As a result maintaining the organization and paying the salaries of the employees have become difficult. In addition, the individuals from surrounding areas who were indirectly involved in the business have also lost their earnings.
Following an order issued by the Ministry of Environment the sand mining license has not been issued for the Lanka Mineral Sands Limited since January and the ministry has informed the company to commence selling mineral sands following value addition if the license is to be issued.
However, Lanka Mineral Sands sources state that extracted mineral sands should be refined and separated first in order to add value and it is fair if the condition on value addition was added after allowing the machinery to operate.