Sri Lanka to dredge more sea sand

Feb 08, 2010 (LBO) - Sri Lanka will appoint a dredging contractor to bring up three million cubic metres of sea sand to supply the domestic market which is running out of river sand and also for export. Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Company (SLLR & DC), a state agency, holds the sole rights and license to explore and mine sea sand in 100 square kilometer areas off the west coast of the island.

The agency is dredging sea sand after curbs were put on harvesting river due to environmental concerns.

A note to cabinet by the ministry of urban development said SLLR&DC has already pumped 2.8 million cubic metres of sand into a stockpile at Kerawalapitiya, Muthurajaweka, north of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.

So far it has sold 1.2 million cubic metres of sand to local and international buyers. It was in negotiations to export sand. In addition a contractor building an expressway from the international airport in Katunayaka to Colombo has asked for 1.75 million cubic metres of sand for embankment filling.