Sports · Cricket · 8 hrs ago
Sri Lanka Restarts Plans for Cricket Ground in Jaffna
Sri Lanka has revived plans for a cricket ground in Jaffna, after previously deciding to abandon the project.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said the necessary approvals are in place and construction contracts have been awarded.
Work is set to begin next week at the proposed site on Mandathivu, in northern Sri Lanka.
The project was halted in June because of a shortage of funds, after an earlier environmental authority order had also paused work until safeguards were put in place.
The proposed facility would use 40 acres of land, but it has not been officially designated as an international cricket ground.
The reversal puts the project back on track, though the sources do not give a completion date or confirm when matches might be played there.
Sri Lanka has restarted plans for a proposed cricket ground at Mandathivu in Jaffna, reversing an earlier decision to abandon the project.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said the necessary approvals had been obtained and construction contracts awarded.
Construction is set to begin next week, according to the report.
The project was halted in February after the Central Environmental Authority called for environmental safeguards.
A previous cricket administration had cited a shortage of funds when it announced in late June that the project would not go ahead.
- Who
- Sri Lanka’s sports ministry and Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage are restarting the project.
- What
- Plans for a proposed cricket ground have been revived, with construction set to begin next week.
- When
- The restart was reported on November 9, 2026; construction is due to begin next week.
- Where
- Mandathivu, in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- Gamage said approvals had been obtained and contracts awarded. The earlier decision to abandon the project cited a shortage of funds.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake laid the foundation stone for the proposed facility.
The Central Environmental Authority directed that work be halted until environmental safeguards were put in place.
Shammi Silva and fellow administrators resigned, allowing Gamage to appoint an interim committee.
The interim committee announced that the project would not go ahead, citing a shortage of funds.
Gamage said approvals had been secured and construction contracts awarded, with work set to begin next week.
- Site
- Mandathivu, Jaffna
- Planned land allocation
- 40 acres
- Sports minister
- Sunil Kumara Gamage
- Foundation stone
- Laid by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in September 2025
- Construction
- Set to begin next week
What people are saying
We have obtained all necessary approvals. Contracts for construction have been awarded.