2007-2009, RS MINES Secures The Queen’s Mine
The Late Chairman, Ranjith Wijekoon at The Queen’s Mine.
View from the Queen’s Crystalline Graphite Mine.
RS Mines, late Chairman, Ranjith Wijekoon pictured with Dhammika Perera, accepting BOI Certification.
The Late Chairman, Ranjith Wijekoon with the Chancellor of Peradeniya University and Head of Department of Geology.
Co-Founding Director, Sheriozha Anthony Wijekoon, presenting to the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau, 2007.
RS Mines, History.
In 2006, the late Chairman, Ranjith Wijekoon, ventured from the United Kingdom to his Country of birth, Sri Lanka. After 40 years of being based in the UK, Ranjith, a highly qualified Engineer, decided, that he wanted to return to Sri Lanka with the foresight to utilize his skills to create something for his homeland.
During his initial visit to Sri Lanka, a self taught local Geologist bought a large fragment of Crystalline Graphite and presented it to Ranjith. From that moment, he realized his calling. After visiting the abandoned mine, which would later adopt its historical name of The Queen’s Mine. Ranjith called his Son, Sheriozha Anthony Wijekoon, who had just completed his engineering Degree from Brunel University, London. Sheriozha joined Ranjith in 2007 and that year they established RS Mines.
Prior to securing The Queen’s Mine, Father and Son traveled across Sri Lanka in search of other potential Crystalline Graphite Mines, executing numerous VLF (Very Low Frequency) scans to obtain an initial understanding if any conductive bodies were contained in the various sites visited. After 2 years of exploration, the decision was made to purchase land areas which contained the historical mining mouth and surrounding areas. Simultaneously exploration and mining permits were obtained from The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau of Sri Lanka.
History of The Queen’s Mine.
Mining in Sri Lanka was expanded by the British during its colonial period, starting in the 1850s under the reign of Queen Victoria. During World War 2 Sri Lanka would see a drastic increase in crystalline graphite exports, the unique high quality material would contribute greatly to military engineering.
Sri Lanka’s mining industry would come to a halt in 1948, when Sri Lanka gained its independence. It was clear to Ranjith and Sheriozha, that upon the initial visits to The Queen’s Mine, that this particular site which was historically known as ræjinagē patal, The Queen’s Mine, the surface of this immense resource had hardly been scratched.
