Residents of Mannar district on Sri Lanka's north-western coast are raising concerns about the human rights and environmental consequences of a wave of wind energy development, alleging links between renewable energy infrastructure and flash flooding, coastal erosion, reduced fish catches, and increased noise pollution. While no scientific evidence has yet been presented to substantiate these claims, community members argue that authorities have equally failed to provide research ruling out such impacts. Affected groups include fishing communities, farmers, and residents — many of whom endured decades of civil conflict and displacement before facing what they describe as a new struggle over post-war development. The controversy intensified following the Sri Lankan government's approval, without competitive tender, of a $500 million, 500 MW wind project by Adani Green — a deal struck after Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani met then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2021. The project faced sustained legal challenges from environmental groups and local communities before Adani Green withdrew in February 2025, reportedly after the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake resisted what it characterised as excessive power purchasing tariffs. Local energy firms Hayleys Fentons, WindForce, and Vidullanka have since won bids for ongoing wind farm projects in the district. Following persistent protests — including concerns about impacts on a bird migration corridor — the cabinet halted new wind power projects on Mannar Island, with President Dissanayake instructing that future projects must not proceed "without the consent of the people living on Mannar Island." However, already-approved projects continue, leaving residents uncertain about their rights and risks. Critics allege that community consultation has been inadequate throughout. "This government opposed the Adani project not because of the environmental risks that we locals raised, but because they found the tariff high," said local engineer A. Robert V. Peries. Human rights activist Raga Alphonsus called for a comprehensive cumulative impact assessment, warning that individual environmental reviews are insufficient given the scale of concurrent development pressures including aquaculture and sand mining. Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Ilyas acknowledged community concerns.