Built to ‘not last’: Anuradhapura’s Incomplete Buildings that haunt the public

Another eyesore for the residents of Anuradhapura, the building of the Provincial Department Of Education of the North Central Province, whose construction has been halted

The building of the Anuradhapura Niwattaka Chethiya Maha Vidyalaya, whose construction has been halted, with no prospect of welcoming students

The ten-story 135-room apartment complex where construction work has been abandoned midway, leaving aspiring applicants anxious

The slightly faded name board of the Provincial Department Of Education of the North Central Province with the staggering amount of Rs. 111 million for the project cost in display

Several building projects in the Anuradhapura region which also include school buildings on state-owned land are at risk of collapse, due to non-completion, as a result, bringing much anxiety for the general public.

The projects implemented by government institutions during the previous regimes have been stalled and are left to the mercy of the surrounding forest, these also include large stocks of building materials such as galvanised pipes, iron scaffoldings, machinery and equipment. The people still recall how these projects were initiated with much pomp and pageantry, including the participation of leading politicians and high-ranking officials, who cut the first sod and laid the keystone. 

The public pointed out that they pose a risk as they could collapse and as a result endanger the lives of people. They pointed out that several of them are multi-storied buildings that have been stalled, with only walls or roofs being constructed, while other projects only have a foundation with a plaque displaying the relevant politicians’ names at the initiation of such projects. 

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union pointed out that more than 30 school building projects in the North Central Province (NCP) started during the “Nearest School is the best School” programme, are amongst the failed building projects. 

Buildings for Thanthirimale Wimalagnana Maha Vidyalaya, Padaviya Mahasen Vidyalaya, Nivanthakachetiya Vidyalaya and Thirappane Mahanama Maha Vidyalaya are several of them.

According to various sources, more than 80 per cent of the contract sum has been paid to the contractors, however, the projects have only been completed halfway through.

The ten-storied housing project for middle-income class residents, featuring 135 apartments, was inaugurated in March 2021 as a joint project of the Urban Development Authority and a private sector company under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ‘Saubhagya Dekma’ (the Vision for Prosperity) policy statement has been stalled leaving its partly erected columns with iron rods to the mercy of the elements. 

The proposed housing project at 6th Lane, Abhaya Place in Anuradhapura town, costing Rs. 1600 million has been stalled much to the anxiety of the applicants for apartments. The project was to be completed in one year.

The Ceylon Teachers Service Union said the proposed Anuradhapura Zonal Education Office building complex on land belonging to the North Central Province Education Department inaugurated in 2017, has been delayed for eight years. 

The President of the Union, Priyantha Fernando, said the estimated cost of the project was Rs. 110 million and Rs. 80 million had been paid to the contractor as the first advance payment. 

He said he pointed out to the NCP Governor at a recent meeting with him that there has been a colossal waste of state funds, amounting to around Rs. 500 Million and hence, he requested him to bring to book the real culprits including politicians and the high-ranking officials responsible for it. 

He further stressed that the public funds wasted on these failed projects should be recovered from those responsible.