The government plans to import sand required for development activities in the country from 2024.

The Minister of Environment states that it is not possible to provide sand from rivers in the country for port city development activities.

Sri Lanka’s sand demand for the year 2021-25 is estimated at 57 million cubic meters, but the country has only 42 million cubic meters.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera stated that the extraction of sand from rivers is being stopped and the extraction of sand from the Eastern Province and Polonnaruwa is also being phased out.

He added that although plans were afoot to dig deep in the sea, the focus was on importing sand due to protests by the fishing community.