CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS HALTS SEVERAL ONGOING PROJECTS

The progress of several ongoing projects in Colombo as well as other parts of the country is in a dilemma due to the prevailing political crisis, a senior government official said.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the officer said that state institutions were facing a series of issues related to approvals and funding for ongoing projects as well as those that were to be started.

“A number of unofficial discussions have been held between the heads of several authorities where this has become a stumbling block for the day-to- day functions. We are all in the same boat and it is impossible to move forward in this manner,” he said.

The official explained that it was not only mega projects which were slowly grinding to a halt but also projects as minor as the construction of gullies were facing a similar fate.

“We have been unable to make some crucial decisions with respect to the projects that are yet to commence. It has become difficult for us to allocate funds for the ongoing projects and upcoming projects as well.

Some bidders and the investors are hesitant to invest because they fear that they would not receive any payments in return.

We are in a dilemma as to what to do and not to do. Hence, we urge the authorities to end this turbulence so that these institutions can function as they should,” the official concluded.

Meanwhile, earlier this week the media reported that the development of the Rs.8 billion ‘Access Tower 3’ was facing delays due to the current political crisis and that the state was yet to award the lease agreement.

A senior official stated that the current political turmoil might be delaying the internal approval process of awarding the contract.

SOME BIDDERS AND THE INVESTORS ARE HESITANT TO INVEST BECAUSE THEY FEAR THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY PAYMENTS IN RETURN

WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE SOME CRUCIAL DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROJECTS THAT ARE YET TO COMMENCE

WE ARE IN A DILEMMA AS TO WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO

NOT ONLY MEGA PROJECTS WHICH WERE SLOWLY GRINDING TO A HALT BUT ALSO PROJECTS AS MINOR AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF GULLIES WERE FACING A SIMILAR FATE