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Expressway work resumes after Chinese contractor assured of overdue payments
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- RDA Chairman Nihal Sooriyarachchi (3rd from left) visited the Godagama to Beliatta extension site of the Southern Expressway on Thursday. Pic by Krishan Jeevaka Jayaruk
The work on a section of the Godagama – Beliatta Expressway extension came to a screeching halt on Tuesday, when the Chinese contractor stopped work as the Road Development Authority (RDA) had failed to settle invoices–some outstanding for over eight months.
However, hectic negotiations and written assurances saw work resuming the following day.
At a news briefing RDA Chairman Nihal Sooriyarachchi said the extension of the Southern Expressway from Godagama to Mattala and Hambantota will be operational by end November this year.
The 96 km stretch costing Rs 255.2 billion and funded by Exim Bank of China and the Government of Sri Lanka was constructed in four sections.
Section 1- Matara to Beliatta, 30km (Rs 113.5 billion); Section 2- Beliatta to Wetiya, 26 km. (Rs 55.2 billion); Section 3-Wetiya to Andarawewa, 15 km. (Rs 31.5 billion); Section 4- Mattala – Hambanthota via Andarawewa, 25 km. (Rs 56 billion.)
Mr. Sooriyarachchi was in Matara on Thursday morning to see for himself how the work was progressing to meet the November deadline.
“The backlog of outstanding invoices to foreign contractors started building up after last year’s October 26 political crisis as the supplementary estimate submitted by the Ministry of Highways and Road Development and approved by Parliament on the 26th morning was held up.
“It was a double disaster, as the scheduled June 28 parliamentary session where we were to submit another supplementary estimate was postponed until July 9.
I gave an assurance to the contractor that I would settle their dues by July 1,” he added. “Even though they did not work on Tuesday I am grateful to them for accepting my assurances and continuing with the work.”