Basil’s reawakening through north!

 Saturday, 23 August 2014 

The opening of bids for tenders for the proposed highways in the northern province under the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya – Maga Neguma’ project of economic development minister Basil Rohana Rajapaksa took place at the ministry recently.

A Chinese company is to be given the main contract for the project, while leading local constructors Maga, Sierra and CIC attended to handover sub-contracts.

Here, minister Basil has inquired from the company representatives about the cost of construction for a kilometer. Their response was that between Rs. 60 million and Rs. 90 million would be required. Immediately telephoning Road Development Authority chairman and highways ministry secretary Ranjith Premasiri, minister Basil told him that contractor representatives were demanding Rs. 180 million per kilometer. The ministry secretary answered that that was a very high figure. Minister Basil then told him to let him know about his estimate.

A few minutes later, Premasiri telephoned the minister and said between Rs. 60 million and Rs. 65 million would be fair enough. The company representatives then asked that they be paid Rs. 65 m per km. Again telephoning the highways ministry secretary, minister Basil told him to inform the Chinese contractor in writing that the cost of construction was Rs. 130 m per km.

Overhearing the conversation, the company representatives looked stunned and once out of the meeting, discussed amongst themselves, “It’s OK to take something. These devils make colossal swindling. The commission is 100%. The Chinese will add something more. Then, it would be at least Rs. 150 m per km. it will take about 500 years to repay this loan.”

The top official of the economic development ministry, who revealed this incident to us, said “This project alone will assure at least one billion US dollars for minister Basil.” As such, the northern reawakening is only for the Rajapaksas.