Stocks of Clear Quartz are being illegally exported along with regular Quartz, according to findings from an inquiry conducted by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

The revelation was made during a COPE meeting chaired by MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera in Parliament, where extended attention was drawn to issues surrounding Quartz exports.

It was highlighted that certain insiders within the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau appear to be supporting the illegal export of Clear Quartz.

COPE recommended that a proper mechanism be introduced to hand over the export of Clear Quartz exclusively to the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, while only other types of Quartz should be legally exported.

The inquiry also revealed that the government had suffered significant revenue losses due to the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau failing to properly charge state royalties after issuing mining licenses.

A number of malpractices came to light during the COPE’s review of the Auditor General’s reports for 2022 and 2023 on the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau, according to a statement issued by the Department of Communication of Parliament.