuwa was arrested by officers from the Crime Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) last week.

Police arrested eight suspects while the rest escaped. The three boats and digging equipment were also taken in by the police. Although few persons had permits to mine from Maha-Oya river, due to scarcity of sand, they had trespassed into properties of others.

According to police, people with political influence indulging in sand mining has become a lucrative business. Even the local police sometimes turn a blind eye due to reprisals from local politicians.

Inspector General of Police Victor Perera had given strict instructions to local police stations to arrest people who indulge in sand mining from rivers as it had become an environmental threat. The suspects were later produced at the Dandugama police.