Mining sacred Sri Lankan region - Brief Article

Ecologist, The, April, 2000

US mining giant Freeport McMoran plans to build an enormous opencast phosphate mine in Sri Lanka. The mine, say objectors, would sprawl across one of the country's most sacred regions, pollute the river and lead to the re-location of 12,000 people, They also claim it will employ fewer than 1,000 people and run dry in 30 years.

Money has already exchanged hands between Sri Lanka's government and Freeport subsidiary IMC Agrico. Local people have formed the 'Fight to Save Eppawala Phosphate' campaign. They are promising to lie down in front of the bulldozers if necessary. Already, protestors claim that they have met with intimidation. The campaign's secretary has had a landmine lobbed through his window, whilst other campaigners receive regular anonymous death threats.