The Wildlife and Nature Conservation Association has called on the government to immediately suspend all construction and preparatory work for the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium and Sports Complex on Mandativu Island.
In a statement, the association described Mandativu Island as an ecologically sensitive area, home to salt marshes, mudflats, mangrove ecosystems, seagrass beds, and extensive natural mangrove habitats.
The group criticized the laying of the foundation stone before completing required environmental assessments, calling it a violation of Sri Lanka’s Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Act. According to the law, any development in the coastal zone must undergo a preliminary environmental investigation or a full environmental impact assessment, with prior approval from the Department of Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management.
“Laying the foundation stone before completing these assessments is illegal and disregards environmental safeguards,” the association said, warning that such projects can cause irreversible ecological damage and increase disaster risks for local communities.
The association further stressed that proceeding with the project undermines Sri Lanka’s obligations under international climate agreements, including the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and sets a dangerous precedent for ignoring scientific and environmental protocols in the name of development.
