Govt. urges use of sea sand from Muthurajawela yard for construction industry

The process of preparing the sea sand from the Muthurajawela sand yard for use in the construction industry has been expedited, according to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing.

This project is being implemented on the instructions of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Minister of Urban Development and Housing said.

The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC) pointed out that with the use of the washed, cleaned and dried sea sand from the Muthurajawela sand yard for the construction industry, the river banks had been protected from collapsing and riverbeds from the damage of sand mining.

The sea sand at the Muthurajawela sand yard, which was not used for the construction of Katunayake-Colombo Expressway, had been exposed to the elements for years.

As a result, the sand was tested by sand engineers and the quality test reports obtained confirmed that the sand was in the same condition as river sand.

Cabinet approval was then obtained for the sea sand project, which was to pump sea sand inland by pipeline at a distance of 16 km from the sea.

The existing stock of sand in the Muthurajawela sand yard belongs to two sections, washed sand and unwashed sand. Both types of sand are currently being sold at the Muthurajawela yard.

In addition to the main yard at Muthurajawela, the sand is also available to consumers at Kelaniya, Nawala, Kirimandala Mawatha and Attidiya.