by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Less restrictive land use is threatening the 72-year-old structure located in southeast Sri Lanka. Two pillars have been destroyed with five more at risk. Farmers allege favouritism towards a government-affiliated cooperative. For decades, illegal sand mining has generated huge profits.

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Seventy-two years after the inauguration of the Gal Oya Bridge in August 1953, the structure in southeast Sri Lanka is facing a serious threat due to a controversial decision by the government to reduce restrictions on nearby sand mining.

To this end, the dams on either side of the artificial canal are being illegally flattened to expand rice paddies, and the Gal Oya River is being dredged to extract sand.

According to farmers' associations, the reason for this is to favour an agricultural cooperative, set up by a group that helped the government come to power, to engage in sand smuggling.

This is weakening the bridge, as the foundations of five of its pillars are at risk, while two of them have already been destroyed.

According to residents, the bridge shakes when large, heavy lorries cross it. Cracks can be seen in the cemented surface of the five pillars at risk.

Sand mining has damaged the riverbanks, with some embankments and roads collapsing into the Gal Oya River due to mismanagement of sand mining licenses.

According to residents, "15 years ago, a decision was made to maintain a two-kilometre buffer zone to prevent any sand mining activity in the area, but currently the restricted zone has been reduced to one kilometre.”

The residents believe the sand accumulated in the Gal Oya River should be removed.

In recent months, sand mining accidents have increased, and Gal Oya National Park is exposed to large-scale extraction. The Ampara Irrigation Engineering Office also conducted a survey to identify sites and issue a tender. However, the Ampara Sand Association, with the help of some politicians, called for a halt to the initiative.

For its part, the Geological Survey and Mining Bureau (GSMB) has taken steps to reduce illegal sand mining in Gal Oya to within one square kilometre, delivering accumulated sand to the cooperative.

The Ampara Geological Survey Office allegedly collected money from 29 people for the issuance of sand mining permits. According to representatives of farmer groups, the money was accepted without the authorisation of the competent authorities.

Civil engineers Damayanthi Athukorala and Rohan Dissanayaka told AsiaNews that "for many decades, sand mining from rivers has been an illegal and profitable activity that has lined the pockets of politicians and many other stakeholders in related sectors.”

As a result, rivers are becoming deeper, and the water has become turbid.

“River banks are starting to collapse, sediments are accumulating, and the buffer zone is being destroyed. People bathing in these rivers can even drown due to the pits created by mining activities," they explained.

Although the GSMB has issued licences for sand and granite mining, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) has the technical expertise and is responsible for any legal matters.

Under the Mines & Minerals Act No. 33 of 1992, the GSMB can issue licences for exploration, extraction, trading, and transportation.

According to lawyers Sampath Almeida and Thushara Senanayake, "Section 28 of the Mines & Minerals Act provides that no person may explore for, transport, process, trade, or export minerals except in accordance with a licence issued under the provisions of this Act and subsequent regulations."

However, most sand mining is fluvial and can be carried out undisturbed, "ignoring the environmental implications," they said.

• sri lanka
• sand mining
• illegal
• gal oya
• river
• bridge