Prez decided to award highway constructions only to local contractors: PM

16 July 2020 06:44 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to award contracts to construct expressways only to Sri Lankan contractors in a bid to strengthen the local construction industry, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today said.

Speaking at an SLPP election rally at Ruwanwella in Kegalle, the Prime Minister said the government would continue with the constructions of express-ways.

“Steps have already been taken to go ahead with the Kandy, Dambulla and Ratnapura expressways. The construction of these expressways will not be awarded to foreign companies. The President has decided to award construction to Sri Lankan companies and Sri Lankan contractors. It is better to strengthen our businesses, contractors and construction industry than giving our funds to foreign countries," Mr. Rajapaksa said.

He said expressways, agriculture and industries needed to be enhanced in order to develop the country. “To do this, we need to develop our infrastructure including roads, water supply, electricity and other facilities. We made an airport in Mattala and a port at Hambantota which have been leased out now. Leasing out the port for 99 years, not once but twice, is almost similar to selling it outright," he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 21

Jeeves Thursday, 16 July 2020 07:19 PM

Wise decision to give opportunities to Sri Lankan contractors. And they will have to answer to the public if they don't do a good job!

BigEars Thursday, 16 July 2020 07:23 PM

No money to help the poor or improve public transport. Now the % game has started.

Sunil Thursday, 16 July 2020 07:42 PM

Good news but stringent quality control required with heavy penalties for low quality work even if evident 10 years after construction.

Lord Wolfstein Thursday, 16 July 2020 07:45 PM

Problem ist that local contractors can not bring the needed quality, the same like Chineses companies can not do.

Leo Friday, 17 July 2020 09:02 AM

Are you on weed? Our construction companies are top notch. Please get away from this colonial mentality.

FF Thursday, 16 July 2020 08:23 PM

MR PRESIDENT DONT HALT MAHINDAS COMMIS INFLOWS

Mandayan Thursday, 16 July 2020 08:35 PM

Anyone I know, Sir?

Lucion Thursday, 16 July 2020 08:59 PM

Is it for the family company

Middle Class Friday, 17 July 2020 12:29 AM

Of course. And even if not, it will definitely be to their close associates for a cut.

Roshan Thursday, 16 July 2020 09:12 PM

more commission

Ups Thursday, 16 July 2020 09:41 PM

Most often tenders go to foreigners to grab better commission for politicians,if contracts given locally,money circulating within the country,so many people benefiting

School Principal Thursday, 16 July 2020 10:13 PM

We should start to build ourselves instead of bringing in foreign engineers. But look at the Chinese engineers working in Express way constructions in Sri Lanka, they are almost all, practical technical college educated engineers and not university educated engineers. This is the lesson for Sri Lanka, we have to close the university engineering faculties and open up TECHNICAL COLLEGES in every major district and produce PRACTICAL ENGINEERS. Otherwise we have to depend on foreign Engineers forever.

Southpaw Humbugthota Thursday, 16 July 2020 10:15 PM

It will be handed over Rajapakse Brothers

Qed Friday, 17 July 2020 09:05 AM

This is exactly why we can't vote for the opposition political camp just yet. Their hate for Rajapakshes is ok, what is not ok is that this hate then goes into even local industrialists or the maha sanga of the country. You can't certainly build up a country by hating the industrialists of the country.

Hari M Thursday, 16 July 2020 10:20 PM

following Henry Ford's quote "any Srilankan contractors, provided they are connected to my family"

Dee Thursday, 16 July 2020 11:35 PM

Yes. We remember how a 'local' company was awarded to supply laptops in or around 2012!

Ralaharamy Friday, 17 July 2020 06:18 AM

So, our workers are going to benefit from the road construction? Chinese workers affected by COVID-19 will not enter Sri Lanka? If you say so!

Ragitha Friday, 17 July 2020 07:28 AM

Local contractor is N.R. Constructions.

Don Juwan Friday, 17 July 2020 08:12 AM

Then the transactions under the table will not be in Dollars.

vince Friday, 17 July 2020 11:21 AM

About bloody time. I hope no politician took bribes doing that.

Perera Tuesday, 28 July 2020 12:11 AM

actually the Chinese contractor are also doing hard to construct by local resources, to employ as much as local engineers and labours, use local equipments and materials. The right hand is one side, on the other side, there is not only left hand, but also the body! Cooperation is always the way to solve the problem. Why not require the local component in each project, such as 50% of the project must be local resources.

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Prez decided to award highway constructions only to local contractors: PM

Comments - 21

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