Environmental approval pending as authorities suspend all construction work on the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium amid legal and ecological concerns.
Construction of the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium and Sports Complex on Mandaitivu Island has been officially halted, with the Central Environmental Authority stepping in until the full environmental clearance process is completed.
Temporary Suspension Over Environmental Review
The CEA has directed that all activities connected to the 48 acre development site remain paused until Sri Lanka Cricket fulfills requirements under the Environmental Impact Assessment procedure. CEA Director General Kapila Mahesh Rajapaksha confirmed that a Project Outline Report was issued to SLC following confirmation from the Forest Conservation Department that the allocated land does not fall within a protected forest zone.
However, the project cannot move forward until a comprehensive environmental impact study is conducted and formally submitted. The Authority has emphasized that approval will only be considered once ecological assessments, mitigation plans, and compliance documentation are reviewed in detail.
Regulatory Compliance and Legal Warning
Rajapaksha stated that complaints had been lodged alleging preliminary construction had already begun. The CEA’s regional office in Jaffna was instructed to conduct inspections. While officials reported no active construction structures, limited earthwork activities were observed at ground level.
Under the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980, projects requiring environmental clearance cannot proceed without formal authorization. On 18 February, SLC was formally instructed to suspend all work immediately. Any continuation of development would constitute a violation of environmental law, potentially triggering legal notices and enforcement action.
The controversy has intensified following calls from the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society Sri Lanka, which demanded the immediate suspension of the stadium project over concerns about environmental safeguards.
The Mandaitivu cricket stadium project now awaits regulatory clearance, placing environmental accountability at the center of national sports infrastructure development.
