Mannar Islanders and environmental experts warn that Sri Lanka’s push for renewable energy risks becoming a disaster for human rights, biodiversity, and democracy after police violently suppressed peaceful protests.
A violent police crackdown on September 27 has plunged Sri Lanka’s Mannar Island into the spotlight, where residents have been staging a continuous 60-day satyagraha against the proposed Wind Power Project (Phase II). What began as a peaceful protest demanding community consultation has now escalated into a national controversy, drawing sharp criticism from environmentalists, social advocates, and human rights groups.
The protesters, comprised of local residents, clergy, and community leaders, allege that the government has ignored legitimate concerns about the project’s long-term environmental and social consequences. Witnesses reported that police used excessive force against demonstrators who had camped out day and night, reinforcing fears that dissent is being criminalized. Activists argue that the state’s top-down approach, without transparency or compromise, undermines participatory democracy and risks eroding public trust in governance.
At the center of the controversy is the proposed Phase II development, which would involve 52 wind turbines stretching across the northern half of Mannar Island. According to Professor Emeritus Nimal Gunatilleke, the scale of this project poses a much greater ecological threat than the Phase I Thambapavani Wind Farm. The turbines are planned to span highly sensitive ecosystems such as Adam’s Bridge National Park, Vankalei Sanctuary—a Ramsar-designated wetland—and the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve, which are vital habitats for migratory species along the Central Asian Flyway.
Environmentalists warn that Mannar Island must be treated as a “living entity” with fundamental rights to safeguard its biodiversity and local livelihoods. Concerns are not new. Residents first raised objections in 2011, and frustration has grown since the installation of 30 turbines under Phase I in 2020. The consequences of that project are already visible: annual flooding of residential zones, deforestation of Murunga and palmyrah trees, disruption of fishing activities due to turbine noise, and a sharp decline in migratory bird populations that once attracted over a million birds annually.
Despite these warnings, the government has pressed ahead without conducting a transparent cost-benefit analysis or exploring alternative sites on the mainland. Critics say the absence of local consultation and accountability has fueled mistrust, culminating in the recent police violence.
Dr. Lionel Bopage of the Australian Advocacy for Good Governance in Sri Lanka emphasized that Mannar residents are not opposed to renewable energy. Instead, they want Phase II relocated outside the island, where energy generation can be balanced with environmental conservation and community well-being. He argued that development should not come at the cost of ecological destruction or the silencing of local voices.
Bopage and other advocates have called for immediate corrective measures. These include halting the criminalization of peaceful dissent, launching an independent inquiry into police conduct, and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. Most importantly, they demand genuine local representation in decision-making for sensitive projects like wind energy. Advocates stress that while renewable energy remains a strategic priority for Sri Lanka’s future, social justice and environmental safeguards must not be compromised in the pursuit of global targets.
The emotional and psychological toll on the residents and clergy of Mannar is immense. According to Bopage, failure to address these grievances risks escalating tensions, sparking political backlash, and jeopardizing both social stability and sustainable development. He warned that ignoring these risks could damage Sri Lanka’s credibility in balancing environmental responsibility with human rights.
The Mannar protests reveal the complex challenges of transitioning to renewable energy in developing nations. While the need for clean energy is undeniable, the manner in which projects are implemented will determine whether they truly serve the people or deepen existing inequalities. For now, Mannar stands as a test case of whether Sri Lanka can achieve sustainable progress without sacrificing democracy, biodiversity, and the rights of its own citizens.
