By Ifham Nizam

The Adani Group has officially withdrawn from the controversial wind power project in Mannar, citing unspecified reasons, Friends of Earth chairman Hemantha Withanage said.

It is believed that strong legal challenges, including a case filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) on behalf of local communities, have played a crucial role in the project’s cancellation. These cases have raised concerns over environmental and social impacts, the absence of a competitive bidding process, and the project’s high unit cost.

The decision comes in the wake of mounting public opposition and a recent resolution by the District Development Committee (DDC) of Mannar, which declared that no further destructive mining or wind power projects would be supported on Mannar Island. Local communities have been protesting against the environmental damage caused by existing development projects, including wind farm construction and road expansion, which have exacerbated flooding in the region.

For years, the Centre for Environmental Justice, in collaboration with the Mannar Citizen’s Committee, has been providing legal and scientific support to address these issues. Environmental activists argue that the government’s approval of such projects without proper scrutiny could lead to long-term ecological and social consequences.

With the Adani Group stepping away, the future of large-scale wind power projects in Mannar remains uncertain, as local resistance to potentially harmful developments continues to grow