Paradise Estate, a paradise for illicit gem mining

By Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Paradise Estate at Kuruwita is in the spotlight these days with a number of gem miners being arrested for illicitly mining the land without permits. Protests launched by villagers in Kuruwita area against illicit gem mining have exposed a big racket, police sources told the “Sunday Observer”

The Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) last week arrested twenty five persons for mechanised mining at the Paradise Estate by using Backhoe loaders without permits.

The suspects have been handed over to the Kuruwita police station along with three Backhoe excavators, to be produced in court. IGP Jayantha Wickramaratna had directed DIG, D.A. Fonseka of the CAVSF to crack down on illicit mining as senior police officers too have been allegedly involved in the unauthorised gemming racket. Although the Gem and Jewellery Authority has issued permits for persons to engage in mechanised gemming they have intruded into other adjacent lands as well without valid permits for mining purposes.

This has created conflicts with villagers in the area. Some illicit miners even had attempted to dig up public road, that was stopped by the timely intervention of villagers.

Only six plots at the Paradise Estate consisting of half an acre have been authorised by the Gem and Jewellery Authority to be excavated. Some persons with expired permits too have been engaged in mechanised mining, police said.

“Even those who have been issued permits by the Agrarian Services Department to take Backhoe machines to Paradise Estate to fill gem pits have been engaged in unlawful mining, police said.