Mannar is the richest district in terms of mineral resources.
Petroleum, ilmenite, rutile and zircon are main resources there.
Mannar is specialized in mineral sands. As Titanium can be obtained from 58% of its ilmenite and 98% of its rutile.
On the other hand, due to the presence of stable winds, it is a very suitable for wind power plants.
However, the wind power plants project has been shrunk due to protests.
Mineral sands projects have been lying idle due to various resistances.
The petroleum project is still in the exploration stage.
Who is destroying the mineral economy?
The first attack on the mineral economy of the North was made by Velupillai Prabhakaran.
1. On August 6, 1996, the LTTE attacked the “MV Princess Wave”, a ship transporting ilmenite.
2. On September 12, 1997, the M.V. Cordiality, a ship carrying ilmenite, was attacked.
The LTTE’s policy was not giving mineral resources of the North to the government in the South. The same was the policy of the Church.
Even though Prabhakaran and Bishop Rayappu Joseph are gone, their policies are still in effect.
What is being used today instead of weapons to attack the mineral economy?
1. The geopolitical power of the Church.
The wind power plant project was scrapped on the day the Vatican’s Secretary for International Relations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, visited Colombo.
This was not done because of a court order or a recognized environmental report, but simply because of the fear of the Church.
2. Environmental policies that were turned upside down.
Wind is the least environmentally damaging source of electricity generation.
Ilmenite is radioactive. It poses health risks, including cancer. Removing ilmenite from coastal areas is a health service to the community.
There is a saying among the people of Mannar that “A wave comes, sand comes”.
The tides of the North Sea bring valuable mineral resources to the Manner coast from various destination of the south Asia.
But people do not know that is black gold.
The church does not allow the people to open their eyes.
Back then, Prabhakaran served cyanide capsule otherwise suicide pill, under the pretext of liberation.
Today, the church is giving life to separatism under the pretext of environmental protection
The current mandate to the NPP government has been received in favor of the mineral economy and renewable energy.
Facts being so, president of the republic have indispensable duty to full fill the aspirations of the people.
