Proposed Mandaithivu Intn’l Cricket stadium pose irreversible ecological damage and heighten disaster risks: WNPS

 

The proposed International Cricket Stadium in Mandaithivu by Sri Lanka Cricket Board. 

The Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS)  has urged the Government to immediately halt all construction and preparatory activities related to the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium and Sports Complex on Mandaitivu Island in view of the environmental impact.

WNPS in a statement said that the island is an environmentally sensitive and ecologically significant area comprising salt marshes, mudflats, salt marsh-mangrove ecotones, seagrasses and extensive natural mangrove habitats. It has been revealed that the foundation stone was laid without completing the required environmental assessments, a clear violation of Sri Lanka’s environmental laws, the Society said.

Under the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Act (CC&CRMA), any development activity within the coastal zone must first undergo an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) or an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to ensure that the particular development activity is sustainable and all possible environmental consequences of the project are identified and adequately prevented and mitigated.

Section 16 of the CC&CRMA explicitly states that such development activities require prior approval from the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management upon submission and review of an IEE or EIA report.

Given the scale, nature, and potential impacts of this proposed project, an EIA is clearly warranted, accompanied by a mandatory process for public disclosure and comments to ensure transparency and accountability.

Therefore, the laying of the Foundation Stone before conducting necessary environmental assessments is an illegal act that is a gross violation of the CC&CRMA, WNPS pointed out.

WNPS pointed out disturbing ecosystems would cause irreversible ecological damage and heighten disaster risks for local communities.

“Developing this project in Mandaitivu would not only devastate the island’s ecological integrity but also set a dangerous precedent for ignoring scientific and environmental safeguards in the name of development.”, WNPS said.

WNPS also pointed out that beyond domestic law, this project also undermines Sri Lanka’s international climate obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. (Courtesy- The Sunday Times)