Cabinet approves broader term ‘fine aggregate’ instead of river sand

Friday, 20 February 2026 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In a bid to avert environmental damage and managing supply shortages, the Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting this week approved the formal substitution of “fine aggregate” for river sand in construction.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday, Minister Vijitha Herath said the move will allow industry stakeholders to use standardise alternatives in place of river sand.

The substitute typically consists of manufactured sand (M-Sand), crushed rock fines, offshore sand, and other industrial minerals.

“In line with the provisions of the Construction Industry Development Act, No. 33 of 2014, defining the above-mentioned mineral material that can be sifted through a 4 mm sieve as ‘fine aggregate’, and to replace the term ‘river sand’ in all specifications and guidelines relating to construction, was approved by the Cabinet,” he said.

The move comes amid local construction sector grappling with the diminishing supply of river sand due to stringent environmental protections and the regulation of mining activities.

The construction industry is currently facing a shortage of river sand due to restrictions on river sand mining in environmentally sensitive areas and restrictions on sand transportation. As a result, the prices of river sand have increased rapidly, putting significant financial pressure on construction projects.

The approved “fine aggregate” is defined as a high-quality industrial blend that meets specific ‘standard’ requirements.

When asked about the categorisation and standardisation monitoring of the ‘fine aggregate’, Herath said once the gazette is published all the technical details and guidelines will be notified.

“This proposal came from the industry itself. It was a decision taken after considering all the factors that the industry stakeholders opined,” he said, adding that this only applies to tender-based and contract-based projects, implying that the industry workers can identify the differences by its looks and textures.