Delft Island will also have a fuel refuelling station

The Colombo government has launched a plan to build the facility on the northern island, where it still takes seven hours and sky-high prices to deliver the fuel that powers the electricity generators. ‘It is part of the effort to bridge the gaps and develop the economy in peripheral areas.’ But environmentalists are concerned about the impact on the fragile ecosystem, which is still home to a large population of wild horses.

Jaffna (AsiaNews) - With the aim of improving infrastructure and daily life in remote communities, Sri Lankan authorities have launched a plan to build the first fuel station on Delft Island (Nedunthivu, in the Northern Province) - the first in the island's history.

The project, carried out in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Navy, aims to drastically reduce the time and cost of transporting fuel to the island, thanks to a new agreement formalised with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).

The agreement was reached on 5 October and is currently in its initial phase. The CPC will allocate 50 million rupees (approximately €142,000) for the construction and equipping of the facility, with further expansion planned in a second phase. The project will improve accessibility for residents and visitors to the northern islands.

Currently, residents face a logistical challenge that requires approximately seven hours to deliver fuel to the island's electric generator. Once operational, refuelling will take 45 minutes. According to the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, work has already begun on the development of the access road to the Kurikadduwan (Kites) jetty in the Velanai secretarial division – an important step in improving transport connectivity to the islands off the Jaffna Peninsula.

The new station will offer fuel at standardised national prices, in line with those in Colombo, finally bringing price equity and accessibility to an area that has suffered for years from fuel shortages and inflated costs due to transport difficulties. The initiative also aims to support economic activities on the island.

Senior CPC officials spoke to AsiaNews about the initiative, stating that "there is a broader vision behind this project. It is part of a national effort to bridge regional gaps and strengthen social cohesion.

Residents of the north have been waiting for this initiative for decades, struggling to obtain basic necessities, particularly fuel, which is essential for their livelihood. The refuelling station is a primary need, as it addresses critical transport challenges, ensures price parity, improves safety by eliminating the need for manual fuel transport (currently in use) and supports the island's population and visitors. The new facility provides much-needed access to fuel, which has been difficult and expensive until now."

Although considered a historic step, the project is met with scepticism by environmentalists. Environmentalists Ramesh Ilangasinghe and Subashini Mendis believe that "this project will drastically affect the delicate environment of Delft Island, which has a fragile ecosystem, mainly due to limited freshwater resources and increased vulnerability to climate change, with drier periods, heavier rainfall and storm surges. These environmental challenges also compromise the island's ecosystems, agriculture and the livelihoods of residents. The island, which covers approximately 50 square kilometres, is at risk of contamination from pollutants in the soil, air and water, originating from leaks, spills, volatile organic compounds dispersed in the air, and improperly disposed waste, with the risk of damaging the local fauna."

‘Delft Island,’ the environmentalists continue, "is the second largest island in Sri Lanka, with a history dating back over a thousand years, and is the only one with a large population of wild horses, an important tourist attraction. Currently, developed, residential and administrative areas occupy about a quarter of the island and are located in an area less vulnerable to flooding. For this reason, it is necessary to adopt thoughtful and sustainable solutions to build a more resilient future for the island. It is essential to conduct an environmental assessment to identify the risks to its fragile ecosystem."

Photo: Flickr/Indi Samarajiva