Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2020-07-15

Media Reports published pertaining to the extraction of high quality Ilmenite in the coastal belt in Mannar

- The Minister of Industries and Supply Chain Management drew the attention of the Cabinet to a report published in a daily English newspaper indicating that explorations are being conducted pertaining to a project for extracting Illmenite in the coastal belt of the Mannar island in terms to an Agreement entered into between an Australian Company and a local company and such activities are to be expanded in future and also regarding a project report being circulated in the web in this regard. The Minister further stated that the institutions responsible for granting permission for any type of exploration have not given such permission for this purpose. The Cabinet having considered these facts, decided to appoint an Officials' Committee, to study relating to this matter and submit a comprehensive report on the measures to be taken.