Contractors for the Dambulla Agricultural Cold Storage Complex have agreed to submit a detailed work plan and requested six to eight weeks to fully complete the project, including electrical repairs.
They noted that 99% of the construction is already finished, with only cooling system issues pending, and pledged to resolve them swiftly.
The agreement was made during a decisive meeting on the project, which was held at the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, chaired by Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe.
It was attended by Ministry Secretary K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, senior officials, Food Commissioner Lal Hewapathirana, representatives from the Indian High Commission, including Development Cooperation Advisor Maitrey Kulkarni, and contractors LQ‑SAW Engineering (Pvt) Ltd. The Indian partner joined via Zoom, while the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) was represented by Deputy General Manager V. Ratnam and her team.
Secretary Vimalenthirarajah opened the discussion by clarifying the purpose, stressing that the project is urgently needed and delays have deprived the country of this facility.
“Last year, this project was inaugurated by the leaders of India and Sri Lanka with the expectation that it would be completed quickly. Unfortunately, a year has passed, and it is still unfinished. Since this involves public funds and grants from both countries, we must ensure completion within a set timeframe. The whole country is watching to see why this facility is not yet operational, and we cannot allow further delays,” Minister Samarasinghe said, stressing the importance of swift completion.
The CECB highlighted issues such as roof leakage, ground-level problems, and faults in the cooling system, identifying the cooling system as the main challenge.
Indian High Commission representative Maitrey Kulkarni stated that roof and ground issues had already been partly addressed, and the remaining major issue was the cooling system. It was agreed to replace or reinstall defective cooling machinery, ensure humidifiers function properly, and determine the minimum sustainable cooling level.
The Indian contractor and LQ‑SAW Engineering representatives explained that 99% of the project was complete, with only the cooling system pending. They committed to finishing maintenance within four weeks, requesting electricity supply and relief from penalty charges due to delays caused by COVID‑19 and national circumstances.
Kulkarni thereafter outlined the next steps in moving the project forward, noting that the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) must first test and prepare the system for monitoring, followed by inspections to check for any damage caused by rodents or leaks of gas or coolant.
He added that the three chambers already imported to Sri Lanka should be installed, and stressed the need to ensure voltage stabilizers are in place to protect the equipment before operations commence.
The contractor agreed to submit a work plan and requested 6–8 weeks to fully complete the project, including electrical repairs. Minister Samarasinghe instructed contractors to expedite work and complete within the agreed timeframe. (Newswire)