Sri Lanka to issue license to mine gold in major river

Sri Lanka Geological Survey and Mines Bureau says that steps will be taken to issue a license for gold mining in the Kelani River. A small quantity of gold has been found in the river in Pugoda area and hundreds of people are shifting the sand off the river bottom to find small pieces of gold. However, the Bureau has banned removing gold from the river bottom until the license is issued. Pugoda police today took action to remove around 200 people who were washing sand in search of gold.
They held a protest in Pugoda town for around half an hour. The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau is conducting tests on the gold found in River Kelani to ascertain its authenticity. However, the Jewelers in the area who are purchasing the fragments found by the people have confirmed that those fragments are indeed gold, the Sunday Times reported.