"Halt and suspend disastrous projects!":

A plea from people of Mannar

- By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe

On June 11, communities living on Mannar Island staged a protest chanting slogans to protect Mannar Island and the country's resources for future generations.

The community called on the political leadership to ensure the sovereignty of its people. This protest is part of a larger campaign to protect the pristine Mannar Island from looming disasters due to various unplanned mega-scale projects that have been planned on this limited stretch of land.

Concerns from the community

Issuing a statement addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Mannar District Citizens' Committee emphasised that as a responsible community, they are willing to contribute to priority development initiatives. "However the current trajectory of these developments challenge our very existence and infringes upon our fundamental human rights. We, the residents of Mannar unequivocally believe that these unplanned projects, which often circumvent existing laws and disregard proper community consultations, constitute a serious breach of our human rights. They challenge our right to life and our ability to sustain our livelihoods. Furthermore, these hidden projects not only jeopardise our community but also pose a threat to the sovereignty of our beloved country," the statement read.

Main matters of concern highlighted in the statement include;

Proposed sand excavation project: The statement mentions about a plan to allocate approximately 90% of the total Mannar island to a private Australian company for sand excavation. This project, valued at an estimated AUD 2 billion is reportedly designed for the company's sole benefit, utilising existing loopholes in laws and government gazette notifications to increase their share market value in Australia. The citizens therefore demand an immediate cessation of all discussions and activities related to this project.