Port City Responds to Allegations On Sand Misuse

COLOMBO (News 1st); China Harbour Engineering Company Limited issued a statement today Concerning Recent Allegations About Misuse of Construction Sand.

China Harbour Engineering Company Limited said that recent allegations, made by an individual affiliated to a political party, concerning irregularities with regard to the use of sand intended for construction works at Port City Colombo being instead utilized for construction works at the Port of Colombo, have been brought to its attention.

It added that there are no unethical or illegal activities taking place in this regard. It said that it had taken steps to conduct a thorough internal investigation into this matter, and assured all stakeholders that the findings of this investigation will be made available to the respective authorities, so that immediate action can be taken, if required.

On 25th February, the Frontline Socialist Party made a disclosure concerning the alleged unauthorized use of construction materials at the Colombo Port City project, specifically in the construction of two terminals.

Frontline Socialist Party's Education Secretary, Pubudu Jagoda,  raised concerns regarding the construction of the Port City in Sri Lanka, highlighting alleged irregularities in the procurement and use of construction materials by a Chinese company contracted for the project.

Jagoda asserts that the Chinese company, tasked with constructing the East Container Terminal and Jaya Container Terminal, has been involved in questionable practices.

According to Jagoda, the company has purportedly been transporting sea sand from the Port City area to the Colombo port, bypassing regulations and inspections. He claims to possess video evidence supporting these allegations.

The videos, according to Jagoda, depict the loading of sand from the Port City's sand piles onto tipper trucks, which then enter the harbor without undergoing proper inspections or acquiring necessary permits. Additionally, he alleges that the sand, originally intended for the Port City's construction, is being used in the Colombo Port's development instead.

Jagoda further contends that approximately 4000 sand cubes are being transported from the Port City to the Colombo Port every month, with an estimated value of 90 million Sri Lankan rupees. 

The Frontline Socialist Party Education Secretary questions why the Colombo Port security department has not intervened in these matters and calls for an investigation into the alleged breaches of protocol surrounding the procurement and transportation of construction materials for the Port City and Colombo Port projects.

Keith Barnard, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority stated that he was not aware of the allegations brought forth by Jagoda.

However, he assured that a formal investigation into the matter will be initiated promptly.