Sri Lanka’s mineral sector is once again under scrutiny as policymakers, geologists, and industry stakeholders reassess the country’s long-neglected industrial minerals particularly vein quartz. Despite possessing some of the world’s highest-purity quartz deposits, Sri Lanka continues to export most of its production in raw or semi-processed form, forfeiting significant value addition opportunities in high-technology industries.
Vein quartz deposits are widely distributed across the country’s Highland and Vijayan geological zones, including Galaha, Pussella, Rattota, Naula, Opanayake, Wellawaya, Mahagama (Embilipitiya) and parts of Badulla and Matale districts. These deposits frequently exhibit silica purity exceeding 99.5%, making them suitable for advanced applications such as solar panels, semiconductors, optical fibre glass, and engineered ceramics and specialty chemicals. Yet, to date, most extraction has been limited to low-margin uses such as silica powder and aggregate exports.
Recent government attention has refocused national debate on the sector’s future. A major development occurred with the discovery and preliminary assessment of a large vein quartz deposit at Kotikambokka (Dhamani Thiruvana) in Monaragala District. Spanning nearly 700 metres, early scientific studies estimate the deposit could contain as much as 3.1 billion tonnes of vein quartz, potentially ranking it among the largest known reserves in Sri Lanka.
Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetthi recently visited the site, which is currently not under commercial mining, to evaluate its economic potential and associated challenges. The visit underscored the government’s recognition that quartz could play a strategic role in Sri Lanka’s industrial transformation if managed responsibly.
However, the sector faces persistent obstacles. Regulatory fragmentation, overlapping institutional mandates, environmental sensitivities, and weak enforcement mechanisms have long hindered systematic development. During discussions following the site visit, authorities acknowledged growing risks of illegal and unauthorised mining, particularly given the scale and market value of the Monaragala deposit.
As an immediate response, the government has initiated a structured protection programme, tasking the Forest Conservation Department with demarcating the area and strengthening safeguards. The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) is expected to lead a comprehensive scientific reassessment using advanced exploration methods to determine the deposit’s quality, accessibility, and commercial viability.
The renewed focus highlights a broader issue confronting Sri Lanka’s mineral economy: while geological potential is abundant, strategic planning and value-driven industrial policy remain underdeveloped. Without decisive reforms, even world-class resources risk remaining dormant or being exploited in ways that deliver minimal long-term national benefit.
