Sri Lankan Supreme Court sets date for Mannar wind power project case

by admin
Aug 8, 2024

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has set October 14 as the date to hear petitions against the Indian backed Adani wind power project case in Mannar.

A total of five fundamental rights petitions were brought forward by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), arguing that the proposed project endangers biodiversity and migratory birds. The court has set September 13 as the deadline for all respondents to file objections. Respondents include the Sri Lankan government, the Board of Investment, and the Central Environmental Authority.

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) is one of the groups that filed a petition. They also challenged the action by Minister of Environment Pavithra Wanniarachchi to exclude the Viddathalathivu area in Mannar district from being designated as a forest reserve. This exclusion was intended to facilitate the wind power project.

In May, the Sri Lankan Government approved the 20-year power purchase agreement with Adani Green Energy to develop 484 MW wind power stations in the country. These renewable energy projects include a 250 MW project in Mannar and a 234 MW project in Pooneryn. The Sri Lankan government states that the Adani Group's investment is crucial for the country to achieve its goal of sourcing 70% of its power needs from renewable energy by 2030. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) refused approval to award procurement of the 484 MW wind power plant in Mannar and Pooneryn to Adani Green Energy.

Tamil residents last month prevented Sri Lankan authorities from surveying and partitioning land for a wind farm along the Mannar-Talaimannar main road. The residents expressed that they would not allow anymore land to be forcibly acquired by the state. Proposed Indian business ventures have frequently focused on North-East Sri Lanka.

India's ventures on the island have often been met with opposition from within Sri Lanka amidst allegations of cronyism in India, particularly with the involvement of the Adani group. A Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister highlighted the anti-Indian sentiment among Sri Lankan bureaucrats following India’s role in Sri Lanka’s 26-year armed conflict as a reason for delay of the proposed Mannar wind farm.

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