UNAUTHORISED GEMMING IN THE RAKWANA RIVER
Police impotent: political hands in illegal gem mining
Residents of the area are worried that illegal gem mining in the Rakwana River near the Yakdehiwatta Bridge may damage their homes. They complained that several houses had already developed cracks in their walls and floors and that a journalist who exposed the ongoing racket was threatened with death by an unidentified gang
A journalist who exposed the ongoing racket was threatened with death by an unidentified gang that stormed his house
that stormed his house. The journalist said he made a complaint to the police regarding the incident.
Environmentalists of the area are also concerned about the damage caused to the river banks by illegal gemming. They pointed out that a 30 metre wide area of the river reservation had eroded and that the course of the river had also changed.
A senior official of the Nivitigala police said they carried out continual raids on illegal gem mining sites in the river, but that the racketeers managed to flee and escape arrest. He said during a raid on Saturday (16) two unauthorized gem miners were taken into custody and that legal action would be taken against them.
In this regard people of the area said the racketeers were not concerned about police raids or police action as prominent politicians would come to their rescue.