123 arrested for illegal sand mining: SL Army

COLOMBO (News 1st): A total of 123 people were arrested during a special raid conducted by the Sri Lanka Army, for their involvement in sand mining in violation of the licenses, security officials said. The arrests were made during raids carried out in sand mining locations in Sooriyapura - Kantalai, Mutur Wellanawal, and Thabalsetti. At the Sooriyapura sand corridor in Kantalai, where mining activities are not permitted on Saturdays and Sundays, a raid was carried out by officers attached to the Army Camp in Sooriyapura, based on a tip-off received regarding the mining activities being conducted violating the conditions of the licenses. Thereby, 26 people were arrested and 04 tipper trucks were taken into the custody of the Army and the suspects and the vehicles were handed over to Serunuwara Police. Another 97 people were arrested and 15 tractors were seized during a raid conducted jointly by Army Officers attached to Sooriyapura and Monkey Beach camps in the Mutur Wellanawal and Thabalsetti areas. The suspects were handed over to Mutur Police for investigations.