Ratnapura district MP and Minister of Power and Energy W. D. John Seneviratne, has intervened to stop the arrest of owners of tippers transporting sand within the district.

He has informed all police stations not to obstruct the transport of sand as they could transport one cube of sand within the District.

At the Ratnapura District Co-ordinating Committee meeting, chaired by the minister, at the auditorium of the District Secretariat, he said the Coordinating Committee had given permits to transport one cube of sand.

"This is their means of livelihood and they have purchased the tippers on lease. They should be allowed to transport sand without interruption," he said.

Earlier the owners of tippers had complained to the minister of their plight and the difficulties they experienced due to the ban on sand transport.