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Sri Lanka will conduct a sophisticated aerial magnetic survey to locate mineral deposits in the country using special surveillance aircraft equipped with the latest radar technology, Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday (25 March). Addressing a press briefing, he said that this project would be funded by the Sri Lankan government while technological assistance would be sought from countries where this was available.
The Minister said the survey would be conducted by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau with the aim of managing our mineral resources more efficiently and accurately, tracing the type of minerals available for mining and the mined minerals could thus contribute to Sri Lanka’s GDP.
He said many private companies offered to conduct this survey but the government thought it best to do it on its own to avoid the sensitive data being leaked to other countries.
The Minister added that Sri Lanka had to pay a US$ 8.1million to purchase data on the survey conducted for oil exploration in the Mannar basin.
He said the survey is estimated to cost US$ 3.5 million and it would be conducted next year.
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