The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) has called on authorities to immediately halt construction of the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium and Sports Complex on Mandaitivu Island, claiming the project is proceeding without the mandatory environmental clearances.
In a statement, the society said that work on the stadium had begun under the direction of Sri Lanka Cricket despite lacking approvals required under the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980.
WNPS alleged that heavy machinery is currently operating at the site and construction materials have already been transported, yet neither an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) nor an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted or approved by the Central Environmental Authority.
The society maintained that starting development activities without prior environmental clearance constitutes a legal violation. It added that the relevant regulatory bodies and Sri Lanka Cricket had been informed of the alleged non-compliance, but no concrete action has been taken to stop the project.
