News

Report called on possibility to mine gem deposits in reservoirs!

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2023

editor

Several state institutions have been tasked with handing over a report within a week on the possibility of mining gemstones in several reservoirs that have been dried up in the prevailing drought.

The matter had been taken up at a recent meeting of the Parliament
Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis.

The SOC has urged the Mahaweli Authority, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA), the Irrigation Department and the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI) to provide a report in this regard.

According to MP Gamini Waleboda, the Chairman of the relevant SOC, these institutions will look into the possibility of mining gem deposits in the reservoirs of Samanala Wewa, Norton Bridge and Ihala Kotmale.

He has said that the NGTA and GJRTI has estimated that gem deposits under the Samanala Wewa alone were worth around USD 1.5 – 2 Billion.

However, the SOC has informed the relevant institutions to come up with a national mechanism to mine these gems without causing harm to the environment, the reservoirs or to the electricity generation.

(Source : Divaina)

News

“Reports of Wijepala – Nissanka meeting, fake”

Published

10 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Public Security Ministry has denied media reports claiming that the Public Security minister – Ananda Wijepala had met Nissanka Senadhipathi.

The Minister’s media secretary had clarified this in a letter to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya.
Adding that the neither the Minister or a representative had ever met Senadhipathi as claimed, the letter calls for proper investigations into the fake news and legal action against those responsible.

News

Special allowance for policemen on duty at ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’

Published

15 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

A special transport allowance and a combined allowance will be provided to police personnel assigned to ensure the safety of devotees attending the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Siri Dalada Vandanawa) in Kandy, the police said.

The measure has been taken over the instructions of the Acting IGP, in consideration of the fact that these police personnel will be on continuous day and night duty for over 10 days, away from their regular stations and incurring additional personal expenses.

News

Ravi K’s Bill to repeal Online Safety Act, gazetted

Published

15 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Bill to repeal the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024, and other regulations concerning the Act, has been gazetted.

The Online Safety Bill was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on Jan. 24, 2024.

The Bill that has been gazetted was submitted by opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake.

On Feb. 28, 2025, MP Karunanayake submitted a private member’s Bill to the Parliament Secretary-General, aiming to repeal the controversial Online Safety Act.