Authorities have temporarily suspended all sand mining permits in the Mannar District following concerns over the manner in which permits were being issued in the district.
The decision was reached during a special meeting held yesterday (10) at the Mannar District Secretariat with the participation of government officials and sand business owners.
Chairman of the District Development Committee and Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development, Upali Samarasinghe, said future sand mining permits would be issued under a new legal framework.
He said sand business owners had also submitted their concerns, proposals and suggestions during the discussion.
According to the Deputy Minister, businessmen proposed that, in order to control sand prices, three cubes of sand be supplied at Rs. 50,000 for the construction of houses for low-income families and at Rs. 65,000 for government construction projects.
They had also requested permission for an additional transport charge of Rs. 350 per kilometre for deliveries to other Divisional Secretariat divisions, he added.