Sri Lanka, May 11 -- All sand mining permits in the Mannar District have been temporarily suspended following concerns that have arisen regarding the issuance of permits in the district.

The decision was taken following a special discussion held yesterday (10) at the Mannar District Secretariat between officials and sand business owners on the prevention of illegal sand rackets, the issuance of sand mining permits and the regulation of sand prices.

Commenting on the matter, Chairman of the District Development Committee and Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development, Upali Samarasinghe, said that future sand mining permits would be issued under a new legal framework.

He further stated that sand business owners had presented their conc...