- RDA sends Letter of Demand
Despite a fresh dispute having emerged between the Road Development Authority (RDA) and China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) over a payment issue related to the Southern Expressway, the authorities are to act according to the directives of the Attorney General’s Department (AG’s Department), The Daily Morning learns.
The media reported that CHEC recently sent a letter of demand to the RDA, claiming that Rs. 7.91 billion remains unpaid for the construction of the Kottawa-Dodangoda section of the expressway, which was opened in 2011. According to the reports, the company has requested that the payment be made by 31 March. However, the RDA has reportedly rejected the claim, stating that no money is owed. The matter has now taken a serious turn, with the RDA planning to inform President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and request a criminal investigation into the long-standing disagreement.
When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (20), senior sources within the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Aviation said that measures are being taken in line with the directives of the AG’s Department. The sources claimed that the matter was handled by previous governments and is therefore being looked into afresh.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday, RDA Director General S. M. P. Suriyabandara confirmed that a new Letter of Demand has been sent to the RDA. He refrained from further comment, stating that the matter is being handled by RDA Chairperson T. Paskaran, who is currently overseas.
In 2024, just weeks ahead of the Presidential Election, the Cabinet led by then President Ranil Wickremesinghe swiftly approved a payment to the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). Eleven days later, a settlement was finalised between the Chinese company and then Secretary of the Ministry of Highways, Ranjith Rubasinghe, who was also serving as the Acting Chairperson of the Road Development Authority (RDA).
Several attempts made to contact the RDA Chairperson were unsuccessful.