Construction of the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium on Mandativu Island, inaugurated on September 1, 2025, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s patronage, has been ordered to stop until an environmental impact assessment is completed and officially approved. Professor Tilak Hewawasam, Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority, confirmed that while the approval to conduct the assessment has been granted for a maximum period of two years, construction cannot proceed without submission and clearance of the report.
The project, envisioned as a hub for international cricket with a sports city including a golf course, housing, and hotel complex, has drawn sharp criticism from environmentalists. Sajeewa Chamikara highlighted that Mandativu Island is a unique wetland system, home to mangroves, salt marshes, brackish water marshes, and a large population of resident and migratory birds. He warned that ongoing construction without proper assessment threatens not only the wetland ecosystem but also the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen dependent on the Jaffna Lagoon. Chamikara also raised concerns that previous plans to declare the lagoon a sanctuary may have been stalled to accommodate such development.
According to Chamikara, the reclamation of wetlands exceeding ten acres requires prior written approval under Sri Lanka’s Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, and any development of over two hectares necessitates an archaeological damage assessment. The lack of compliance, he asserts, reflects a dangerous precedent of advancing large-scale projects under political influence without regard for environmental law.
Sri Lanka Cricket’s ongoing activities, including fencing and partial reclamation of the wetland, have sparked controversy, as critics argue that these actions are occurring illegally and risk long-term damage to the region’s ecology and economy. The environmentalist stressed that future projects, including stadium construction, must prioritize feasibility studies and proper environmental approval to ensure development benefits the people without destroying natural resources.
