A report by the National Audit Office has revealed that the construction of the four sections of the Central Expressway, spanning from Kurunegala to Dambulla, was abandoned after incurring an expenditure of approximately Rs. 234 million.
The report also highlights that over Rs. 1,025 million has been spent on the Colombo-Ratnapura-Pelmadulla Expressway project, and nearly Rs. 134 million on the New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya Expressway project—designed to be built on pillars—using local funds as of 2023. However, construction work on these projects has yet to commence.
Additionally, the National Audit Office disclosed that more than Rs. 720 million has been disbursed as compensation to 825 individuals for business losses caused by delays in the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal Development Project. These payments are expected to continue until the project’s completion. The report further notes that over Rs. 20 million in compensation was paid for 2023 and 2024 combined.
The project, originally scheduled to begin on May 6, 2021, has faced significant setbacks, with civil works still uninitiated due to delays in the procurement process for civil and consultancy services.
Furthermore, the audit report reveals that as of December 31, 2023, the contractor for one section of the Central Expressway project had not received payments exceeding Rs. 4,034 million for completed work. This delay raises concerns over potential late payment fees, as stipulated in the general terms and conditions of the contract agreement.
