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CEJ says proposed Mannar wind power plant endanger lives of migratory birds

Published

6 years ago

2020/10/18

Sahan Weerasooriya

Developers assure no threat as wind turbines automatically shut down

By Ifham Nizam

The proposed Mannar wind power plant poses a threat to the lives of pelicans as the project is situated along the birds’ migration route from India to Sri Lanka, Hemantha Withanage, Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ), said.

With around 10% of pelicans dying annually, the wind power plant, scheduled to be operational soon, poses a potential threat to these birds, he cautioned. “The project’s Environmental Impact Assessment reports have also sounded a warning on this score”.

He said CEJ and several other environmentalists raised objections to the danger posed to the birds by the wind power project. However, the developers assured that all wind turbines automatically shut down when a flock of birds pass by the radar signals located on Adam’s Bridge. An actual bird watching radar system has now been included in the design of the Mannar wind power generation project to minimize bird collisions.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has released details on 435 bird species, including 110 migratory species. These birds, during the migration period from November to February, fly across to Sri Lanka on three major routes via the Eastern, Western and Andaman Islands.

Bundala National Park, Anavilundawa Sanctuary, Bellanwila – Attidiya Sanctuary and the Muthurajawela Sanctuary are habitats for migratory birds. Bundala National Park and Anavilundawa Sanctuary are Ramsar sites.

Withanage urged conservationists to educate the people on bird conservation and commemorate the value of migratory birds in countries, cities and villages around the world, as well as to understand this biodiversity by observing as many birds as possible and take necessary steps towards conservation.

The theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day is ‘Birds Connect Our World’. It has been chosen to highlight the importance of preserving and restoring the integrity of environmental relationships and systems. Migratory birds are part of our natural heritage and depend on a network of sites for their breeding, feeding, resting and feeding routes.

Amy Frankel, executive secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals – CMS said: “World Migratory Bird Day – October 10- reminds us that now more than ever, that we need to speed up our efforts to protect migratory birds and their habitats. Many bird species around the world are declining and the continuing extinction of nature is linked to the infectious diseases we are now fighting.”

Last year alone, more than 870 migratory bird events were registered. Compared to the past, the global celebration of the victims of our bird menace, and their impressive annual migration, will look even different this year due to the global health crisis the world is facing due to COVID-19, he noted.

Years back, Sri Lanka’s foremost authority on biodiversity, Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda questioned a poorly researched Initial Environment Examination Report (IEER) saying it poses a threat to the Vankalai Sanctuary near Mannar.

During an interview with the writer a few years back, the biodiversity expert stressed “I maintain that the proposed trace of the transmission line through or near Vankalai Sanctuary should not be allowed.”

According to him, it is illegal under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) and there is no provision for the Wildlife Conservation Department to sanction it.

Furthermore, it negatively impacts tourism, especially nature-tourism, which has potential in this region, which is urgently in need of economic development and the full utilization of all its natural resources for the benefit of the local people, he noted.

The IEER provides almost no evidence that the unique natural heritage offered by the Vankalai Sanctuary will be preserved as a result of the project, especially with regard to bird life with the proposed transmission line, he said.

Every year millions of birds fly down the Indian peninsula and then funnel through the four km wide Talaimannar panhandle to reach food-rich wetlands such as Vidattaltivu and Vankalai on Sri Lanka’s north-west coast.

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BASL challenges NPP MP to repeat false claims outside Parliament

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/27

Thilina Walpola

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has challenged NPP MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana to repeat what it called a false claim made in Parliament about anagreement between SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya.

The Colombo District MP Vithana alleged that Amarasuriya had recently received an assurance from Premadasa, who is also the Opposition Leader, that he (Amarasuirya) would be fielded as the SJB Chief Ministerial candidate at the Western Province PC polls in return for BASL campaigning against the government’s move to extend the retirement age of the superior court judges.

A top BASL spokesman told The Island that in case the lawmaker repeated the allegation outside Parliament, without the cover of parliamentary privilege, due legal consequences would follow.

The text of the statement: “The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (“BASL”) views with deep dismay the false utterances made today in Parliament by

Government Member of Parliament Mr. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Withanage regarding the President of the BASL, Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya.

The BASL categorically states that the allegations are utterly false, baseless, and made with malicious intent.

The BASL is deeply concerned by the abuse of parliamentary privilege to make unfounded and defamatory false utterances, thereby seeking to mislead and misguide the public.

Furthermore, such cheap political attacks on the BASL will not succeed. The legal fraternity of Sri Lanka stands united and will face any challenge to its independence and integrity.

In respect of the proposal to increase the retirement age of the Judges of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, it has been the firm view of the Bar that constitutional amendments affecting the Superior Courts should never be undertaken in an ad hoc manner or in response to temporary circumstances. Amendments of such constitutional importance should only be introduced where there exists a demonstrable institutional necessity, transparent public justification and broad and defensible stakeholder consultation. Public confidence in constitutional governance depends upon the process adopted as much as the substance of the amendment itself.

The BASL has, throughout its history, stood firm against any threat to democracy, the independence of the judiciary, and the Human Rights of the people including the right to protest. The BASL has spoken out without fear or favour, regardless of which government is in power. The legal community is well aware that the BASL does not, and will not, play politics.

The BASL challenges Member of Parliament Mr. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Withanage to repeat the said false utterance outside Parliament without the cover of Parliamentary Privilege so that due Legal Consequences can follow.”

News

Judges’ retirement age row: Govt.-BASL powwow on the cards

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/27

Thilina Walpola

Harshana

By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara will meet a delegation from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) this week to discuss the government’s hotly disputed decision to introduce a constitutional amendment to increase the retirement ages of judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Both the Justice and National Integration Ministry and the BASL confirmed the scheduled meeting.

The BASL, in a letter dated 16 July, 2026, addressed to Minister Nanayakkara, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, requested that a delegation, consisting of members of the executive committee of the BASL, and senior members of the profession, be granted an opportunity to discuss the issues at hand.

Responding to The Island queries, sources revealed that the government, with an overwhelming 2/3 majority in Parliament, was determined to go ahead with the controversial constitutional amendment, whereas the BASL, too, remained inflexible in its opposition to the move.

The BASL reiterated that as emphasised in their 16 July dated letter, addressed to Minister Nanayakkara, the premier legal body expected the government to put on hold the process until meaningful consultations take place among principal stakeholders of the justice sector.

The BASL wrote to Minister Nanayakkara on 30 March, 2026, seeking clarifi-cation regarding the proposed constitutional amendment and in the absence of response, raised the issue with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 25 May, 2026. Sources said that the President, too, refrained from responding to the BASL’s letter and they didn’t have any other option than stepping up pressure.

News

Organised motorcycle theft gang apprehended

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/27

Thilina Walpola

By S.K. Samaranayake ✍️

A team of police officers, led by Kadawatha Police Station Chief Inspector Buddhika Rajapaksha, has arrested two members of an organised motorcycle theft gang, along with three stolen motorcycles, and 14 grams of heroin, in their possession.

The Kadawatha Police are conducting investigations to arrest another suspect connected to the gang. Police stated that the suspects had concealed the stolen motorcycles at their residences in Eldeniya, Kadawatha. Further investigations are being carried out by the Kadawatha Police to determine whether the suspects are addicted to drugs.

Under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police, Nuvan Asanga, the Kadawatha Police are conducting further investigations to ascertain whether the suspects have stolen any other motorcycles.