Sri Lanka has a history of gold production in both ancient times (Acaravittigama) and during British rule (Ramboda). However, no new commercial reserve was known to exist and Sri Lanka's Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (http://www.gsmb.gov.lk) initially dismissed the possibility of a large gold deposit anywhere in the country.
Accordingly, AMECA was granted the exclusive intellectual gold rights for the whole country - which it still holds.