President orders to cancel contracts granted under previous regime: Johnston

14 December 2020 05:39 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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• Hope to complete the Kurunegala-Mirigama stretch and open by March 2021

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered the cancellation of contract involved in the development of second phase of Central Highway given under the previous regime, Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

“Ministers in the Yahapalana government awarded road construction contract in the second phase of the Central High way to their close associates. We did not subject these companies to political victimization. We had a dialogue with these companies and request them to expedite the work. However they did not heed to our request. We cannot allow wastage of public funds. Therefore we decided to cancel this contract,” the Minister said.

The contract has been given to Olimpus Ltd. belonging to a former Minister who is now a member of UNP.

“We hope to complete the Kurunegala- Mirigama stretch of the Central Highway and open in to public by March 2021,” the Minister added.

“It was the regime of Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who awarded the contract to construct the Kurunegala- Mirigama stretch of road but the previous regime could not allocate funds for it due to the economic crisis. However our government had awarded the contracts to complete this stretch of the highway,” he added.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Highways said it has been decided to construct overhead bridges or underpasses near all schools to ease the traffic congestion. (YOHAN PERERA)

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Comments - 15

Sokrates Monday, 14 December 2020 08:09 AM

Better give the contracts to "high qualified" Chinese companies.

Kak Monday, 14 December 2020 08:24 AM

JOHNSON COMMISSION

Hari M Monday, 14 December 2020 08:52 AM

Sokrates, better give Sri Lanka to Highly Qualified Chines and you can jump into the sea.

Dee Monday, 14 December 2020 09:30 AM

There goes the chances of attracting foreign investment in Sri Lanka!

Jude Monday, 14 December 2020 09:34 AM

Well, some of the highways in Sri lanka BUILD at a cost of $5 MILLION PER km range to $55 MILLION per KM now the latter maybe PAVED in GOLD !! Huh!!!

Reveal Monday, 14 December 2020 12:07 PM

Quote "The contract has been given to Olimpus Ltd. belonging to a former Minister who is now a member of UNP." PLEASE reveal the name.

vince Monday, 14 December 2020 12:18 PM

these goods want the commission now. wonder if BASIL was the architect of this,

M S J Monday, 14 December 2020 12:20 PM

Sri Lanka is going from bad to worse.

Ravi Monday, 14 December 2020 12:52 PM

Oh got the point commission issue.

Pantha Kumaran Monday, 14 December 2020 01:02 PM

Where is Basil Rajapakse. He knows the game.

joshua Monday, 14 December 2020 03:03 PM

This man does not know anything. He is good at throwing Bibles. That's all

Joseph Navaratnam Monday, 14 December 2020 03:10 PM

Ah!Ah! So now is the time to collect new commis???

harshass Monday, 14 December 2020 04:12 PM

Do you have the money?

Kumar Monday, 14 December 2020 11:11 PM

Is it true that the government owe money to the current contractor. How can any contractor move forward without getting paid.

Sulaiman Tuesday, 15 December 2020 02:23 AM

This is a big joke between an Indian and Pakistani minsters about bribe and commission taking . this look identical to that joke ? Both minsters boasted how they took commission... Our we competing them in taking commission.. So sorry for public

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President orders to cancel contracts granted under previous regime: Johnston

Comments - 15

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