31 May 2021 04:52 pm
The Cabinet gave approval to remove a construction company named ‘Olympus’ affiliated to former UNP Minister Daya Gamage from the construction of the Second Phase of the Central Expressway for their deliberate delay amounting to sabotage, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said.
“The previous government awarded construction contracts to cronies in its Cabinet. A construction company owned by former minister Gamage was awarded the contract to construct the second phase of the Central Expressway from Meerigama to Pothuhera. The company kept delaying its work and the ministry had repeatedly requested them to complete their work but to no avail. We instructed them to expedite construction of this section. However, they continued to delay construction work. We cannot open the section from Mirigama to Kurunegala without completing the construction of that section” he said.
Minister Fernando said that even though an additional sum had been paid, the company delayed the construction process.
“After this approval, we can terminate the contract awarded to Olympus company owned by the former minister for deliberately sabotaging the Expressway constructions,” he added.
He said as per the terms of the contract between the ministry and the company, the ministry has very few options when the company deliberately delayed the process.