News
COPE unearths irregularities costing billions in construction of Central Expressway
By Saman Indrajith
Massive irregularities in the construction of the Central Expressway were revealed by the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) on Friday. Sources said the irregularities had caused losses running into billiions of rupees.
They said it had been revealed that more than Rs. 1.7 billion were spent on the feasibility study on the road alone.
The delay in the commencement of work on the first section of the Central Expressway, from Kadawatha to Mirigama, during the period 2015 to 2019, had caused a financial loss of Rs. 8 billion.
Sources said it had also been revealed that the selection of SMEC Holdings for the first feasibility study had been done without following procedures.
A change in the original plan to construct the road from Kadawatha, instead of Enderamulla, to Mirigama, had warranted a new feasibility study, which had cost a lot of money. That decision had been taken by the Cabinet in 2015 without consulting experts, sources said.
COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath directed the Secretary to the Ministry of Highways to submit a report on the financial losses incurred due to the abrupt change in the original project.
It was disclosed that an amount of Rs. 159 billion rupees had been allocated and that the decision at issue had been taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM). It has also been revealed that the construction work was delayed for four years due to a payment issue and work commenced only in late 2019, and the delay caused a loss of nearly Rs. 8 billion.
Irregularities in the procurement process as regards the Pothuhera-Galagedara stretch, which is the third section of the Central Expressway, have also been exposed.
The CCEM had pushed for granting the tender to Fujita although MS Taisei should have been given it in accordance with the process and this had led to the delay, sources said.
The COPE has revealed that only 5% of the work on the Kadawatha-Mirigama section has been completed and 75 percent of the work on the second section from Mirigama to Kurunegala had been completed.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Highways said the construction could be completed by next June.
The COPE recommended that a progress report be submitted on the progress of the first, third and fourth sections of the Central Expressway.
It was also revealed that a feasibility study for the construction of this expressway, prior to 2012, had cost about Rs. 284 million.
COPE Chairman also directed the Secretary to the Ministry of Highways to report on the impact of all feasibility studies on the project and its success.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, State Ministers Sarath Weerasekara, Dilum Amunugama, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, MPs Eran Wickramaratne, Jagath Pushpakumara and Premanath C. Dolawatta, Ranjan Ramanayake and D. V. Chanaka were present at the Friday’s COPE meeting held at the parliamentary complex.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
