Daily NEWS Srilanka

After precipitation of soil recently because of floods, a vein of mineral ore (illama) or gem-vein had come to the surface close to Tissamaharama Sandungama Menik Palama, it is reported.

It was a group of people who were engaged in digging pits to construct a new culvert at that place who had first spotted some pieces of gems among the soil and having noticed it had instantly abandoned the task of making the culvert and started to pick the gems and sift them. This land

When news about the gem-vein spread around, all work related to flood-victim relief had been thrown aside and villagers in surrounding areas and lands had visited the place in search of gems and to have a look at the land concerned while certain powerful people in the vicinity had come and collected large chunks of earth and loaded those into their vehicles and beat a retreat after that, it was reported. It is also learned that as a result of this fantastic phenomenon which occured on 28th the task of building the culvert was abandoned temporarily and steps had been taken to provide security to the area.

This gem-vein had surfaced near 'Menik Paalama' on arriving at Sandungama along Beralihela route of Tissamaharama and it is supposed that according to an ancient story the main reason which contributed for that bridge to be called 'Menik Paalama' was because there had been gems at that location. However, until floods raised its head there were no historical factors that indicated in recent times that there were gems there. Villagers have mentioned that this was the first occasion that a gem-vein was seen in this village.