Construction of the first international cricket stadium planned for Northern Sri Lanka has been temporarily suspended due to the absence of an approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The project in Mandaitivu, Jaffna, was launched last year with the foundation stone laid by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Central Environmental Authority Chairman Prof. Tilak Hewawasam said instructions had been issued to halt construction until the required Environmental Impact Assessment is completed and formal approval is granted. The order was issued after it was revealed that the project had begun without the necessary environmental clearance.
Environmentalists have identified Mandaitivu Island as an ecologically sensitive area with salt marshes, mudflats, mangroves, seagrass beds and coastal wetlands. The proposed site is located near the Mandaitivu Mangrove Reserved Forest and within a zone classified as highly sensitive under regional planning frameworks.
Environmental groups have warned that large-scale construction could damage fragile coastal ecosystems and threaten biodiversity if proper safeguards are not implemented.
The stadium is part of a long-term plan to develop Mandaitivu Island into a sports city with international-standard facilities, including a swimming complex, indoor sports arena, hotels, apartments, shopping complexes and entertainment centres.
The project is expected to be built in four phases, with the first phase focusing on preparing the ground and pavilion to host domestic cricket matches.
