A 35-year-old activist who had repeatedly reported illegal sand mining was killed after being struck by a tipper lorry carrying illicitly mined sand — in what his family alleges was a deliberate attack.
Selvaratnam Sopanath, a resident of Thiruvaiyāru, died on the spot near Mottai Bridge on Wilson Road in Kilinochchi.
According to relatives, Sopanath was travelling on a motorcycle with his wife from Kilinochchi town towards Iranamadu when the incident occurred. As he attempted to pull over to the side of the road, a sand-laden tipper approached from behind at high speed.
“Sensing danger, his wife jumped off the motorcycle and ran to the opposite side of the road,” a family member said. “The tipper then veered directly towards him, struck the motorcycle, and dragged him under its rear wheels. Sand from the vehicle spilled over him.”
Sopanath died instantly from his injuries.
CCTV footage examined
Relatives say closed-circuit television footage from the area corroborates their account and shows the tipper's movements before impact. Jaffna Monitor has not independently verified the footage.
The vehicle involved in the incident was reportedly transporting sand illegally excavated from the Thiruvaiyāru area — operations that Sopanath had been actively opposing for several months.
History of complaints
Family members said Sopanath had lodged multiple complaints with police stations in both Kilinochchi and Vavuniya regarding ongoing illegal sand mining in the region. He had also contacted the national emergency hotline 119 to report the operations.
"He had been threatened before. He knew the risks but continued to speak out," a relative told Jaffna Monitor. "This cannot be an accident. We believe this is a planned killing to silence him."
Growing concerns over illegal sand networks
The incident has reignited concerns over illegal sand mining operations in the Northern Province and the dangers faced by residents who oppose them.
Environmental activists and community groups have long warned that illegal sand miners operate with near-total impunity, often backed by political interests, criminal elements, and even sections of the police. Those who resist these operations routinely face threats and intimidation. Activists also allege that this network is further shielded by a wide circle of lawyers — including, incidentally, several who publicly present themselves as Tamil nationalists — who defend the accused in court and help them evade accountability.
Sand mining, particularly from riverbeds and coastal areas, has emerged as a lucrative illegal trade in northern Sri Lanka, driven by construction demand. Environmental groups say unregulated extraction damages ecosystems, depletes groundwater, and destabilises river banks.
