Mannar residents vow to continue protest against Wind power project

Mannar residents vowed to continue their protest against proposed wind power projects on the main island despite they came under attack on Friday night (26) when they tried to stop transportation of equipments following Presidential directive to go ahead with the project. 

Three persons were hospitalized when riot police was called in to control the tense situation on Friday midnight as they tried to block the main entrance to the city. 

Fr S. Marcus, Head of Mannar Citizens Committee told the Sunday Times that police inhumanly assaulted the protesters including women protesters. One catholic priest was also among the assaulted by police forces. 

For nearly two months, Mannar residents have been engaged in a sit-in protest in the city against setting up two wind power projects - 20 MW and 50 MW claiming proposed projects posed an existential threat to ecologically sensitive region of Mannar.  

Condemning the attack on protesters, the Citizens Committee called for a hartal campaign to be observed on Monday, September 29. 

On September 22, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to re- commence the Mannar Wind Power project with immediate effect following a report submitted by Committee consist of all stakeholders over the project. 

The Committee was appointed last month following the protest to study environmental impact and community concerns as the project was put on hold for a month. 

A written directive sent by Secretary to President Dr N.S. Kumanayake to the Ministry of Energy dated September 22 indicated that the decision is taken to re commence the project ased on the Special Committee appointed to investigate and provide recommendations with the regard to the wind power projects. 

The written directive, seen by the Sunday Times stressed that both 20 MW and 50 MW wind power projects will be carried out after considering the concerns of the "local community, project developers and the national importance of these projects in meeting Sri Lanka's renewable energy targets,"

Given the strategic role of these projects in enhancing energy security, reducing dependency on high cost generation, and supporting Sri Lanka's economic growth, the Ministry is further requested to take leadership in coordinating with relevant agencies, local authorities and project developers to balance development with environmental and social safeguards," the directive stressed. 

The Secretary to Ministry of Energy is also requested to keep the Presidential Secretariat informed of the specific measures taken on the progress of the wind power project development as well.