Sri Lanka’s plan to build an international cricket stadium on Mandativu Island has ignited outrage, with conservationists warning that the project is illegal, environmentally destructive, and a betrayal of the nation’s climate commitments.
The Wildlife and Nature Conservation Association has called on the government to immediately halt all work on the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium and Sports Complex on Mandativu Island. In a strongly worded statement, the group stressed that the site is ecologically sensitive and hosts vital ecosystems including salt marshes, mudflats, seagrass beds, and expansive mangrove habitats that sustain biodiversity and protect coastal communities.
According to the association, the foundation stone for the project was laid without completing the mandatory environmental assessments. This, they argue, is a blatant violation of Sri Lanka’s environmental laws, particularly the Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Act. The law requires all development within coastal zones to undergo either a preliminary environmental investigation or a full environmental impact assessment (EIA). The purpose is to determine whether the development is sustainable and to ensure that potential environmental consequences are identified, prevented, and mitigated before any construction begins.
Section 16 of the Act explicitly states that projects in coastal zones cannot proceed without prior approval from the Department of Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management following submission and review of an EIA or investigation report. Given the size and impact of the Mandativu project, the association insists that a full EIA process was compulsory, including public disclosure and opportunities for community comments to ensure transparency and accountability. By moving forward without this process, the government has acted unlawfully, the association said.
Environmentalists warn that disturbing Mandativu’s fragile ecosystems will cause irreversible damage. Mangrove forests and seagrass beds are critical nurseries for marine life, while salt marshes and mudflats provide habitat for birds and act as natural buffers against floods and coastal erosion. Destroying these ecosystems, they argue, not only undermines biodiversity but also increases disaster risks for local fishing and farming communities who depend on the island’s natural resilience.
“Developing this project in Mandativu will not only destroy the ecological integrity of the island but will also set a dangerous precedent of disregarding scientific and environmental safeguards in the name of development,” the association cautioned.
Beyond national law, critics also argue that the project undermines Sri Lanka’s international climate and environmental obligations. As a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, Sri Lanka has pledged to protect ecosystems, reduce vulnerability to climate change, and promote sustainable development. Ignoring these commitments for the sake of a high-profile construction project risks damaging Sri Lanka’s international credibility and future funding for climate initiatives.
The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the country’s approach to development. Conservationists argue that projects like the Jaffna Stadium must not be pushed through without due process and independent scrutiny. They stress that public participation in environmental decision-making is not a formality but a constitutional right designed to protect both people and nature.
For Mandativu, the stakes are especially high. As an ecologically rich island with unique habitats, its loss would not only be a blow to conservation but also to the livelihoods and safety of its people. Critics say that if the government continues without halting construction and conducting a full EIA, the project will become a symbol of how political priorities are placed above environmental law and the nation’s long-term survival.
The Wildlife and Nature Conservation Association has urged immediate suspension of all activities related to the stadium and called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration to demonstrate its commitment to protecting the environment by ensuring that the project complies with both domestic law and international agreements. The association warned that failing to do so risks not only ecological collapse on Mandativu but also a dangerous precedent of development overriding environmental protection across Sri Lanka.
