STAFF REPORTER
COLOMBO : At Tuesday’s media briefing, Cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena stated that a proposal was forwarded to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to consider the possibility of closing down or suspending the operations of certain project offices and project management units of large-scale development projects due to the countries ongoing economic woes.
A committee headed by former ministry secretary H. G. Kamal Padmasiri recommended closing down 55 offices, suspending operations of 32 offices and operating 46 offices under a specified organisation.
Gunawardena said that operating costs for such large numbers of project offices was untenable when the country was facing economic hardship, adding that retention of specialists and consultants for high fees was a contributing drawback.
He added that majority opinion of the cabinet was that since efforts were underway to operate these offices with effective efficiency they should be allowed to continue functioning.
However, he added that the President ordered ministers to deliberate with the Finance Ministry on which offices to close down and which can continue operating.
Gunawardena divulged that the ministers concurred with the President’s proposal since it was a necessary measure at this time.(SI)
