The government has suspended all sand mining permits issued in March 2026 across the Mannar District after the Criminal Investigation Department launched a probe into large-scale irregularities, The Island reported.
The decision was taken at a district-level meeting at the Mannar District Secretariat on April 18, chaired by District Secretary K. Kanageswaran and attended by State Minister Upali Samarasinghe, Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagam, and NPP parliamentarian M. Jegatheeswaran.
Governor Vethanayagam said certain groups had effectively monopolised extraction and pricing, causing losses to the state. Samarasinghe described the situation as the work of a “planned sand mafia” and said action would be taken against those involved, including complicit officials.
Field inspections in early April found extraction far exceeding approved limits, including operations in unauthorised areas using heavy machinery. Officials reported significant environmental damage, including erosion risks and threats to nearby settlements.
Corrective measures proposed include mandatory joint inspections before any permit is issued, prioritisation of allocations through local authorities, and stronger oversight of mineral resource management. The outcome of the CID investigation will determine whether further permits are reinstated.
The Mannar district has seen multiple enforcement actions in recent weeks, including the navy seizing an Indian fishing boat operating illegally in April.
