Colombo: The Valana Anti-Corruption Strike Force has seized machinery worth millions of rupees belonging to a local company that was illegally mining ilmenite in a highly sensitive, archaeologically valuable area adjacent to the Puttalam Cement Factory.
The area is a land with fossil evidence from the Miocene era, over 23 million years old, and spans 4,000 acres of forest land. It is considered a highly sensitive zone because its rock deposits reveal ancient geological evidence.
Influence of Chamara Sampath
The raid revealed that the company lacked the necessary legal permits and qualifications for mining. Reports indicate that permission to start this project was granted under the direct influence of Mr. Chamara Sampath Dissanayake, the State Minister in charge of the subject in the previous government.
Furthermore, it is stated that the then Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and the Treasury representative of the Cement Corporation opposed this fraudulent agreement. A letter sent by J. S. Dharmapriya, then Chairman of the Cement Corporation, to the Chairman of Siam City Lanka Cement Company regarding this project, states: “Minister Chamara Sampath Dissanayake frequently reminds me about this, and he would be very happy if the project is expedited.”
Further investigations into this incident are ongoing, and charges may be filed for damaging archaeologically valuable land and abuse of power.
