Gem Mining Reported In Yala National Park
Kalana Krishantha
July 6, 2022
In a recent media statement, environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara alleged that large scale illegal gem mining being happened at Kailakumbura area of Yala national park, around Kumbukkan oya.
He elaborated those 100 acres of forest land being destroyed due to illegal gem mining conducted by some businessmen of Okkompitiya area using heavy machineries and around 300 labors.
Chamikara pointed out that the illegal gem mining can cause to intensify the prevailing human elephant conflict due to the damage happening to the forest area and elephants would invade the nearby villages. The environmentalist claimed that heavy biodiversity of Kumbukkan Oya is under risk due to this man-made environmental disaster