The Geology and Mines Bureau has announced that a permit is mandatory for transporting sand accumulated in cultivated lands and paddy fields as a result of recent landslides and floods caused by heavy rainfall.
Director General of the Bureau, Deepani Weerakoon, said the Government charges a prescribed permit fee for the transportation of such sand. However, she clarified that a permit is not required for sand removal carried out as part of mining activities under these circumstances.
She noted that permit fees collected from sand transportation are treated as state revenue and are credited to the Treasury. Although permits are generally required for both extraction and transportation of sand, the Bureau has exempted mining-related activities from the permit fee in this instance.
Mrs. Weerakoon further stated that sand accumulated in tanks, rivers and river basins will be released through a tender procedure, under the supervision of the Irrigation Department, in line with established regulations.
