Damsila Exports (Private) Limited (DEL) is a company incorporated and registered in Sri Lanka. DEL held an exploration license for the exploration of minerals in the East Coast of Sri Lanka from the GSMB (Geological Survey and Mines Bureau). After acquiring the Exploration License, DEL proceeded to study the occurrences of mineral sands along the coastal belt (within 47 Square Kilometers secured by the company) from Akkaraipattu to Komari. In 2010 DEL identified a heavy mineral deposit covering the coastal zone over a continuous distance of approximately 25 km, extending from Akkaraipattu in the north to Komari in the south.
The company has collected and compiled a vast array of data and information including maps based on the outcome of the field studies carried out in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2021 and enhanced by subsequent exploration and laboratory studies. DEL has been continously engaged in exploration work, community consultation and environmental studies to demarcate suitable areas for mining during the period of the said exploration license.
The company then submitted an IEE (Initial Environmental Examination) in May 2017 and a revised EIA in 2019 and 2020 by addressing all the feedback from the previous sessions to the Department of Coast Conservation & Coastal Resource Management (CCD). The EIA technical hearing, site inspections of the project area and the public consultation of the EIA has been concluded. and received feedback from all the stakeholders. In November 2021, the Company received the approval of the EIA from the CCD. DEL is now pursuing its first Industrial Mining License Application from the GSMB.
Project Site
The first phase of the project intends to extract heavy minerals along a 3-kilometre coastal stretch (within the beach and berm zones which be subject to restoration and rehabilitation) within the Sangaman Kiramam and Vinayagapuram 03 GN Divisions in Ampara District of Eastern Province. The impact area will be small, approx. 150m by 50m in the active mining area which is about the size of a football field. The entire mining operation will be performed using a novel ‘cell mining’ method which has the least impact/footprint on the mining area.
