The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been instructed by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to produce the files, documents of the abandoned 48 Million Swimming Pool, Indoor net Projects during 2014-15 period, Cricket Age exclusively learns.
On 11 February, SLC officials were called before COPE for a second time in the span of 12 months. Long standing Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva and its first time president Shammi Silva faced the brunt of the questioning, the COPE members expressed their displeasure over SLC officials attending the meeting unprepared. COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath suspended the meeting informing Sri Lanka Cricket officials to appear before the committee with better preparations within a month.
According to reliable sources, the COPE members were particularly unhappy over the SLC top brass reply on the abandoned 48 Million Swimming Pool, Indoor net Projects during 2014-15, which took place during the Interim Committee time. The SLC officials couldn’t reply in detail, when COPE members asked the reason for abandoning the projects.
When Cricket Age investigated the matter, it emerged that the three projects – Swimming Pool construction at R. Premadasa staduim and Indoor Net at Dambulla and Pallekele International Cricket Stadiums – were stopped by Thilanga Sumathipala stating that no proper approvals were obtained for any of the project, as he replaced Interim Committee as elected president in 2016.
When inquired further, it emerged that a SLC appointed Independent Committee had found following irregularities in the said construction projects:
First and foremost, there was no documented evidence to substantiate the facts that public bids were called in order to award the said projects.
As per the records and documents available, there was a large difference between the total payments made to the contractor and work done.
The value of the material at site (certified as per the documents available in IPC-01) was not available at the site. (Dambulla Indoor Net Project)
The contractor had failed to produce construction drawings certified by the qualified persons and obtaining all regulatory approvals such as local authority approvals before commencement of the construction.
In the end, the Independent Committee came to the conclusion that a serious financial loss was incurred to SLC due to the abandonment of the said projects.
Concluding the report, Independent Committee recommended that SLC should inquire Contractor, Engineer. Afterwords, SLC may discuss a settlement plan with the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) or may consider legal action against those, who were involved in the said projects.
Amount released to Central Engineering and Consultancy for the said projects:
SLR 6,981,254 on 16.11.2015 as mobilization advance for construction of swimming pool at RPICS.
SLR 1,738,118 on 30.11.2015 as 20% pay for construction of Indoor net building at RPICS.
SLR 4,096, 327 on 30.11.2015 as progress payment for indoor net at RPICS Phase-1
SLR 634,690 on 30.11.2015 for geotechnical investigation for indoor net at RPICS.
SLR 12,395,925 on 30.11.2015 for mobilization of indoor net at RPICS, Phase-2.
SLR 3,611,735 on 30.11.2015 as progress payment for construction of indoor net at RPICS.
SLR 1,106,700 on 27.6.2014 as consultancy fees – phase A of new development at Surrey ground.
SLR 8,711,632 on 6.11.2015 as mobilization advance for construction of indoor stadium at PICS.
SLR 9,268,991 on 6.11.2015 as mobilization advance for construction of indoor stadium at RDICS.
Total amount paid: SLR 48,545,375.20
Cricket Age understand that out of approximately 48 million, not even 10 million worthy construction work was done! Businessman turned player manager turned philanthropist Kushil Gunasekera was the secratary of the Interim committee during the said period.
