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Contractors stone-walling Tangalle tsunami houses?
Whilst hundreds of families displaced from last December’s tsunami catastrophe are languishing in make-shift camps and huts, well wishers are accusing contractors of prolonged delays in the construction of houses.
One such case is the construction of 100 houses in Malgampura at Tangalle, at a cost of Rs 43 million or Rs 430,000 each.

Sherine Kumaratunga, wife of Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga together with three Chinese entrepreneurs is the prime mover of this project. “Though the contract says the 100 houses should have been completed in three months, not more than 50 are ready,” she told The Sunday Times. She made available an authenticated copy of the contract and a photo copy of the cheque for Rs 38 million paid to Comfort Living (Pvt.) Ltd, which undertook the construction work.

Anoma Gamage together with her husband, Daya are partners of the construction company. Mr. Gamage was away from Sri Lanka and Mrs. Gamage told The Sunday Times, “to my knowledge around 80 houses have been completed. I don’t have the full details now but the project is progressing.” She said she would contact the person in charge and get him to provide the details. However, there was no response until last evening.

Legal counsel for the donors of the houses speaking on grounds of anonymity to The Sunday Times said not more than 50 houses had been completed though hand-over dates for the remaining houses have been extended month after month. He said he was contemplating legal action on behalf of his clients if the contractual obligations are not met.

He added that according to the contract, if the houses were not completed during the stipulated period of three months, as enshrined in the contract, his client was entitled to charge Rs 50,000 a day for the total of 100 houses. He said his clients had agreed to pay the contractor a further five million rupees on completion of the entire project.

Though the contract provided for both sides to amicably settle disputes, it did not preclude them from instituting legal action, he said.

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