Hambantota IT Park becomes a white elephant
Another Rajapaksa era multi million rupee Information Technology Park at Hambantota has become a white elephant in the area as its construction work has been stopped midway, the recent report of the Committee on Public Enterprises revealed.
The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) had to stop the construction work of the seven storeyed massive building located in close proximity to the Suriyawewa International Stadium, another massive burden to the country’s economy.
The construction work was stopped after completing three stories out of seven last year due to the failure of the contractor to finish the work by July 2016 according to the agreement, a senior official of the TRC told the Business Times.
The contract value for this construction was Rs.2, 663 million and the work commenced on 10th August 2014 and it was to be completed by July 2016 according to the agreement.
However the amount paid for this construction work by 31.12.2015 was Rs.508 million and it was 19 per cent out of the agreed value, the COPE report revealed. The Committee has paid attention to the project being stopped by now under these circumstances.
With money being pumped into the area by the previous Rajapaksa regime without any objection, the project spearheaded by the then president’s son MP Namal Rajapaksa had got off to flying start without considering the feasibility of an IT park in a remote area.
The present government is now grappling to revive the project under its industrial zone initiative over coming several challenges like the viability for an IT park in Hambantota and the possibility of motivating IT personnel to work outside Colombo and relocating them in the area, a senior official said.
Several investors including Intel Corporation, IBM, two universities from India and Singapore, Tech One Global, and Mobitel had expressed willingness earlier to set up IT ventures at the Hambantota IT Park.