COLOMBO (News 1st) – Locals claim that they are yet to receive compensations and proper estimates for the lands taken over for the construction of  Phase 3 of the Central Expressway.

The contract for the construction of Phase 3 of the Central Expressway (from Pothuhera to Galagedara) has been awarded to Japanese Corporation Taisei. Cabinet has also granted approval to secure a 100bn Yen loan for the project from a Japanese bank. It was Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs who had put forward the proposal to secure the loan from a Japanese Bank.

Many who lost their lands in the construction state that there is no proper system in place to provide compensation to them. Lands in Bul-Golla, Wewala, Kandugala, and Walagam-Mulla which will be taken over for the constructions have already been marked.

Awarding the Phase 3 construction contract to Taisei has raised several eyebrows. News1st on numerous occasions has reported on the process followed in granting this contract as well as the previous track record of the company including being the cause behind a giant sinkhole in Fukuoka, Japan.

It was also reported recently that Taisei had requested payment of 04 Billion Rupees for a 190-day delay in taking over the Colombo Outer Circular Expressway project. Tasiei had warned if an immediate decision is not made with regard to the amount in question, that there would be an impact on the construction of phase three of the Central Expressway.

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