The Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha has begun construction on a new indoor sports facility funded locally, after a government-proposed stadium project at Jaffna Old Park faced legal challenges.
The Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha laid the foundation stone last week for a Rs.330 million indoor sports complex intended to serve athletes and the broader community in the Jaffna District. The project, built on land owned by the local authority and funded through its own resources, represents an alternative development approach following the suspension of a separate government initiative.
A Rs.170 million indoor stadium proposed by the Government at the historic Jaffna Old Park was halted following a High Court interim order in response to a petition questioning the selected location. According to ITAK Parliamentary Group Leader Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, the new project demonstrates that alternative sites can be identified when proposed locations encounter legal obstacles, rather than allowing development initiatives to stall entirely.
Rasamanickam used the occasion to advocate for enhanced local governance structures, stating that functional Provincial Councils with genuine authority and adequate funding would enable communities to direct development according to their own priorities. He also emphasised the importance of establishing a dedicated maintenance fund for the complex to cover operational expenses such as electricity and repairs, warning that the substantial public investment required long-term financial planning.
The foundation stone ceremony was attended by Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman T. Prakash, ITAK President C.V.K. Sivagnanam, and other local officials. Rasamanickam called on contractors to maintain approved design standards and construction specifications while ensuring that infrastructure projects respect legal requirements and existing public space designations.