By: Staff Writer
April 06, Colombo (LNW): Environmentalists, scientists, and legal experts have firmly stated they will seek legal intervention once more if any new attempts are made—by global or local entities—to initiate wind power projects on Mannar Island. This comes after India’s Adani Group withdrew its controversial wind energy plans in June 2023.
A recent press conference was hosted by Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda along with leading environmental groups including the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), and Environmental Foundation Ltd. (EFL). The event addressed key issues such as transparency, legal procedures, and misconceptions that environmentalists oppose progress.
Mannar Island, located off Sri Lanka’s northwest coast, is an ecologically and culturally sensitive area, equated in significance to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and other national parks. It plays a vital role in global biodiversity, particularly as a stop on the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds. Around 15 million birds from 30 countries pass through annually, with nearly a million of 180 species nesting there—including several endangered species.
Prof. Sampath Seneviratne of the University of Colombo highlighted the environmental dangers of Adani’s now-scrapped wind project, which would have added 73 massive turbines—each 220m tall—across the island. These towers would have disrupted migratory routes, causing significant bird mortality, as already observed in the existing Thambapavani wind farm on the island’s southern edge.
Beyond biodiversity, the island is also home to 67,000 people still recovering from the civil war. Large-scale wind developments could drastically impact their fragile livelihoods. Seneviratne added that while Mannar offers optimal wind conditions, alternative sites such as the Mahaweli Valley, Knuckles, Rakwana Hills, Kalpitiya, and areas in Jaffna could support wind farms with less ecological impact. These alternate sites may slightly reduce energy output but can operate continuously without pausing for bird migrations, potentially balancing overall generation.
The WNPS has also challenged the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Adani project, citing its flawed findings and acknowledgment of higher-than-expected bird deaths. CEJ Chairman Ravindranath Dabare emphasized that any future project on Mannar would breach multiple international environmental agreements, infringe on biodiversity laws, and undermine national energy sovereignty.
Environmentalists reaffirmed they are not anti-development. Dr. Pethiyagoda recalled how they previously proposed alternatives to destructive industrial plans, and called for a broader national consensus on sustainable energy development.
A key takeaway from the discussion was the urgent need to formally recognize Mannar Island as a national ecological treasure—and to create a unified national voice to guide future energy decisions responsibly.
