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A foreign company has reportedly paid Tamil residents Rs. 3000 each to protest in favour of sand mining along the Mannar coastline. This payment, is intended to encourage support for a sand mining project on Mannar Island, which has been staunchly opposed by locals. The protest took place on Wednesday morning this week along the Thalaimannar main road in Erukalam Pitti, where locals gathered to voice their support for mining despite widespread opposition from the majority of Mannar’s residents.
This protest comes against a backdrop of continuous opposition to sand mining in the North-East. Environmental and civil society groups have argued that mining projects threaten to devastate Mannar Island’s ecosystems, pollute water sources, and disrupt the livelihoods of local communities dependent on fishing and agriculture.
Following complaints from local residents, the Mannar Election Monitoring Committee intervened, as public gatherings in the run-up to the parliamentary elections are not permitted. Upon arrival, election officials instructed the protesters to disperse, citing regulations against organized demonstrations during this election period. However, the protestors initially resisted, sparking a heated exchange with officials until they were warned that further disruption would lead to their arrest.
According to local sources, the foreign company behind the project is allegedly involved in financing these protests to manipulate local sentiments in favour of their vested interests.
One prominent company involved is the Australian mining firm Titanium Sands Ltd., which has faced mounting criticism from environmentalists in both Sri Lanka and Australia. Titanium Sands Ltd. is planning extensive limonite sand mining on Mannar Island, though it reportedly has not obtained the necessary environmental approvals or permissions from local landowners. The company’s activities include drilling over 4,000 exploratory holes across the island, with some reaching depths of 12 meters—raising serious concerns about the ecological impact.
The Centre for Environment and Nature Studies (CENS), an environmental NGO in Sri Lanka, has been at the forefront of the protests. CENS warns that sand mining could severely impact the island’s groundwater, risking saltwater contamination and disrupting freshwater resources essential to residents. Additionally, there are concerns about the destruction of the island’s unique biodiversity, including palmyrah and habitats for migratory birds, as well as potential marine pollution in the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.
Environmentalists argue that the company's portrayal of the project as "low impact" is misleading, pointing out that the disposal of mining waste could have disastrous effects on coral reefs and other marine habitats in the Gulf. Titanium Sands Ltd. has reportedly been actively seeking investors for the project despite the lack of official environmental clearances.
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