The September 27 brutal police crackdown on the people of Mannar, who have been carrying out a day and night satyagraha for nearly 60 days, demanding community consultation on the Wind Power Project (Phase II), must be squarely condemned by all well-meaning people.

The social wellbeing of the Mannar people and their environmental conservation must be given due consideration when the potential for significant long-term negative impacts on the locals is real.

Imposing the government’s will on the people and using excessive police force against peaceful protesters can never be the solution. Instead, participatory democracy must guide any sustainable development.

According to Prof. Emeritus Nimal Gunatilleke, the proposed Wind Power Project (Phase II) poses an even greater risk to the Mannar region than the Phase I Thambapavani Wind Farm project.

Fifty-two huge wind turbines are to be spread across most of the island, covering the entire northern half that is lodged among the most important migratory corridors for species in the Central Asian Flyway, viz. Adam’s Bridge National Park, Vankalei Sanctuary (a Ramsar Wetland Site), and the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve. (The Island – 1 April 2024)

Mannar Island, as pointed out by several biodiversity scientists and conservationists, is surrounded by several environmentally buffered sanctuaries; thus, it should be considered as a ‘living entity’ with fundamental rights for the survival of its natural wealth, safety, and sustenance.

Citizens’ representatives of Mannar lament that their long-term efforts to highlight the environmental risks that will affect their island socially, economically, and geologically have been ignored by the government of the day, with the earliest written objections being made in 2011.

Since the installation of the 30 wind turbines in 2020, more frequent opposition has been made in writing and in face-to-face meetings. The negative impacts of the Phase I project include (a) annual flooding of residential areas, specifically in Pesalai natural water catchment, (b) loss of agricultural revenue from dying Murunga trees and palmyrah trees (nearly 10,000 trees have been cut down and considerable loss of income incurred to the palmyrah industry), (c) the effect on fishing industry, according to the fisherfolk, due to the impact of wind turbine generated sound on fish in shallow waters. (d) appropriation of seven acres of habitable/arable land for each turbine installed, and (e) in January this year, the arrival of migratory birds via the Central Asian Flyway has significantly reduced, with consequent reduction in income from tourists. Mannar alone used to get about a million birds representing 150 species.

These legitimate issues impacting the livelihood and community well-being of the Mannar islanders must be acknowledged, and appropriate alternative sites must be found to deliver Phase II of the project with the cooperation of the locals.

In fact, all that the people of Mannar want is to implement the project within the Mannar district, but outside of Mannar Island, striking a delicate balance between energy generation, environmental conservation, and community well-being.

With no cost-benefit analysis or evaluation of alternative sites in mainland Mannar having been done, a lack of transparency in resolving matters raised by the affected parties, and a top-down approach taken by the government with little room for compromise—this matter has ended in a worse outcome for all concerned.

In conclusion, while wind power plants are a strategic necessity for Sri Lanka, social justice and environmental safeguards cannot be compromised for their sake. NPP policymakers should ensure local representation in their advisory committees when decisions are made on sensitive matters like this. Although it is a duty vested in the government to use natural resources sustainably and efficiently, addressing the livelihood and existential concerns of the locals must take priority over economic benefits.

We respectfully appeal to the President and the Government to: (a) Stop treating peaceful dissent as a crime, launch an independent inquiry into the police brutality, and hold perpetrators accountable; (b) Heed the Mannar Islanders’ legitimate plea for sustainable development—for development activities should never infringe on human rights; and
(c) Repair the huge emotional toll this project has taken on the people and clergy of Mannar before it snowballs into a larger, politically costly mistake.