In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a heavily guarded convoy carrying wind turbine components forced its way into Mannar town, under the protection of hundreds of Sri Lankan police officers.
At around 2:30 a.m. on August 6, the convoy which comprised of large vehicles transporting parts of massive wind turbine towers moved from Murungan along the Mannar–Madavachchi main road into the heart of the town.
The move came despite sustained opposition from locals, who had been protesting against the project for several days. On August 3, demonstrators gathered at Thalladi junction in Mannar to demand that the wind turbine components not be allowed entry into the town.
Organised by the Mannar Citizens’ Group, the protest continued through Monday and Tuesday, drawing participation from youth, community members, and local business owners.
On Tuesday (August 5), shops across the Mannar Bazaar area were shuttered in a show of solidarity, with traders expressing their strong opposition to the second phase of the wind power project. That night, a vigil was held at Thalladi, where protesters once again demanded that the five turbine components parked in Murungan be stopped from entering the town.
Despite the persistent demonstrations, only a few residents remained at the site late Tuesday night. Witnesses report that these individuals were intimidated by police officers, who cleared the path for the convoy to proceed under tight security.
The incident has heightened tensions across Mannar, with locals expressing alarm over the government’s determination to push forward with the project despite community objections. Many accuse the authorities of ignoring legitimate environmental concerns and failing to consult local residents in any meaningful way.
Tamil parliamentarians recently submitted a joint letter to Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake raising these concerns and warning that the situation in Mannar had reached the level of "emergency".
