On the quiet shores of Mannar Island, something powerful is unfolding – not just a protest but a collective cry for justice, dignity and the right to live in harmony with the land. In recent weeks, this coastal region has become the epicenter of rising tensions between local communities and Colombo based extractive interests seeking to exploit the island’s mineral rich sands.

What began as a covert land survey attempt has since erupted into a unified resistance, one that cuts across villages, faiths and generations

To read the full story visit https://groundviews.org/2025/06/17/mannars-stand-against-destructive-development/

Photo credit: Selvartnam Dilaxan