An urgent special high-level discussion was held regarding the control of illegal mineral excavation and distribution in the Northern Province, during which key decisions were taken in view of the current situation.
This discussion took place today – on Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm at the Governor’s Secretariat. It was co-chaired by the Hon. Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, R. Chandrasekhar, and the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
At the outset, Hon. Minister R. Chandrasekhar expressed his deep condolences over the death of a police officer who lost his life while attempting to curb illegal sand smuggling in Kodikamam area. He also noted that HE the President has paid attention to this incident. Pointing out with concern that such loss of life has become recurring, he emphasized the urgent need to establish a mechanism to reclaim the province from sand mafias.
In his remarks, the Hon. Governor referred to decisions taken at a meeting held on the 10th of March with the head of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau at the Governor’s Secretariat. He stated that once those decisions are implemented, the price of sand is expected to decrease significantly. He expressed confidence that reducing sand prices through such a mechanism would help control the activities of the mafias.
Following this, the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Northern Province stated that the police alone cannot control this issue and stressed the need for cooperation from all stakeholders.
The Coordinator of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Chairman noted that during the meeting held on the 10th, illegal sand mining and distribution had been identified as life-threatening, and that this concern has now materialized. He also pointed out that not only those who raise their voices against illegal sand mining, but also many others have lost their lives due to the high speed of vehicles transporting sand.
During the subsequent discussions, several matters were discussed and firm decisions were reached.
To prevent illegal sand smuggling, it was decided to impose a complete ban on transporting sand at night and to allow sand distribution only during daytime. Additionally, it was decided to take immediate steps, through an appropriate mechanism, to stop the transport of sand from Trincomalee to Jaffna.
Furthermore, police officers together with officials from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau will conduct special road inspections. Vehicles involved in illegal activities will be seized, taken to police stations, and the sand will be auctioned.
It was also emphasized that the mechanism to wash tank sand and distribute it through local government bodies should be expedited in order to provide sand to the public at lower prices. This, it was noted, would help curb the monopoly of sand mafias.
Moreover, it was decided that the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau must provide details of all currently active permits issued for sand mining in the Northern Province. In the future, these details should be updated through a joint mechanism involving the police, District Secretaries, and the Governor’s Secretariat. This would help the police identify sand excavation sites and transport routes, thereby enabling them to apprehend vehicles using unauthorized routes. It was also discussed to impose time limits on the delivery of sand when issuing transport permits.
The meeting also agreed to strictly enforce speed limits for heavy vehicles, particularly to ensure road safety during school hours, and to implement fines against violators.
In the future, those requiring mineral resources will be required to apply through Divisional Secretariats. This will allow authorities to estimate the required quantity of sand and clearly determine daily distribution volumes and transport routes, thereby helping to control sand mafias.
Participants in the meeting included Hon. Member of Parliament for the Jaffna Electoral District, S. Sribhavanandarajah; Secretary to the Governor of Northern Province, S. Sathiyaseelan; Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Northern Province, Buddhika Sriwardhana; Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Jaffna Range, Marappana; Senior Superintendent of Police for the Jaffna Division, Jayamaha; Northern Regional Manager of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, T. Mayooran; and the Coordinator of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Chairman, S. Kabilan.
District Secretaries and other Deputy Inspectors General of Police from various regions also participated via Zoom video technology.
