The petition states that "Sri Lanka's Environment and Wildlife is set to receive massive destruction due to the Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games proposal" and comes in spite of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) director general Chandrawansa Pathiraja claimingg that 200 elephants will not be relocated for the construction of the new Hambantota International Airport.

"We have stopped elephant drives and translocations," said Dr Pathiraja, as he explained that only a "small" drive would take place close to Anuradhapura at Ulukkulama, far away from Hambantota, as there were elephants in this village creating a problem.

Pathiraja's comments contradict those made by Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S.M. Chandrasena earlier this year when he suggested 200 elephants will be moved to make way for the $209 million (£131 million) airport and it provides a timely boost for the Hambantota 2018 team.

However there are still environmentalists that are hugely concerned by the impact of planned building in Hambantota which is why a petition has been launched against staging the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the region.

The petition claims it is targeted at the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa; the chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Mike Hooper and the honorary secretary Louise Martin.

The Sri Lankan President has been vocal in his support of the bid while Martin chaired the five-person CGF Evaluation Commission which recently inspected the Hambantota bid as well as the bid of their only rivals the Gold Coast of Australia.

Hooper was also a key part of the Evaluation Commission.

The petition, claiming to be sponsored by Sri Lankans United to Protect our Natural Heritage, states: "Sri Lanka's Environment and Wildlife is set to receive massive destruction due to the Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games proposal.

"The area proposed by the authorities is one of the last remaining strong holds for the endangered leopard, elephant and sloth bear, as well as countless other endangered flora and fauna that play a crucial role in Sri Lanka's rich but declining bio-diversity.

"Over the last few years, the once lush green Island we grew up has gradually started to become a concrete jungle.

"Once the bio-diversity is lost, Sri Lanka will lose its popularity with eco tourists, and its people and tourism will suffer.

"Hence, we urge you to take immediate action to stop amending the flora and fauna act to permit buildings near nature reserves and move the Commonwealth games out of Sri Lanka's wilderness."

The petition states it is targeting 5,000 signatures while 405 signatures had been collected at the time of writing.

But Hambantota 2018 are set to deal with the issue in the near future.

A Hambantota 2018 spokesperson told insidethegames: "Our co-chairman Mr [Ajith Nivard] Cabraal and his team will look forward in taking action over this."

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