“Chinese Contractor pockets Rs.410 mln from low standard Colombo Port Terminal”
AECOM and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) have sent a joint letter denying the contents of last week’s story under the above headline.
The letter says:
“We wish to state that, contrary to what is stated in the news item, we AECOM are an American based fortune 500 company and a world-known global engineering consultant company. We categorically deny that we have communicated or issued any statement to any Sri Lankan or any other parties/authorities, that a sum of Rs.410 million had been cheated by the contractor.
We, CHEC, are a world-renown and reputed engineering company which has established Quality Assurance & Quality Control Systems based on the international standards.
We can confirm that the Colombo South Container Terminal project had been constructed strictly according to the said standards and in accordance with the related contract requirements.
We, AECOM and CHEC, can confirm that the construction works of this project has been carried out to the highest internal standards and in full compliance of the Contract Requirements which is guided by British Standards.
BT reporter’s response: The article was based on a review report prepared by the Chief Residential Engineer of AECOM and five letters subsequently sent by him to CHEC and Sri Lanka Ports Authority highlighting that the construction work has not been carried out in accordance with quality standards stipulated in the agreement. The letters dated 2nd May 2013, 8th September 2012, 18th June 2012, 5th June 2012 and 25th May 2012 have been seen by the Business Times.