A large-scale sand mining operation authorised by Sri Lanka’s Department of Geological Survey and Mines is reportedly under way in the Mullaitivu District, prompting serious allegations of corruption, abuse of authority and the marginalisation of local Tamil contractors.
The Sri Lankan government has reportedly granted permission for extensive sand extraction in the Pavadaikkallaru area of Udaiyarkattu. However, the sand excavated from the site is not being used for development within Mullaitivu. Instead, it is being transported to other districts, raising concerns that the district’s natural resources are being extracted for external profit rather than local benefit.
Mahalingam Thayaparan, a licensed sand mining contractor from Mullaitivu, said local residents and contractors have been directly affected by the Department’s actions. He alleged that permits have been systematically denied to contractors from within the district, while approvals have been granted to individuals from outside Mullaitivu.
According to Thayaparan, although all other relevant government departments had approved sand mining in the Udaiyarkattu–Pavadaikkallaru area, the Department of Geological Survey and Mines deliberately withheld approval in his case. While he had previously been issued permits to mine sand in other locations, he said he had been subjected to clear injustice in this instance.
Thayaparan further alleged that permission to mine sand in the Udaiyarkattu–Pavadaikkallaru area had been granted to a close relative of the Director of the Northern Provincial Department of Geological Survey and Mines. He accused the Director of abusing his official position to secure approval for a family member, stating that this demonstrated how corruption continues to thrive even under the current administration.
He summoned members of the media to the site and pointed to large stockpiles of sand near the Udaiyarkattu tank as evidence of the scale of the operation. It has been revealed that nearly 500 tipper loads of sand have already been transported from the Pavadaikkallaru area, while a further 200 tipper loads remain stockpiled at the site.
The scale of the extraction, which Thayaparan said would be impossible for an ordinary permit holder, has allegedly been facilitated by the approval granted by the Director of the Department. Sand mining in the area is reportedly being carried out purely on the basis of influence.
To excavate and transport river sand to a dumping site, Rs. 25,000 is paid for the use of an excavator. The value of sand at the dumping site ranges between Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 65,000 per tipper load, after which the sand is transported to Jaffna and sold for approximately Rs. 95,000 per load.
Despite the significant profits involved, Thayaparan alleged that excavator operators and tipper drivers are not paid their rightful wages and that there is no fixed pricing structure governing the operation. He also pointed out that the access road used to transport sand to the dumping site near the Udaiyarkattu tank is severely damaged, riddled with potholes and depressions. He said the granting of permission despite these conditions highlighted the undue influence wielded by officials within the Department.
There have also been allegations that sand mining permits issued for this site were sold on to tipper owners from other districts. Thayaparan noted that four tipper trucks were seized by police in the Kilinochchi Kallaru area earlier this week for transporting sand from an unauthorised location.
He said that if local contractors were involved in similar violations, their permits would be immediately cancelled. However, due to the contractor’s alleged relationship with the Director, such violations are reportedly being ignored.
Thayaparan further alleged that a single individual has obtained sand mining permits under the names of several residents from the Udaiyarkattu area and is effectively monopolising the sand trade in Mullaitivu.
Concluding his remarks, Thayaparan stated that the Northern Provincial Department of Geological Survey and Mines has become an institution “riddled with corruption” and called on the Sri Lankan government to launch a comprehensive investigation into the Department’s conduct.
