Environmental groups vow not to allow project to proceed at same location

Colombo, Feb. 25 (Daily Mirror) - Concerns were raised after it was revealed that construction work on the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium had commenced without obtaining mandatory environmental clearance. Environmental groups and civil organisations questioned how preliminary land clearing and access road development were allowed to proceed before the completion and approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as required under the National Environmental Act.

Sri Lanka's ambitious plans to develop a major “Sports City” in the Northern Province have since hit a significant roadblock, with construction of the proposed Stadium suspended over the absence of the required environmental approval.

The multi-billion-rupee project, launched by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in September 2025, aims to establish a 40,000-seat international cricket stadium on Mandaitivu Island in Jaffna. However, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) stated that no final environmental clearance had been granted at the time preliminary construction activities began.

Environmental activist Sajeeva Chamikara pointed out that the land selected for the construction of the international cricket stadium on Mandaitivu Island is a sensitive wetland ecosystem, and warned that the project would result in its destruction.

He said that laying the foundation by the President to commence that construction is not the case, but Sri Lanka Cricket has already begun illegally filling the wetland system and fencing off the area without obtaining environmental approval.

He said that plans under the project include not only an international cricket stadium but also a golf course, residential units and a hotel complex, forming a large sports city. He warned that this would lead to the complete destruction of the wetland system and the collapse of the small-scale fishing industry in the Jaffna lagoon.

“We have observed a number of birds dying along the fence due to the ongoing construction,” he said. “The area under development hosts around two million migratory birds during this season. This is a complete violation of the EIA process. It is understood that the authorities are now attempting to obtain EIA approval for only a specific section of the site. This is also illegal. An EIA cannot be conducted for only a portion of a project; it must cover the entire site following a proper feasibility study. Such a study is necessary to identify a suitable location for a mega project. No feasibility report has been conducted for this project. A project cannot proceed simply because land has been found,” he alleged.

He said that by failing to follow proper procedures, the authorities are destroying a significant opportunity for the people of the Northern Province.

He said that they are not opposed to the project itself, but insisted it should only begin after a proper feasibility study and obtaining the necessary environmental approvals.

“We will not allow this project to proceed at this location under these circumstances,” he said.

CEA Director General Kapila Mahesh Rajapaksa said that although Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had formally applied for environmental clearance and received the necessary Terms of Reference (ToR) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), unauthorised ground clearing and access road construction had commenced before the process was completed.

According to the CEA, reports received around the 14th and 15th of this month revealed that land preparation was underway at the site. The CEA’s Northern Provincial Office subsequently carried out a field inspection, confirming that clearing and basic roadwork had begun. Under the National Environmental Act, no preliminary site work is permitted until the EIA is fully completed and official clearance is granted. As a result, on the 18th, the CEA directed Sri Lanka Cricket to immediately halt all construction activities.

The Director General said that the EIA process is currently in progress and involves a comprehensive study of the site’s ecological and hydrological conditions, including potential impacts related to land development and sourcing of construction materials.

Addressing concerns about the ecological sensitivity of Mandativu Island, the Director General said that a scoping committee comprising relevant state institutions, including the Forest Department and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, had been convened at the outset. The Forest Department, after reviewing GPS-based maps submitted by SLC, confirmed that no mangroves or protected forest reserves fall within the 46-acre project site.

Despite this clarification, the CEA said that the full environmental review must be completed before any development can proceed. Mr Rajapaksa said that the timeline for resuming construction will depend on how promptly the appointed research team finalises and submits the EIA report for approval.

Last week, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) formally urged the CEA to intervene in the ongoing construction of the proposed cricket stadium on Mandaitivu Island, citing serious environmental and legal concerns.

In a letter addressed to the Director General of the CEA, the CEJ Chairman Hemantha Withanage warned that large-scale land filling, clearing, and construction for the stadium and associated infrastructure could permanently damage these ecosystems, increase flood risks, and cause irreversible habitat loss.

Meanwhile, when the Daily Mirror attempted to contact the Ministry of Sports for a comment regarding the commencement of construction without clearance, failed.