Oct 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka Geological Survey and Mines Bureau chairman Dr. M.J. Wijayananda says that the country will survey its mineral reserves fully after 56 years. The last time such a survey was conducted was 1956, the Bureau says.

A South African company will start the survey in January using a low-flying aircraft to map out mineral deposits.

The survey will also record new areas that could be mined.

Sri Lanka had held off the survey for two decades due to terrorist threats that prevented the use of low-flying aircraft.

The cost for the project is expected to be around US$ 17 million.