Minister Susil Orders Full-Scale Probe
- Leader Expose On Illegal Gem Mining
By Nirmala Kannangara-Thursday, June 20, 2013
Following last week’s The Sunday Leader expose on illegal gem mining licences issued by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority to ineligible parties with political affiliations, Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premjayantha has ordered a full scale investigation into the allegations.
Under the headline ‘Gems Galore for the Correctly Connected’, this newspaper exposed as to how several gem mining licences had been issued to several parties that did not have the 2/3 ownership of the gem mining land which is necessary but solely because of their connection to certain politicians.
Thanking The Sunday Leader newspaper for exposing the irregularities that has been taking place in one of the institutions that comes under his purview, Minister Premjayantha said that he had instructed the Ministry Secretary to have a full scale investigation into the allegations.
“I directed the Ministry Secretary to instruct Director General National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) to hold a full scale inquiry into the allegations levelled and to forward me the report immediately. Since allegations have been leveled against the Manager Legal for granting gem mining licences for ineligible people with political affiliation, I have given instructions to appoint the next senior Legal Officer to oversee Legal Manager’s work till the investigations are concluded,” said the Minister.
“I directed the Ministry Secretary to instruct Director General National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) to hold a full scale inquiry into the allegations levelled and to forward me the report immediately. Since allegations have been leveled against the Manager Legal for granting gem mining licences for ineligible people with political affiliation, I have given instructions to appoint the next senior Legal Officer to oversee Legal Manager’s work till the investigations are concluded,” said the Minister.
The Minister further said that he had instructed the NGJA to appoint a panel of lawyers to check the deeds and documents submitted to obtain gem mining licences in future.
“Once selections are finalized, we will advertise the names of those who will get the mining licenses in the papers and if there are objections, the aggrieved parties can submit their objections within 14 days to which we can look into,” said Minister Premjayantha.
According to Minister Premajayantha, instructions have also been given to see as to how the accused Legal Manager was reinstated with salary arrears and her involvement in the alleged irregularities.
Confirming to The Sunday Leader that he was in receipt of a directive from Environment Ministry Secretary, Director General NGJA Janaka Udaya Kumara said that he had been instructed to take necessary action to prevent irregularities in the gem authority at the very earliest.
“In a letter dated June 11, 2013 addressed to me, Ministry Secretary wanted me to hold investigations to find out the discrepancies that had taken place when issuing gem mining licenses from February 1, and to send the report to the Minister within 14 days. Also, if there had been irregularities when issuing gem mining licences in the recent past, to get it investigated through the legal officers and submit a report to the Minister,” said the Director General.
“In a letter dated June 11, 2013 addressed to me, Ministry Secretary wanted me to hold investigations to find out the discrepancies that had taken place when issuing gem mining licenses from February 1, and to send the report to the Minister within 14 days. Also, if there had been irregularities when issuing gem mining licences in the recent past, to get it investigated through the legal officers and submit a report to the Minister,” said the Director General.
The Director General has been further instructed to send a report on allegations levelled against the Manager Legal and to hold necessary investigations in this regard and to appoint the next senior legal officer to oversee Manager Legal’s work and to remove her from all responsibilities till investigations are over.
The Director General has been further instructed to inform all Enforcement Officers that they can carry out any raid on illegal gem mining and that they are authorized to take legal action against the lawbreakers”.
