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Since they appeared six years ago, the Mannar wind in turbines in Sri Lanka have been blamed for a host of problems — from dwindling catches to floods, fuelling opposition to green energy projects as fuel costs soar
Since they appeared six years ago, the Mannar wind in turbines in Sri Lanka have been blamed for a host of problems — from dwindling catches to floods, fuelling opposition to green energy projects as fuel costs soar Fisherman complain of dwindling catches and smaller fish, which they believe is linked to the turbines
Fisherman complain of dwindling catches and smaller fish, which they believe is linked to the turbinesBenedict Mary Vijiliya’s village, around 100 metres (330 feet) from the coast, is surrounded by wind turbines which she believes have impacted water drainage
Benedict Mary Vijiliya’s village, around 100 metres (330 feet) from the coast, is surrounded by wind turbines which she believes have impacted water drainageThe government aims to generate 70 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030, including wind power. But it has frozen new projects in Mannar to ease local opposition
The government aims to generate 70 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030, including wind power. But it has frozen new projects in Mannar to ease local opposition
QCV01 : Au Sri Lanka, le vent de la colère souffle dans les éoliennes de Mannar
Beneath rotating wind turbines on Sri Lanka’s Mannar peninsula, a fishing net is hauled up the beach by tractor winches and 20 men, but once again the catch is meagre.
“I’ve been fishing here since I was a boy,” said Venkatasamy Kalimuththu, 65, looking disappointedly at the catch — a few good fish, some small fry, and several clumps of seaweed.
“Before the wind turbines were installed, we caught a lot of fish,” he added. “Now, much less.”
Since they appeared six years ago, the Mannar wind turbines have been blamed for a host of problems — from dwindling catches to floods, fuelling opposition to green energy projects as fuel costs soar.
Local residents are determined to see them dismantled or, at the very least, prevent more from being built.
The opposition comes as war in the Middle East sends fuel and electricity costs soaring, making the shift to renewable energy an economic imperative.
Although he admits he has no proof, Kalimuththu is convinced the spinning blades are driving fish away.
“When the fans rotate, the shadow falls on the water,” he said. “So the fish don’t swim up to the shallows.”
His colleagues agree, also blaming the turbines — as well as competition from Indian trawlers.
“We are not opposed to renewable energy in principle,” said Lesley Jesurajan, a leading figure in the local civil society group OPEnE. “But not here. There are plenty of other places to install wind turbines.”
Owned by state utility Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the turbines line a narrow strip of sand exposed to winds sweeping across the gulf between Sri Lanka and India.
The first phase — 30 turbines with a combined capacity of 104 megawatts — joined the grid in 2020, and construction on another 14 has begun.
A third phase of 52 turbines had been awarded to Indian conglomerate Adani, but the government cancelled the contract in 2025 after a dispute over the price per kilowatt-hour.
Even the first phase has fuelled anger.
Benedict Mary Vijiliya’s village, around 100 metres (330 feet) from the coast, is surrounded by wind turbines.
She claims concrete foundations and trenches for access roads have prevented rainwater from draining towards the sea.
“During the monsoon rains, the water comes up to our waists and the toilets overflow,” complains Vijiliya, president of the Women’s Rural Development Society (WRDS), showing photographs on her phone of her home submerged under about a metre of water.
“We never had experienced that before 2020. Our homes are damaged, our cattle and our crops are affected, our livelihood is impacted and we can’t even drink the water of our well anymore”.
In neighbouring Pesalai, fishing incomes have plummeted, said A. Stanislas Peries, head of the local fishermen’s cooperative.
“Before, people could earn up to 5,000 rupees ($15) a day from fishing. Now they barely make more than 1,000. Things have become very difficult.”
Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said he had heard the complaints.
“We are carrying out feasibility studies,” he said. “Once we implement this…the flood situation they are currently facing can be reduced.”
The government aims to generate 70 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030, including wind power. But it has frozen new projects in Mannar to ease local opposition.
“We have already pledged… that only those projects already approved will be carried out.”
Father S. Marcus, a Catholic priest and head of the Mannar Citizens’ Committee, remains unconvinced.
“They had several times promised mitigation measures but nothing happened … they are cheating our people,” he added.
At his initiative, residents have filed two complaints in Sri Lankan courts. But a separate one has been filed against him.
“Apparently, we are disrupting the government,” he said. “But we will not back down — we will put an end to all this.”
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The opening ceremony of the 63rd General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) was held in Colombo on Sunday morning (01), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Representatives from 225 electronic media organisations across 66 countries affiliated with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union are participating in the conference.
The conference is set to hold extensive discussions on technological advancements in the regional media industry, sports broadcasting and media content, as well as current challenges facing the sector, including the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the media and cyber security.
Several technical and expert committee sessions were also held on 30 and 31 October, alongside the General Assembly.
A commemorative memento was presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to mark his participation in the opening ceremony of the General Assembly.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, foreign ambassadors, government officials, heads of the security forces and media industry representatives also attended the event.
Appointment letters were presented to 2,819 trainee nurses from the 2020 student nursing cohort, who completed the three-year Higher Diploma course at nursing colleges under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, recruiting them to the Sri Lankan health service as Grade III nursing officers.
The ceremony was held at Temple Trees on Sunday morning (01), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The 2,819 nursing officers who were appointed had sat the GCE Advanced Level examination in the Science and Mathematics streams in 2019 and 2020. They entered 16 nursing colleges across the island in 2023 and successfully completed the three-year Higher Diploma course.
The newly appointed nursing officers will be assigned to hospitals and healthcare institutions across the island administered by the central government and provincial councils.
Alongside the presentation of these appointment letters, promotion letters were also presented, under the patronage of the President, to 76 Grade I nursing officers (Hospital Services) for promotion to the Special Grade of nursing officers (Hospital Services).
Addressing the event, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said that steps had been expedited to fill vacancies in order to address staff shortages across the country’s hospital system and provide the public with a higher-quality healthcare service.
The Minister noted that, since 2017, the Ministry had given special attention to filling vacancies in the nursing service.
He further stated that, in line with the health policy and strategic plans for the next decade (2025–2035), staffing requirements had been forecast using scientific data. Accordingly, arrangements had been made, subject to the approval of the Department of Management Services of the Ministry of Finance, to recruit 13,000 personnel to the nursing service over the three-year period from 2027 to 2029.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr Anil Jasinghe, and several additional secretaries, deputy directors-general and other ministry officials attended the event.
At least 21,356 people from 5,800 families have been affected by adverse weather and Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’ across Sri Lanka, as a new Cyclone, named ‘Murasu,’ intensifies over the Bay of Bengal, prompting a red-level warning for strong winds and rough seas.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said six people had died, eight were injured and three remained missing in weather-related incidents, between October 23 and November 01.
The adverse weather has affected 137 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, in 19 districts, while eight houses have been completely destroyed and another 737 partially damaged.
Ratnapura remains the worst affected district, with 10,051 people, from 2,666 families, affected across 15 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. Puttalam follows, with 6,900 people, from 1,850 families, affected across 11 divisions.
Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology yesterday issued a red-level warning for strong winds and rough seas, following the intensification of the deep depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal into Cyclone ‘Murasu’.
The warning, issued at 3 p.m. yesterday by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, will remain valid for 24 hours.
The Cyclone was located near latitude 12.1°N and longitude 85.3°E at 11.30 a.m., yesterday, and was moving west-northwestwards.
The Meteorology Department said ‘Murasu’ was very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the West-central Bay of Bengal today (02).
The system is thereafter expected to move northwestwards, and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast of India, as a severe cyclonic storm, between midnight on November 02 and the early hours of November 03.
The Department warned that winds in the affected sea areas could reach 70–80 kmph, accompanied by heavy thundershowers and very rough seas.
Naval and fishing communities have been strongly advised not to venture into deep-sea areas bounded by 10°N–15°N and 80°E–90°E until further notice.
Those already operating in the affected areas have been urged to move to safer locations.
The warning also covers deep-sea areas, extending from Mannar to Trincomalee, via Kankesanthurai, where fishing and naval communities have been advised to remain vigilant and closely monitor weather forecasts and further advisories.The Department urged all those operating at sea to follow official warnings as the Cyclone continues to intensify.
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