The Federation of Community Based Organisations in Mannar has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake condemning what it called an “undemocratic decision” to proceed with the wind power project on Mannar Island without proper consultation with affected residents.
In an urgent letter, the Federation’s president, V.S. Sivakaran, warned that the actions of the police and relevant authorities, taken without consideration for the livelihood rights of local people, amount to violations of fundamental rights and run contrary to democratic governance.
The Federation stated that communities in Mannar have for years engaged in a peaceful struggle against the extraction of mineral sands and the installation of wind turbines. Following discussions last month with Ministers and later with Dissanayake, the project had been temporarily suspended for one month.
During that period, officials held meetings with civil society organisations and a committee led by the Minister of Power and Energy met with local residents. According to the Federation, people voiced strong opposition to the project and described the hardships they faced. Their concerns, however, were disregarded.
Contrary to public expectations, the Federation said, the government has now taken a unilateral decision to proceed with the unpopular projects. “In a democracy, resolutions must emerge through dialogue—by addressing disagreements and arriving at a consensus,” the letter stated, describing the move as “inconsistent with democratic principles”. It added that the government’s approach “resembles a judicial verdict”, exposing how the state apparatus “remains unchanged regardless of changes in political leadership”.
Sivakaran wrote that when law enforcement and administrative authorities act without recognising the rights and livelihoods of the people, “it undermines democratic governance itself”. He urged the government to ensure meaningful consultation before reaching any final decision.
The Federation also noted that no official notice has been issued on the suspension of the mineral excavation project and that the two companies involved have continued operations as normal. Such actions, it said, violate the legislative spirit of democracy and “the very essence of people’s sovereignty”.
The letter warned that affected communities now see “no distinction between the conduct of past administrations and that of the present”, casting doubt on the current government’s claim to uphold leftist principles.
Calling for renewed dialogue, the Federation urged Dissanayake to reconsider the decision and reach a final resolution only after full consultation with those directly impacted by the project.