The Northern Provincial Council of Sri Lanka had adopted a resolution last week to not allow any mining or quarrying of limestone in the province by companies or individuals.


Agriculture and Environment Minister Ponnuthurai Ayngaranesan told the media that the resolution was adopted last week and discussions on the matter are being carried out with the central government.

A meeting will be held tomorrow in Kilinochchi between Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha and District Secretary of Kilinochchi Rupawathi Ketheeswaran to discuss exploration work in Pooneryn.

The NPC has objected to permission given by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) to a private cement company to carry out limestone quarrying in over 4,000 acres of land in Kilinochchi.

However, the GSMB has said that an exploration license had been issued to a cement manufacturing company to conduct exploration work to check the availability of limestone resources and a license has not been issued to quarry limestone.