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The opening of a section of the Anamaduwa model school had been delayed due to shortcomings in the construction.

Although the model school was handed over to the Provincial Administration, complaints were received about its construction and the matter has not been s o l ved ye t , the S ch o o l Development Board Secretary Nimal Abesinghe complained.

He said the floor had not been smoothened evenly for rainwater to flow into the drains, and the staircases in the building are unsafe.

When the project began in 2018, the building was to accommodate 15 classroom spaces and was scheduled to be completed and handed over in September 2019.

This pledge had not been met by the contractor, the School Development Board complained. Although the building appeared to look grand there were notable lapses in construction, they said.

Although these shortcomings were brought to the notice of the contractor no action was taken to rectify them. It is not possible to accommodate children if these lapses are not attended to, they added.

Construction supervision had been undertaken by the Puttalam

Divisional Engineering Division.

Engineer I. Jayasinghe said the contractor is under obligation to attend to the shortcomings during the period of maintenance as per the agreement.

"These shortcomings need not obstruct the handing over of the school building," Mr Jayasinghe said.

"I can assure the building is strong enough to accommodate students," he said.

The building had been locked at the gate and photos could not be taken for this reason.