The Auditor General’s Department says that due to the termination of the contract for the construction of the Telecommunication Media Center in the Hambantota Information Technology Park by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), an amount of 684 million rupees has now been wasted.

The TRCSL on 28 July 28, 2014, entered into an agreement with the relevant contractor for the construction of this telecommunication media centre.

That agreement was terminated by the Commission on 10 August 2016. The audit has revealed that the physical progress of the project was at 33.1 per cent on the date of completion of the contract and the amount of 684 million rupees incurred for it was an idle expenditure.

However, the relevant contractor had submitted a complaint to the Disputes Arbitration Board against the decision taken by the commission demanding an estimated compensation of 706,666,172 rupees.

The TRCSL has informed the Auditor General’s Department that the construction has been stopped based on a decision made by them but the legal department has also informed and they are working to resolve the existing legal issues in order to recommence the work.

Lalith Chaminda