Former Chairman of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Anura Walpola, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission earlier today, has been released on bail. 

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court released Walpola on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each.

He was arrested for allegedly recruiting an employee without following due process, despite circulars having been issued on the recruitment procedure. 

Anura Walpola is accused of having unlawfully recruited K. Dulani Anupama as Assistant Director of the Geological and Mines Bureau in 2020.

Walpola is said to have made the appointment without obtaining approval from the Office Management Committee and providing her with financial benefits, including salaries and other allowances. (Newswire)

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Former Chairman of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Anura Walpola, has been arrested by the Bribery Commission.

It is reported that Walpola has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation. (Newswire)

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Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development Sunil Handunnetti says a new Investigations and Raids Unit will be established within the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of Sri Lanka’s mineral resources.

The announcement was made during a special discussion held today (28) at the GSMB headquarters in Nawala, attended by officials of the Bureau and the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development.

The GSMB, which was previously under the Ministry of Environment, was brought under the purview of the Industries Ministry on October 18.

Established in 1903 as the Ceylon Mineral Survey, the GSMB is responsible for mineral exploration, licensing, geological data management, and laboratory services.

Minister Handunnetti noted that despite Sri Lanka’s rich mineral potential, its contribution to the economy remains minimal. He said a National Policy on Mineral Resources is being finalized to introduce clear guidelines and promote value addition within the sector.

During the visit, Minister Handunnetti also inspected the Bureau premises and was briefed on issues related to staff, licensing, legal procedures, and logistics. He said immediate steps would be taken to form the new Investigations and Raids Unit to address these challenges and prevent irregularities.

The meeting was also attended by Ministry Secretary Tilaka Jayasundara, GSMB Chairman Saman Jayasinha, Director General Geologist Deepani Weerakoon, Additional Secretaries of the Ministry, and senior GSMB officials. (Newswire)

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The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has revealed that the government lost more than Rs. 12 million in royalty revenue from a single sand mining project due to lapses at the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB). Lawmakers have directed the bureau to tighten monitoring and amend the Mines and Minerals Act to prevent further losses.

The shortfall was uncovered during COPE’s review of Auditor General’s reports for 2022 and 2023 and the bureau’s current performance, chaired by Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, on Sept. 12 at Parliament.

According to the Auditor General, GSMB granted a private company a license to remove sand at the Mukkutoduwawa Estate in Puttalam District between December 2023 and September 2024. Although an estimated 36,531 to 45,561 cubic meters of sand were removed, royalties were collected for only 1,594 cubic meters, totaling Rs. 686,464. The Committee said the underreporting resulted in a loss of more than Rs. 12 million in state revenue.

COPE also questioned the current practice of calculating royalties for stone quarries based on the amount of explosives issued. Members noted that the system allows for unaccounted excavations, leading to large-scale revenue losses despite extensive quarrying nationwide.

The Committee further examined irregularities in the issuance of Exploration Licenses (ELs). Since 1993, more than 450 licenses have been issued, but only 43 remain active. COPE noted that many licenses are traded at higher prices without exploration work being carried out, while data submitted after exploration often lacks accuracy.

Concerns were also raised about mineral exploration in Mannar Island. Nine licenses had been issued to five Sri Lankan-registered companies, all linked to one Australian-based entity. However, no exploration has taken place for over a decade, blocking 195 square kilometers of land from other potential investors.

On rehabilitation of mined lands, COPE found that as of Aug. 11, 2025, no rehabilitation had been carried out for 3,150 licenses, despite deposits collected for that purpose. Officials said legal action was being pursued against defaulting license holders.

The Committee also highlighted suspected irregularities in quartz exports, including reports that clear quartz is being illegally exported with the support of insiders at GSMB. It recommended transferring the authority for clear quartz exports to the National Gem and Jewellery Authority.

COPE emphasized that the GSMB has historically failed to operate in line with the Mines and Minerals Act and underscored the need for systematic planning to maximize revenue potential. The Committee said it would continue monitoring the bureau’s implementation of recommendations.

Parliamentarians Dayasiri Jayasekara, Mujibur Rahman, Chaminda Wijesiri, Dilith Jayaweera, Prageeth Madhuranga, Jagath Manuwarna, Ruwan Mapalagama, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana and Chandima Hettiaratchi participated in the session, along with Ministry of Environment Secretary Rohitha Uduwawala, GSMB Chairman Saman Jayasinghe and other officials. (Newswire)

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The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau says there is no impact to Sri Lanka due to the 6.6 magnitude earthquake that struck near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands early this morning (29).

Addressing the media today, Director General of the Bureau, Dr. Dipani Weerakoon, said that the earthquake had struck nearly 260 km away from Sri Lanka around 5.18 am today. 

She said that several aftershocks had also been reported following the 6.6 magnitude earthquake, while a magnitude 7 earthquake was reported close to Australia. 

Dr. Dipani Weerakoon assured that there was no threat to Sri Lanka due to the earthquakes and aftershocks.

Meanwhile, India’s National Centre for Seismology said the 6.6 magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km in the Bay of Bengal, and was followed by several aftershocks. 

India’s National Centre for Seismology further said, however, no damage to life or property has been reported. (Newswire)

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