Mannar at a crossroads: Protests, Promises and the Fight for Justice

Mannar at a crossroads: Protests, Promises and the Fight for Justice By Ceylon Today - August 23, 2025 2:02am 0 Text and Pix by Shabeer Mohamed For the past 18 days, the people of Mannar have been gathering in continuous protest against large-scale wind power projects and sand mining activities that they say threaten both their land and their livelihoods. What began as small community-level resistance has now grown into a strong, islandwide conversation about development, environmental protection, and the rights of local people. Mannar Island is not new to struggle. Its residents, already burdened by decades of war and displacement, now face fresh challenges from projects that promise “clean energy” and “economic growth” but in reality raise serious concerns about long-term damage to the environment, destruction of fishing grounds, loss of livelihoods, and the violation of community rights. The people’s demand is simple: development that respects the land, sea, and communities of Mannar. Yet, despite repeated appeals, authorities have failed to provide clarity or consultation, leaving citizens with no choice but to stay on the streets in protest. Dr. Nagamuthu Piratheeparajah – Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Jaffna “Mannar’s mineral sands are being celebrated as an economic treasure, but in reality they pose a great disaster for our people,” warns Dr. Nagamuthu Piratheeparajah. He explains that Mannar Island, with its unique geography and cultural significance, is highly vulnerable. The island, often seen as a continuation of the legendary “Rama Bridge” mentioned in the Ramayana, is only 26 km long and 6 km wide, with an average elevation of just 7.8 metres above sea level. In some places, including South Bar, Thottaveli, Erukalampiddy, and Konnaiyan Kudiruppu, the land lies at or even below sea level. This fragile structure is what makes the threat of large-scale sand mining so severe. According to Dr. Piratheeparajah, the island rests on the Cauvery Basin, where valuable mineral deposits such as ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, zircon, and titanium oxide are concentrated. While these minerals are considered highly profitable, the extraction methods proposed by companies could irreversibly damage the land. He points out that five companies, Kilsythe Exploration, Hammersmith Ceylon, Supreme Solution, Sanur Minerals, and Orion Minerals, were granted permits around 2015 to mine these sands, with several already active. They plan to dig up to 12 metres below sea level to extract minerals, then dump the remaining sand back into the pits. “This is not restoration, but deception,” he stresses. “Even if the sand is replaced, the ground will eventually collapse and form craters. In simple terms, if this excavation goes ahead, Mannar will turn into a giant pit filled with seawater.” Dr. Piratheeparajah warns of four major consequences: 1. The island will sink into 10-foot craters filled with seawater. 2. At least 10,000 palm trees will be destroyed. 3. Underground freshwater sources will be permanently damaged. 4. The entire morphology of Mannar will be altered. For him, this is not just an environmental issue but an existential one: “To those who see Mannar only as a mining site, this is an economic opportunity. But for us, Mannar is our motherland. If we do not wake up now, we will never be able to save it.” The ten major problems raised by Fr. S. Marcus Fr. S. Marcus, President of the Mannar Citizens Committee, presented ten critical issues caused by the Thambapavani wind power and sand mining project. These concerns were highlighted during discussions with the President at the Presidential Secretariat on 15 August 2025, and earlier in Parliament with the Ministers of Energy and Environment. During our field visit, we were able to directly observe the reality of these problems. 1. Illegal seizure of people’s lands Large portions of land near the project sites have been taken from villagers under questionable circumstances. In places like ‘Konnaiyan Kudi’, families accuse powerful intermediaries of using forged documents to grab land that has been in community use for generations. Some allege the involvement of political proxies, leaving villagers helpless against fraudulent cases filed to force them out. 2. Shrinking living spaces As wind power companies expand their hold over coastal areas, residents are being pushed further away from their homes. Families who once lived near the sea now find themselves displaced. Those remaining struggle with the constant noise of wind turbines, making daily life unbearable. 3. Coastal erosion and loss of mangroves With mangroves and trees along the coast cleared for development, soil erosion has worsened. Our field visit revealed beaches near the Mannar Wind Farm to be badly eroded, with heaps of plastic waste worsening the degradation of these fragile coastal zones. 4. Blocked streams and destruction of fisheries Over 16 natural streams and canals have been obstructed, crippling the fishing industry. Mannar, already vulnerable due to its low elevation, now faces stagnant waters where natural flows once carried freshwater to the sea. Villagers fear that if these channels reopen, seawater intrusion will drown inland areas. 5. Environmental reports kept from the public Residents complain that the final Environmental Assessment Report (EAI) was never shared with them. They say no proper consultations were held, leaving them excluded from critical decisions. Fisherfolk in Pesalai believe this secrecy is one reason for declining fish stocks and worsening floods. 6. Manipulated signatures Villagers allege that signatures in the EAI were collected deceptively. During floods, when families were displaced and receiving relief packages, their signatures were obtained under false pretences. Later, these were presented as proof of community consent for the project, leaving villagers feeling betrayed. 7. Unprecedented flooding For decades, Mannar rarely experienced major floods. But since the installation of wind farms, floods during the rainy season have become an annual crisis. Villagers point to an underground wall 12 feet deep and 12 kilometres long, built to connect the turbines, which blocks natural groundwater flow to the sea. This has led to stagnant water, polluted wells, and repeated displacement. 8. Destruction of palms and coconuts Hundreds of palm and coconut trees vital to the local economy have been cut without permits. For many families, these trees provided livelihoods through handicrafts and household use. Their sudden loss has left traditional livelihoods in crisis, especially for women engaged in weaving and craft-making. 9. Loss of clean drinking water For generations, villagers depended on wells for safe water. Today, many of these wells have dried up or turned brackish due to flooding and groundwater stagnation. Even in ‘Konnaiyan Kudi’, once known for its clean water, families are now forced to purchase drinking water at Rs 2 per litre, an expense they cannot afford. 10. Decline in migratory birds Mannar is a world-renowned sanctuary for migratory birds. But locals report fewer flocks arriving in recent years, with altered migration patterns and longer return periods. Despite the Energy Minister dismissing these concerns, birdwatchers and environmentalists warn that the turbines disrupt bird habitats and threaten one of Sri Lanka’s most important ecological treasures. Lessons from Eppawala for Mannar The struggle unfolding in Mannar today is not without precedent. Twenty-five years ago, in the landmark Eppawala Phosphate Case, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka was called upon to decide whether a massive foreign-backed mining project could proceed in the agriculturally rich Eppawala region of Anuradhapura. Farmers and villagers argued that the project would destroy their land, irrigation systems, and way of life. The Court, in a historic judgment, recognised that natural resources are part of the public trust, to be safeguarded not only for present communities but also for future generations. It struck down the agreement, affirming that “development” cannot come at the expense of people’s rights, culture, and environment. The echoes of Eppawala are unmistakable in Mannar. Here too, projects justified in the name of national economic growth wind farms and mineral sand mining, have been imposed without meaningful consultation or safeguards. As in Eppawala, local communities warn of displacement, destruction of traditional livelihoods, and irreversible ecological damage. Mannar, like Eppawala, is not merely a site of mineral deposits or wind potential; it is a living homeland where generations have survived through fishing, farming, and deep cultural ties to the land. What the Eppawala judgment established in law that the State is a trustee of natural resources bound by duties of sustainability, transparency, and equity remains just as relevant today. The case of Mannar shows us the true cost of development when it is pursued without planning, transparency, or respect for local communities. What is being presented as “clean energy” and “economic growth” has, in practice, brought land grabs, forced displacement, floods, water contamination, loss of fisheries, and destruction of ecological balance. The ten problems highlighted by the Mannar Citizens Committee are not abstract concerns. They are daily realities for an island already vulnerable due to its geography and history. Mannar’s people are not rejecting renewable energy or economic development. They are demanding what the Court demanded in Eppawala: development that protects the environment, sustains communities, and respects the rights of future generations. The fact that both Parliament and the President have been forced to acknowledge their grievances shows that these voices can no longer be ignored. The future of renewable energy and resource use in Sri Lanka must be built not on exploitation, but on genuine consultation, scientific accountability, and social justice. If Mannar becomes a lesson, let it be this: progress cannot be measured only in megawatts and minerals. Real progress is when the land, water, and people are safeguarded for generations to come.