The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed at the Supreme Court seeking the annulment of the decision to award the construction of a wind power plant in Mannar to India’s Adani Group, has been withdrawn.
The withdrawal comes after the Attorney General had filed a motion with the court stating that the Indian company Adani had informed the Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) in writing that it would withdraw the relevant project.
Following this, the petitioner today withdrew their FR petition filed at the Supreme Court.
The petition was filed by the Wildlife Nature Protection Society (WNPS) challenging the cabinet decision announced in May 2024 on the Adani deal.
Commenting on the petition, WNPS said it withdrew its legal petition before the Supreme Court following confirmation that Adani Green Energy has officially withdrawn from the proposed Mannar Island wind power project.
In a statement, WNPS said during today’s hearing, the Attorney General’s Department submitted a letter dated February 12, 2025, from Adani Green Energy to the Board of Investment (BOI), stating their decision to pull out of the project. It was further submitted by the Deputy Solicitor General that the withdrawal was further confirmed through direct communication between the Ministry of Energy and Adani’s local agent. As a result, WNPS, through its legal counsel, moved to withdraw its application.
Mannar Island is a globally significant ecological hotspot, serving as a critical stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, where millions of migratory birds from over 30 countries travel annually. Scientific research, including satellite-assisted tracking, has underscored the island’s irreplaceable role in global bird migration, biodiversity conservation, and Sri Lanka’s thriving wildlife tourism industry. WNPS has long warned that the proposed wind farm would have caused severe ecological and socio-economic disruptions, violating international conservation commitments and threatening local communities.
This outcome marks a significant victory in the ongoing efforts to protect Mannar Island’s fragile ecosystem. WNPS remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that all future development projects prioritize environmental sustainability and adhere to rigorous scientific assessments. The Society will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary action should any attempt be made to revive the project.
Mr. Sanjeeva Jayawardena Presidents Counsel with Prashanthi Mahindaratne, Dilumi de Alwis, Revan Weerasinghe and Rukshan Senadheera Attorneys-at-law instructed by S W Amila Kumara appeared on behalf of WNPS
WNPS had filed the petition challenging the Cabinet decision to award the tender to the Adani Group, authorizing the Government of Sri Lanka to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Adani at a rate of 8.26 US cents per kWh unit for the next 20 years.
If implemented, the Adani wind power project would have marked the largest renewable energy investment in Sri Lanka, valued at US$1 billion.
It was proposed to be the country’s largest wind power plant, with a capacity of 484 MW, expected to be completed in record time. (Newswire)