Shooting down allegations by JVP-led outfit Anti-Corruption Front that there had been massive corruption in the third phase of the Central Expressway construction, Government Chief Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that the project had not even completed its procurement stage.

Addressing the media at the Ministry of Highways auditorium, Minister Fernando asked how such allegations of corruption to the tune of billions could be levelled against a project whose procurement was yet to be completed. “There are media reports quoting former JVP MP Wasantha Samarasinghe that corrupt deals to the tune of billions of rupees have taken place in the third phase of the Central Expressway. There is no basis for those allegations because the project’s procurements are still in progress. One could raise any allegation after the completion of the procurement stage. They could even go before courts challenge the procurement process if there is anything wrong when it is completed. That is the law. In the same way, it is wrong to influence the procurement process. The JVP is doing just that. This is their way of influencing the procurement process,” the minister said.

Minister Fernando assured that there would be no room for any corruption under his watch in the construction of the Central Expressway. “I categorically state that there would be no chance for any corruption. Samarasinghe in his allegation has stated that a company by the name of MCC. Following his allegation, I inquired of this allegation from the Secretary to the Ministry. I was told that there was no such company bidding for the tender to construct the third phase of the Central Expressway and that procurement for that stage of construction was still in progress and none could state figures of any kind since we still have not awarded any tenders. These allegations are baseless. Their objective is to instigate people with lies. It is their way to propagate lies and instigate people. By doing so they could influence the procurement process. I tell Samarasinghe to take care to find actual facts before making wild allegations on the basis of handouts given to them by private companies. They got their vote base reduced from 6 percent to three percent because of the wild allegations they used to propagate lies such as Lamborghinis and golden horses. They still have not got rid of their habits of living by the lies,” the Minister said. (SI)