Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has alleged serious irregularities and malpractices in the second phase of development work at the Eastern Container Terminal of the Colombo Port.
Speaking during a discussion with engineers at his office, Premadasa said technical officers had highlighted numerous shortcomings in the project.
Although the second phase began in January 2023 and was scheduled for completion by January 3, 2025, he noted that even after one and a half years, the work remains incomplete.
Premadasa pointed out that the Project Management Unit and advisory team were supposed to function separately, but engineers are serving in both sections, raising impartiality concerns. He said this has created conflicts of interest, with those involved effectively judging their own decisions.
He further stressed that development activities should be independently monitored, but instead the process is unfolding amid transparency issues.
Despite the scale of the project, there is still no permanent project director. The deadline has already been extended three times without Cabinet approval, with the third extension set to end on July 7, 2026. Premadasa claimed even a fourth extension is being carried out without authorization from the Port Authority.
The Opposition Leader alleged that some payments are being made secretly, certain payments removed, and continuous advance payments are causing losses to both the institution and the country. He described these transactions as unlawful.
Premadasa also revealed that human resources for the project were recruited through a competitive process under the 2019 Management Services Circular, but their salaries have not been updated. (Newswire)