Stay the course on Mannar wind power project 

Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, offers a pathway not only towards environmental responsibility but also towards national independence and economic stability. Yet, recent protests against the Mannar wind power project threaten to derail this progress, echoing the misplaced opposition that once delayed the Norocholai Coal Power Plant by nearly two decades. 

The reasons behind the protests in Mannar remain unclear. Some claim concerns about possible impacts on fisheries and marine ecosystems, though no conclusive evidence has been presented. Others see familiar patterns of manipulation, where vested interests use misinformation to turn communities against national projects. This is reminiscent of the Norocholai experience where local protests, supposedly led by religious leaders, were later revealed to have been instigated by private diesel power operators. These groups, benefiting from lucrative contracts for thermal power generation, sought to prevent the State-owned coal plant from coming online.

When Norocholai was finally commissioned, the doomsday predictions of environmental catastrophe did not materialise. Instead, the power plant now supplies over 900 MegaWatts roughly a quarter of Sri Lanka’s total installed capacity and has significantly reduced the cost of electricity generation. It stands today as a reminder that while public debate and environmental caution are necessary, they should not be manipulated to serve private profit at the expense of national progress.

The case of Mannar bears troubling similarities. The region’s wind corridor has been identified by experts as one of the most promising in South Asia. Harnessing even a fraction of its potential could make a decisive contribution to Sri Lanka’s renewable energy targets. Yet, vague fears about damage to fisheries, unsubstantiated by rigorous scientific evidence, are being amplified. The result is confusion, delay, and the risk of losing foreign investment and technical expertise in a sector that Sri Lanka desperately needs to expand.

Sri Lanka’s hydroelectric potential, once the backbone of its power supply, has reached its peak. Climate variability, prolonged droughts, and siltation in major reservoirs have made hydropower increasingly unreliable. In the coming decades, some of these large reservoirs may even face decommissioning. The diversification of energy sources is not just an environmental priority, it is a matter of national economic security.

Wind and solar energy are the twin pillars of this diversification. Together, they can provide clean, affordable, and decentralised power to communities across the country. The Mannar Wind Power Project, for instance, is already demonstrating impressive performance, with capacity factors among the best in the region. Expanding such projects could stabilise the grid, reduce dependence on imported oil and coal, and help Sri Lanka meet its international climate commitments.

This is not to say that environmental concerns should be dismissed. Every project must undergo a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and mitigation measures must be implemented to minimise harm to ecosystems and local livelihoods. However, once the assessments are complete and the science is sound, the Government must have the courage to proceed. Development cannot be held hostage by misinformation or the hidden agendas of those who profit from the status quo.

Our country’s path to energy security and sustainability will not be without challenges. But history has shown that resistance often precedes progress. We cannot afford another 20-year delay like Norocholai. The world is moving rapidly towards clean energy. To hesitate now would be to fall behind economically and strategically. It is time for the Government to stay the course, invest boldly in wind and solar power, and ensure that the light which powers our future is both green and secure.