An open petition to the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka and the President of Sri Lanka

Why is now the time to act?  

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is open for public comments for one month up to 24 February, 2024.  We citizens of Sri Lanka and the world have to state our objections to the proposed wind farm project to the Central Environment Authority, 104 Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla. Telephone: +94112872419 and the hotline +94112888999

The facts below are extracted from a report by Prof. Sampath Seneviratne, bird specialist.

The proposed wind farm is located in the best forest areas in central Mannar island off the north west coast of Sri Lanka.  There are alternative sites in Sri Lanka that can provide energy without compromising the ecology and green economy of the island.

What will happen if the project goes ahead? 15 million migratory birds of 250 species migrate to Sri Lanka during the winters after a long and hazardous journey.  They originate from 30 countries in Asia and Europe, using the Central Asian Flyway (a wide and complicated route) to reach Sri Lanka at its southern most point.  Mannar island serves as a vital stopover and re-fuelling site for many of these migratory birds that continue their migration to destinations all over Sri Lanka.  They are severely at risk because of the proposed wind farm project.  This project uses wind turbines with large towers, enormous noisy turbines with high decibel levels that interfere with bird navigation and breeding sites etc. and sharp metal blades in which migratory birds perish.  Millions of migratory birds are in danger of losing their lives and landing rights which they have had for generations if this project goes ahead.  

 

 

 

Mannar is one of the four richest migratory bird regions.   It is considered a critical wintering site of this flyway (critical site 2.0 by Wetlands International) and is also recognized as a wetland of international importance by the RAMSAR Convention.  Sri Lanka is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).  As a country, we have a binding global responsibility towards the birds that come here from all over the world.

The Central Environment Authority (CEA), a government body, has put out its Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the proposed 250 MW wind power project phase 2.  This report grossly devalues the ecological importance of Mannar.

Data from GPS-tagged birds in the Mannar island show a wide corridor that millions of migratory birds use along the northern coast, whereas the proposed narrow “bird movement corridor” has been restricted to the interior of the island.  The placement of this corridor is highly arbitrary and is not based on scientific data.  

 

 

 

 

The data used for the EIA report is highly questionable because the bird observations have been done during the daytime whereas the majority of bird movement takes place at night.  In addition, the observations have been carried out in the wrong season.  It has not cover the critical migratory period of birds.  Globally accepted technologies for the study of bird movements were not used.  The existence of the Central Asian Flyway and the CMS were not stressed.  

This project will have disastrous consequences for Sri Lanka which is internationally recognized for its rich biodiversity, and which we have actively conserved for thousands of years.

Let us act now as caring and responsible citizens of Sri Lanka and the world to show our opposition to this rash, narrow-minded and shortsighted project.

Please send your objections to the Central Environment Authority, 104 Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla. Telephone: +94112872419 and the hotline +94112888999.