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Protestors in Mannar last week.
Public and civil society organisations from the Eastern Province have condemned the Sri Lankan government for carrying out projects that they say violate the rights and livelihoods of Tamils in the North-East under the guise of “development.”
In a joint statement released on 3 October 2025, the groups said that numerous projects launched across the Northern and Eastern Provinces have caused severe harm to both the environment and local populations.
“Several such projects initiated by previous governments had already posed serious threats to the socio-economic stability of the people and the ecological balance of the region,” the statement read. “However, after assuming office, [the current government] has continued to pursue the very same projects, causing deep concern among the affected communities.”
The signatories highlighted the Mannar wind power and mineral sand extraction projects as examples of schemes that have disrupted ecological systems and jeopardised livelihoods. Local residents, they said, have been engaged in a peaceful and democratic struggle against the developments for months.
Last week, police violently dispersed a non-violent protest in Mannar as residents, social activists, and clergy members attempted to block the transport of equipment for the wind power project. “This act represents a dangerous infringement on democratic values and a direct violation of the people’s right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the groups said.
They accused the government of hypocrisy, noting that while it publicly claims to protect democracy, it continues to advance projects that destroy natural resources and intimidate dissenters.
“The government pledged that it would not implement any development projects that go against the will of the people,” the statement added. “Yet it has done exactly that.”
The organisations called on the administration to immediately suspend all projects that “threaten the livelihoods of communities and endanger the environment,” warning that continued repression and disregard for local voices would further erode democracy in the North-East.
