Yahapalana projects in certain schools at standstill or cancelled
A string of infrastructure development projects required for schools launched by the former Yahapalana Government are at a standstill due to the delay in receiving funds for the completion of these projects, an Education Ministry official said.
Accordingly, the construction of school buildings, principals and teachers quarters, sports complexes and lab facilities are among the projects held up due to the need of Rs 16 billion in funds.
Four cabinet papers had been submitted by the Education Ministry, but they had not been taken up for discussion so far. As a result, some of the projects had been cancelled.
According to Education Ministry statistics out of the original 13,777 projects begun, there were 368 projects of which only 25 per cent of work had been completed, 183 projects of which only 26-50 per cent of work had been completed, 126 projects of which 51- 75 per cent had been completed and 175 projects for which 76-99 per cent of work had been completed.
Funds for these projects had last been passed for the years 2017 and 2018.
The Education Ministry official said in some schools the buildings had been completed, but the furniture and other requirements had not been provided. Thereby the authorities had not been able to make use of these buildings.
In other schools, old buildings had been demolished and new buildings constructed had not been completed, resulting in a section of schools’ students finding it difficult to continue with their educational activities.
In other schools, projects had been cancelled, as the calling of fresh tenders had pushed up the original rates. The projects were launched in 2016 and were estimated to cost Rs 60 billion.
Most of the constructions were carried out by the provincial councils under the supervision of the Education Ministry and the inability to complete payments had forced contractors to keep away.
The official said fresh attempts would be made this year to obtain the funding for these projects.