Highways Ministry mulls legal action against contractors delaying road construction projects

Highways Minister Johnston Fernando has instructed the Secretary to the Ministry to look into the possibilty of cancelling the contracts of contractors who keep delaying commencing work on construction of road projects after being awarded tenders and paid advances.

The minister noted that some contractors who had been awarded contracts and paid advances for highways and road construction projects keep delaying commencing construction work. Accordingly, he instructed Ministry Secretary R.W.R. Pemasiri to immediately look into whether the law allows the ministry to cancel such contracts and notify him, the Ministry of Highways said in a statement. 

The statement, quoting Minister Fernando, further added that the minister stressed that he had received numerous complaints from various organizations and unions from various parts of the country regarding contractors who are delaying starting work on road construction projects. He noted that the delay had resulted in the Government having to waste taxpayer funds by making extra payments due to delayed work. As such, he said the ministry was exploring the possibility of taking legal action against such errant contractors under the Public Property Act. 

The minister promised speedy action in this regard as the Government hopes to fulfil President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's vision of developing 100, 000 kilometres of main roads, expressways and rural roads in the country by 2024.