• The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau had carried out an inspection in response to a public complaint

By Kushan Jayawardene   

A large scale gravel mining site at Makulugaswewa was suspended and the permit holder of the site arrested yesterday by the Geological and Mines Bureau with the help of the police for violating conditions of the gravel mining permit.    

The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau had carried out an inspection in response to the public complaints.  
A senior official of the GSMB said the permit issued for 500 cubes of gravel per month had been misused and the suspect had excavated 4000 cubes of gravel in ten days . He said the permit holder had carried out gravel mining in the adjacent land as well. He said the suspect had violated ten out of 21 conditions applicable to the permit.  
The suspect was to be produced before the Dambulla Magistrate by the Makulugaswewa police.