GSMB Chairman denies COPE revelation

9 June 2023 06:20 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Responding to the allegation leveled against the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) during the recent Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting that GSMB seeks minister’s approval for issuance of licenses, GSMB Chairman R. Sanjeepan clarified that applications related to mining and exploration activities are never sent to the Minister for his approval.

Convening a special news briefing yesterday (08), the Chairman said “The applications are received by the respective regional offices where they process the relevant applications until they get a valid clearance.

Once they get the clearance, the applications are put into an excel spreadsheet with all relevant details and are received by an officer at the head office where he puts all the details into one excel spreadsheet. Subsequently, the Director General and I are getting the full excel spreadsheet via an email before issuance of a license, which is copied to the Minister as well,” he explained.

“We are not sending applications to the Minister nor does he give approval. It is the Director General who has the authority to grant the approval before licenses are issued,” he stressed.

Moreover, the GSMB Chairman said he had not been given adequate time to clarify this at the COPE meeting.

Meanwhile, responding to the allegations that there was a substantial delay in issuing a license, the Chairman said that the delay is not due to their failures but the delays caused at other institutions from which various documents are needed to obtain before a license is issued.

The GSMB recently came under fire at the COPE meeting when they were questioned on several matters pertaining to mining activities. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

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Comments - 6

Thilanga Friday, 09 June 2023 07:04 AM

OK. Then for what did he say the lists were sent to the minister before the license were issued? Did someone ask him to make the clarification to change the story?

Sand business Friday, 09 June 2023 08:24 AM

Late reaction ! This Chairman may have been trembling when facing questions at the COPE meeting ?

dara Friday, 09 June 2023 01:15 PM

COPE chairman said to his face,he was worked according to his whims and fancies which is completely against the act, but GSMB chairman was silent

Is he making COPE out to be a fool, COPE not capable Friday, 09 June 2023 04:16 PM

Parliament is being made the fool, once it's COPE investigation is found to be totally finding wrong conclusions. What are MPs and officers who support them in COPE so lacking basic capability to find out what is really going on.

Gabriella Friday, 09 June 2023 05:29 PM

More important question: When the primary exploration company has expended substantial capital in exploration costs and, then applied for a mining licence; why is that application disregarded and the licence then issued to a different entity ?

Sivalingam Friday, 09 June 2023 05:39 PM

Den of thieves bureau is more appropriate.

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GSMB Chairman denies COPE revelation

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