Sri Lanka's Green Energy Push in Mannar Raises Local Environmental Fears
For nearly a decade, successive Sri Lankan governments have looked to the strong winds of Mannar, on the island's north-western coast, to power a transition to green energy. But renewable energy projects, both existing and proposed, have left local communities increasingly anxious about their impact on the environment and their lives.
Residents across Mannar district report recurring flash floods in recent years, growing demand for land from both the government and private companies, constant noise from wind turbines near their homes, and a shrinking fish catch. They fear that the growing number of renewable energy projects could be contributing to these changes. Many say they are not opposed to development, but want it to meet their needs and respect their rights.
“We are often asked if there is scientific proof linking these changes to the renewable energy projects. Sometimes, everyday lived realities of people reveal more than science does,” said Fr. G. A. Arulraj Croos, Director of Caritas Valvuthayam, the social arm of the Catholic Diocese of Mannar. “It is a survival issue, not merely an environmental concern.”
While residents do not have scientific evidence to substantiate their claims, they argue that authorities have not shown them research ruling out any impact. “We can only tell you what we see and experience. The course of waterways in our village has changed. We can see the coastline eroding,” said a leader of a local fishermen's association from Arippu village, who requested anonymity. “Following land acquisitions in the district to accommodate wind turbines, rainwater does not drain out like before. We are frequently experiencing floods,” he said, adding that authorities think they oppose everything.
Mannar district spans the mainland and a small, dolphin-shaped island connected by a causeway. Talaimannar, Sri Lanka's closest point to India, once linked to Rameswaram by ferry across the Palk Strait, is located on this island, which also experiences some of the strongest winds in the country.
The Ceylon Electricity Board's Thambapavani wind farm, Sri Lanka's first large-scale wind project, lines the southern coast with 30 turbines from Danish manufacturer Vestas. Conceived in 2018 to add 104 MW to the national grid, the nearly $200-million project was financed through an Asian Development Bank loan and officially inaugurated in late 2020 by then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, during the presidency of his brother Gotabaya.
In October 2021, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani met Gotabaya in Colombo to discuss the Colombo port terminal project and potential renewable energy ventures, after which he visited Mannar. Five months later, the CEB signed an agreement with Adani Green for a $500 million, 500 MW wind power project. The Rajapaksa administration approved the investment without a competitive bid, triggering questions and a prolonged controversy. The subsequent Ranil Wickremesinghe administration cleared the wind power project in Mannar and nearby Pooneryn in February 2023. One of the biggest foreign direct investments after the island's economic crisis, the project faced legal challenges from environmental groups and local communities. Adani Green pulled out in February 2025, even as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government resisted the company's conditions.
The concerns of Mannar's residents remain unresolved. They seek meaningful consultation and assurance that the pursuit of green energy does not come at the cost of their environment and livelihoods. As the country pushes ahead with renewable energy targets, the voices of these communities highlight the need for a just and inclusive transition.
