.jpg)
Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited Mandaitivu on Monday, pledging to press ahead with plans to construct the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium, despite concerns over environmental destruction in the Tamil North-East.
The stadium, which has been under discussion since earlier this year, is expected to receive financial backing from the Indian government. In April, Sports Minister Sunil Gamage confirmed that talks were ongoing with the Indian High Commission, following a request reportedly made by former cricketer and parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya directly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This initiative is expected to provide greater opportunities for youth in the Northern Province and enhance cricket infrastructure,” Gamage said at the time, adding that Sri Lanka was still finalising funding arrangements.
.jpg)
The stadium is planned on land within a lagoon and a mangrove reserve in Mandaitivu. Environmentalists have warned that clearing this ecologically fragile area will devastate biodiversity, destroy natural habitats, and undermine flood defences. Mangrove ecosystems are vital for coastal protection and serve as nurseries for countless marine species. Their destruction, activists warn, would leave the region more vulnerable to climate shocks and environmental degradation.
.jpg)
The president’s insistence on advancing the Mandaitivu project has amplified concerns that Tamil land, environment, and civilian spaces are once again being sacrificed for highly politicised development projects, backed by Colombo and international partners, with little regard for long-term sustainability or the rights of local Tamils.
