CONICA says Sugathadasa track seep only a minor issue

The foreign partner in the joint venture that built the synthetic track at Sugathadasa Stadium has guaranteed "durability and the overall performance characteristics of the track" after local project supervisor, Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB), demanded answers over visible water seepage and unusual wearing of the track.

To review the issue, CONICA will have one of its technical experts conduct an inspection on Wednesday to ensure the track is foolproof for the next five years, which is its guaranteed life.

In a letter addressed to the CECB, CONICA says that these minor issues can be easily resolved and, therefore, there is nothing to get alarmed about.

“Every track takes a little time to settle down and there are sometimes minor issues that develop, however, they are easily resolved,” Geoff Jackson, Regional Director, Middle East, Asia, and Oceania wrote in his response to CECB. “The track is as important to us as it is to you and we will always do our best to assist you."

After the Sunday Times exposed the issue in its last week’s edition, Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha inspected the track on Sunday and asked the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority to obtain an independent opinion.

Accordingly, the Authority asked the University of Moratuwa to perform a study and submit a report.

Just four weeks after the track was officially declared open, CECB engineers noticed water patches and unusual wearing in the South ‘D’ corner. The project supervisor then called for explanation from the contractor.

When the Sunday Times visited the stadium this week, seepage was visible in a few areas but the extent of the damage was yet to be determined. On the CECB’s instructions, the local contractor referred the letter to their foreign partner–the Switzerland-based CONICA– requesting an explanation.

“We understand that this is as a result of little bit of water being trapped within the voids of second layer through the invisible holes of top layer," the CONICA regional director continued. "This is very easily remedied and should be absolutely no cause for alarm. We had in fact carried out an extensive technical analysis prior to our departure after the installation was completed."

“The system used, CONIUR MX+ , is constructed in three separate layers and it is quite possible that water has entered through the top layer voids especially if it has been raining and normally, once the track heats up under sunlight it will evaporate dispersing itself naturally," he said. "Most importantly, it should be noted that this type of phenomenon does not affect the overall durability or performance characteristics of the track itself."

CONICA is a reputed company with extensive experience in track laying-technology. According to their official website, the company has been active in the sports flooring business for more than 40 years and their know-how guarantees that their partners have the most technologically advanced, reliable and environmentally friendly indoor and outdoor sports flooring systems, it states.

CONICA’s synthetic installation team leader Chandana Wanniarachchi said they could rectify it within a day but will wait for the observations of the Moratuwa University before taking any action.

“We don’t see this as an issue,” Wanniarachchi said. “Even if it is a problem, we can rectify it within a day but this is not a problem and I can vouch that these issues will not have any impact on the track’s durability or performance."

Even though CONICA is confident of its product, there are fears over the shelf-life of the track given Sri Lanka’s past experience. In 2012, a new track was laid but it showed extensive physical damage just 12 months into the completion of the project.

But Wanniarachchi says people are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. “We have given a five year warranty for the track and it’s our responsibility to make sure that the track is in perfect shape during the period,” he explained. "There’s nothing to be alarmed about."

The track has been certified as an IAAF A grade track but this holds no weight as the global body also gave a highest grade certification to the previous track that lasted less than a year.

The tender for the re-laying of the 400m track and the 200m warm-up track was awarded to a joint venture between Access-CONICA JV at a cost of Rs. 269,339,325 (without VAT).

Once rejected by the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) on a complaint made by Sierra (an unsuccessful bidder who argued that the tender was tailor-made to suit the favoured bidder), it was re-tendered last year with Access-CONICA JV winning it again despite a fresh appeal by Sierra.

The bid document called for the fulfilment of several stringent conditions to qualify, including prior experience in laying at least five Class I Full PUR tracks and five Class II tracks in South Asia for the relaying of 400m class 1 synthetic track and relaying of 200m synthetic track at the Sugathadasa Sports Complex.

In 2002, a new track was laid to hosts the Asian Athletics Championship using prefabricated materials and it lasted nearly 10 years.