Tamil protests halt another sand mining attempt in Mullaitivu

An attempt by a private company to begin mineral sand mining operations in the coastal areas of Mullaitivu has been halted, after protests by local Tamils and Vanni Member of Parliament Durairasa Ravikaran.

The proposed mining by Midwest Heavy Sands Private Limited, which focused on the extraction of ilmenite, faced backlash from Eelam Tamil residents concerned about its environmental impact and the lack of local consent.

On December 13, Ravikaran and local leaders led protests that successfully forced the mining company to abandon its plans. The opposition was based on fears that the excavation of mineral sands would harm the local environment, disrupt agriculture, and threaten vital infrastructure. Ravikaran made it clear that such projects could not proceed without the approval of the people, asserting that any mining attempt must be made with the consent of the affected communities.

Ravikaran, speaking to the press during the protest, explained that the people in the Kokkilai area, who had already suffered from displacement, were seeing further degradation of their lands due to unauthorized mining. He noted that around 44 acres of agricultural land had been encroached upon by the mining activities, with excavation leaving the land in a perilous state. The lands were not refilled after mining, leading to concerns about soil erosion and the loss of livelihoods.

In addition to these concerns, Ravikaran pointed out the potential dangers posed by the mining activities on the Chemmalai saltwater barrier, a critical structure designed to protect agricultural lands from salinization. If damaged, the barrier could cause severe ecological and economic consequences for local farming communities. The MP warned that the ongoing mining would put the saltwater barrier at risk and could lead to disastrous consequences for nearby settlements and farmlands.

During the protest, Ravikaran questioned the legality of the mining operation, demanding to know how Midwest Heavy Sands had proceeded without securing the necessary permissions from the Mullaitivu District Development Coordination Committee or the local authority. He stated that the community had not been consulted and had expressed their opposition to the project.

The protest was supported by key local figures, including Sinarasa Prathas, Mullaitivu District Coordinator of the Fishermen's Cooperation Movement, Ilayathambi Thanikasalam, President of the Mullaitivu District Fishermen's Cooperative Unions, and members of the Nayaru Fishermen's Cooperative Union. The combined efforts of these community leaders and the public led to a swift cessation of mining activities.

As the protests unfolded, Midwest Heavy Sands Private Limited, faced with mounting opposition from both the local community and political leadership, chose to abandon its mining plans and vacate the area. 

This is however not the first incident that has taken place in recent weeks. Last month, Sri Lankan police withdrew a case this week against Eelam Tamil protesters in the Olaithuvadai area of Mannar, who were opposing a heavy mineral sand mining project proposed by the Australian company Titanium Sands Limited (TSL).

Similarly in September, a group of Sri Lankan public officials faced strong resistance from Tamil residents as they attempted to illegally occupy hundreds of acres of coastal land for mineral sand mining, threatening the livelihoods of fishermen in the war-affected North-East prior to the incident in Mannar.