Protesters in Jaffna’s Pannai area rallied yesterday against what they describe as the exploitative plunder of Mannar’s ilmenite-rich mineral sands by multinational corporations.
The demonstration, themed “Protect the Black Soil”, comes amid growing anger over attempts by an Australian-based company to mine ilmenite deposits found along Mannar’s coastline. Ilmenite, a key source of titanium dioxide used in paints, plastics, and aerospace manufacturing, is in high demand globally.
For years, Mannar’s coastal communities have resisted such projects, warning that large-scale extraction would devastate fragile ecosystems, destroy fishing grounds, and uproot local livelihoods. Campaigners stress that the land holds not just economic but ancestral significance for the Tamil people.
The protest saw political representatives, youth activists, and local residents march with placards and banners, urging the public to join the resistance. An awareness walk was also held to inform Jaffna residents about the environmental and socio-political consequences of the proposed mining operations.
The rally forms part of a wider mobilisation across the North-East against resource exploitation under militarised occupation, where, protesters say, state-backed deals with foreign corporations sideline local consent and jeopardise the future of the Tamil nation.
