34 Govt. projects abandoned wasting over Rs.6 billion: Parliamentary Committee reveals

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

Some 34 development projects initiated for the last five to six years spending public funds of Rs.6.37 billion have been abandoned without putting to any use, the Parliamentary Committee revealed yesterday.  

Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Ajith Mannapperuma, tabling a report in Parliament said that 23 projects had been abandoned due to lack of funds while 11 projects had been abandoned due to other reasons

The Chair said the abandoned projects included the Methsiripaya Administrative Complex in Pollonnaruwa which was built at a cost of Rs.1.1 billion and the Hatton Railway Station at a cost of Rs. 40 million, which were idling without putting to any use.  

He said it was observed that projects of this nature had been initiated for political purposes by political leaders while wasting public funds and said the report had recommended that such projects be approved by a non-political committee before initiating.