Farmers File Complaint Against Floating Solar Power Plant Project in Chandrika wawa

A coalition of organizations, including the Walava Farmers Rights Protection Organization, has lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission, asserting that their human rights are being infringed upon by the floating solar power plant project in Chandrika Lake and Kiriibbanara Lake at Ambilipitiya.

The group, which filed the complaint yesterday (16), emphasized that they do not oppose the development of solar power plants in principle. However, they expressed grave concerns about the potential threats to their livelihoods posed by the construction of these plants on Chandrika Lake and Kiriibbanara Lake.

According to the complainants, more than 75,000 hectares of cultivated land rely on these lakes for nourishment, and nearly 45,000 residents depend on the lakes for their drinking water. Additionally, over 400 individuals are engaged in the mining industry around these water bodies.

The Walava Farmers Rights Protection Organization highlighted that maintaining the water levels necessary for the floating solar power plants could jeopardize the water supply required for their crops. This poses a significant risk to agricultural productivity and the local economy.

Participants at the event also raised environmental and health concerns. They warned that the materials used in constructing the solar power system, particularly aluminum and plastic, could degrade over time due to sunlight exposure. This degradation could introduce microplastics and aluminum into the lake water, potentially affecting the reproductive health of the local population within the next decade. There are fears that this contamination could lead to an increase in congenital deformities, kidney diseases, cancer, and skin-related conditions.

The organizations urged the authorities to consider these risks and explore alternative locations or methods for the solar power project that would not compromise the health and livelihoods of the local communities.