The Sand Mining Crisis in Mannar: A Battle for Survival, Ecology and Justice

Photo courtesy of Kumanan

Mannar Island is at the heart of a growing battle over its fragile ecology, cultural heritage and the survival of its people. Once a quiet fishing and farming community, Mannar has become a symbol of resistance against corporate greed and state-backed extraction projects. What began as exploratory drilling has escalated, resulting in a movement calling for environmental justice and community sovereignty. Although much has been written, this piece reiterates the ongoing effort to conscientize people to awaken to the reality of corporate greed and broken promises.

Mannar’s ecological and cultural legacy

Mannar is not just another island. Its sand dunes, mangroves, saline wetlands and pristine beaches form natural barriers against climate change and coastal erosion. Freshwater bodies such as Korakulam Lake sustain migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway including flamingos and pelicans while its seagrass beds and coral reefs support thousands of fisher families.

The island is also a cultural stronghold. Tamil and Muslim communities have lived here for generations, preserving livelihoods tied to the land and sea. For them, mining is not merely an environmental issue; it is an existential threat to their traditions, food security and future.

The mining threat: corporate interests vs. community rights

Beneath Mannar’s sands lie vast reserves of ilmenite, rutile and zircon, minerals coveted by global industries for titanium, aerospace and ceramics. Companies such as Titanium Sands Limited have aggressively pursued extraction, aided by government approvals.

Reports reveal that over a thousand boreholes have already been drilled, destabilizing dunes and raising alarms of saltwater intrusion, aquifer depletion, and irreversible habitat destruction. Critics accuse authorities of manipulating Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and sidelining community consent in violation of the Mines and Minerals Act (1992) and Coastal Conservation Act (1981).

Waves of protests: 2024-2025

Since early 2024, Mannar has witnessed some of the largest environmental protests in Sri Lanka’s recent history. Communities, faith leaders and civil society have united in unprecedented resistance:

• January 2024: Over 5,000 residents marched in Mannar town demanding an end to exploratory drilling.
• March 2024: Fishermen and farmers formed a 10 km human chain along the coastline.
• August 2024: Catholic clergy led a peaceful sit in at the District Secretariat, confronting police barricades.
• June 11, 2025: Over 2,000 islanders, joined by NGOs and clergy, staged a massive march demanding Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for all projects.
• August 4-6, 2025: Black Soil protests saw youth, fishers and women block transport trucks linked to mining and wind power projects. Human chains and awareness marches spread across Mannar town.
• Continuous sit ins (2025): Villages organized rotating sit ins near project sites, holding banners that said “Don’t play with our future” and “Sand and wind are life, not commodities.”
• August 13, 2025: Solidarity protests in Jaffna declared Mannar’s fight a regional struggle against destructive development.

Demands of the resistance

Protesters across Mannar remain united in five core demands: Total cancellation of all mineral sand mining permits; independent EIAs with full community participation; protected legal status for Mannar’s ecosystems under Sri Lankan and international law; compensation for families already impacted by exploratory drilling; and accountability for government officials and corporations that violated environmental regulations.

Government and corporate response

Despite repeated assurances of no mining without consent, leaked documents reveal secret approvals of exploratory licenses.

In August 2025, after relentless protests, the government temporarily suspended the Mannar wind power expansion for one month. But activists argue this was a cosmetic move while mining approvals continue in the background.

Reports also confirm intimidation tactics with late night visits to protest leaders, bribery attempts offering jobs to divide communities and restricted media access with journalists blocked from protest sites.

Scientific and legal concerns

Environmental scientists warn that mining in Mannar could deplete freshwater aquifers worsening chronic water scarcity, destroy seagrass beds and coral reefs undermining fisheries vital to 15,000 families and accelerate coastal erosion, increasing vulnerability to climate disasters.

Legal experts highlight violations of the National Environmental Act (1980), the Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Act (1981) and the International Ramsar Convention applicable to Mannar wetlands.

Mannar’s struggle is not just about sand; it is about justice, sovereignty and the right to a livable future.

The recent protests represent a turning point: communities are refusing to be silent victims of green capitalism and extractive greed. Whether Sri Lanka chooses to side with corporations or with its people will define not only Mannar’s fate but also the nation’s commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience.

The time to act is now, before the sands of Mannar slip away forever.