News
Multimillion rupee tab to fix leaking roof and wet floor of transport hub
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
A leaking roof and wet floor caused by winds on rainy days are causing great difficulty to people using the Makumbara Multimodal Centre (MMC).
The transport hub built to international standards with an investment of Rs. 2 billon from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Sri Lanka opened for services on April 1, 2019.
The Sunday Times learns that on rainy days, the path leading to the centre becomes completely wet. Sign boards warning people of the wet floor and cleaners busy removing the water, block the movement of people.
Multimodal Makumbara Centre: Built to international standards. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Nalaka Dissanayake, programme director of the township development component under the Greater Colombo Urban Transport Development Project, said JICA has recognised that the MMC is maintained to a very high standard and plans to issue a statement highlighting its potential to serve as a model for other countries.
However, regular users said it is unfortunate that such a facility is sometimes overshadowed by minor flaws like wet floors.
Mr. Dissanayake told the Sunday Times: ”We have completed our investigation, identified the issues, and requested funds from the government at the beginning of this year.
“The proposed work covered by these funds includes cladding, removal and repair of the centre’s median area, replacement of silicone on the glass roofing, modification of the glass roof’s H-sections, corrosion treatment of the entire steel structure, ceiling replacement, and several other improvements all estimated to cost around Rs. 41 million.
Leaking glass panels
“Our main contractor is Sierra, and the project carries a 15-year warranty. This wet floor issue during rainy days is not a minor matter, we’ve been aware of it for nearly two years. We suspect the problem may be due to the deterioration or removal of the silicone sealant on the glass roof, and replacing it is costly. We cannot proceed with any repairs without first doing a thorough investigation to pinpoint exactly where the silicone has failed. So far, we’ve identified leaks in two to three places. However, due to the height and oval shape of the roof, it is unsafe for our workers to perform inspections during rainy weather. We must wait for suitable conditions to safely carry out a proper assessment and determine the precise source of the leaks.
“What I initially assumed was that the deterioration of the silicone sealant may have been caused by crows or pigeons pulling it out, but this requires a thorough inspection to confirm.
“Our construction partner has already taken steps to address the issue and is working on it. If the problem falls under the warranty coverage, then Sierra will do the repairs. However, based on our findings, the entire silicone sealant on the glass roof needs to be replaced. Maintenance is needed every five years to ensure safety and durability.’’
The MMC completed five years in April 2024. Apart from the leaking glass roof, the Sunday Times also found that strong winds during rainy days cause a significant amount of water to enter the building.
When the Sunday Times asked, Mr. Dissanayake he said the problem arose because the proposed three storied building in the original plan has not been built, yet.
“If that building had been in place, we wouldn’t be facing this wind force issue,” he said.
“There were several other developments planned alongside this site, but they have not been completed yet. At the time, we had only Rs. 422 million available, while the total cost proposed in the tender was Rs. 845 million, a significant gap. Our intention was to begin the project in 2015 without waiting for the remaining funds, because otherwise, we may not have been able to complete the MMC at all.”
The leak from the glass roof and the rainwater entering the building due to wind force poses a risk to commuters. Cleaners also expressed frustration, saying they are fed up on rainy days. “Otherwise, it’s a very pleasant place to work, and we’re happy on all other days,” one said.
Nalaka Dissanayake
MMC Manager Infrasturcture Developemnt Sisira Perera, told the Sunday Times: “The wind-driven rain making the floor wet is one of the big issues. However, we regularly deploy cleaners to keep the floor dry and mitigate the risk. A permanent solution, such as fully enclosing the building with air conditioning, would be too costly for us. While machines like water suction vacuums and auto scrubbers could speed up the process, they are also expensive. So, for now, we have no other solution than relying on manual labour.”
The Sunday Times also spoke to Dharshana Wijethilaka, head of the project monitoring division and contractor representative for Sierra, the main builder.
“We inspect every five years as per the terms of our warranty. Under the 15-year warranty, only the steel columns, glass roof, and glass curtain wall are covered. During our 2024 inspection, the issues were identified as minor, but now we’ve seen that the problem has worsened. We have started renovations,” he said.
Sisira Perera
“However, since the silicone material has a separate warranty period of only three years, any renovation involving it must now be borne by the client. We are now paying closer attention to this issue, as it may eventually pose a threat to the components still covered under our 15-year warranty,” he added.
Mr. Wijethilaka said that drying the floor is not a real solution; the key is to prevent water seepage. “In other countries, this isn’t done manually, they use special machines. The scrubbing machines typically used in malls are designed to reduce manpower for general cleaning, not to manage water leaks. For issues like ours, a permanent solution is required, such as installing blinds or constructing the additional buildings that were part of the initial project plan.”
He further noted that “there is no possibility that crows, pigeons, or any other birds could have pulled out the silicone sealant, as it is a hard material and birds do not use such substances to build their nests’’.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!