Govt gives green light for mining iron ore at Chilaw

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera handing over a container designed for the proper disposal of ballpiont pens and toothbrushes to Minister of Industry Wimal Weerawansa. Secretaries to the two Ministries, Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Anusha Palpita are also present.

By Ifham nIzam

The Environment and Industries Ministries have joined hands to utilise an iron ore found at Panirendawa, Chilaw, where some 87 million tonnes of the raw material is available. The government has given the green light for the commencement of mining activities soon, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said, adding that excavations for iron ore would be carried out shortly at Kurampola, Buttala and Panirendawa in Chilaw.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa said they believed that through this joint programme Sri Lanka could earn a lot of foreign exchange.