• Warns authorities against proceeding in defiance of environmental recommendations
• Notes need to assess possibility of flooding, bird habitancy, impact on mangroves 

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) yesterday (26) issued a warning that it will pursue immediate legal action against any Government official or authority that attempts to proceed with the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium project, in defiance of environmental recommendations. 

They said the fate of the proposed Stadium on the Mandaitivu Island will be entirely determined by the findings of the environmental reports and the subsequent decision of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).

Speaking to The Daily Morning, CEJ Chairperson, Hemantha Withanage, stated that all construction work on the proposed Stadium was temporarily halted until the relevant reports are received. He emphasised that at this juncture, no one can determine whether the project will be permitted to continue. 

"According to the National Environmental Act, in a situation like this, first the environmental assessment should be done and then, for 30 days, the project should be presented for public consultation. Then, a technical evaluation committee should be appointed. Thereafter, that committee, considering all the public comments and the considerations, gives the final decision as to whether the project can be offered with a conditional approval, non-conditional approval or whether the project cannot proceed at all," he explained. 

He also added that several critical environmental factors must be assessed, including whether the project would cause flooding in the nearby areas, whether the location serves as a habitat for bird species, and whether the construction would impact the mangroves in the region before offering any approval. He also noted that while the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has claimed that 66 per cent of the project is already completed, the CEJ formally wrote to the CEA requesting a halt to the construction, as the work was continuing despite the pending environmental impact assessment. "By now, the construction is on halt till the said reports are issued," he confirmed.

The proposed Stadium was inaugurated in September of last year (2025) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a project aimed at establishing a "full-fledged sports city" on the Mandaitivu Island. It is to be designed to accommodate approximately 40,000 spectators and is expected to become Sri Lanka's fifth international standard day-night Stadium upon completion. 

However, in February of this year (2026), the CEA issued a written directive ordering an immediate halt to the construction after it was discovered that work had commenced without mandatory environmental clearance. Environmental groups, including the CEJ and the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, have raised concerns, noting  the site is a sensitive wetland ecosystem near the Mandaitivu Mangrove Reserve Forest, crucial for flood regulation, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of local fishing communities. 

Reports also indicate the broader project plans include not only the Stadium but a golf course, residential units, and a hotel complex. Despite the halt, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa recently stated the Government has not taken a decision to stop the construction and intends to proceed with the project in coordination with all the relevant Ministries, while also focusing attention on environmental concerns.