The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna (on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education)

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, the answers are as follows.

¶ 02 (a) (i) The project is not at President’s College but at Regi Ranatunga Model Primary School, Minuwangoda. It commenced on 13.06.2012. (ii) Initial estimate: approximately Rs. 150 million. Amount spent to date: Rs. 187.8 million. (iii) The contract was entrusted to the Western Provincial Road Development Authority (WPRDA), a semi-government institution under the Western Provincial Council. Funds have been allocated year by year against staged estimates and released accordingly; therefore, monies have not been parked in a separate project bank account. (iv) As in (a)(iii).

¶ 03 (b) (i) Contractor: Western Provincial Road Development Authority. (ii) As approved by the Western Provincial Board of Ministers, the contract was directly awarded to the WPRDA, a government statutory body. (iii) Approximately 70% completed to date. (iv) About 12 more months are required for full completion. (v) Although the 2012 decision assigned the project, in subsequent years the Western Provincial Ministry of Education did not receive sufficient annual budgetary provisions to meet the remaining stage estimates in full. Yearly submissions secured only partial approvals, and available funds were prioritized for recurrent/continuation works, causing delays.

¶ 04 (c) Not applicable.