Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana yesterday said that the government has succeeded in settling outstanding amount of Rs.361 billion to the contractors of the Road Development Authority (RDA).
He said the International Monetary Fund has laid down a condition that contracts cannot be executed on credit. “The government has given an undertaking to the IMF to settle the such credit within a month,”he said.The Minister said that the government’s revenue in 2023 was Rs.3 trillion while the recurrent expenditure exceeding Rs.4 trillion.The Minister added that only Rs.5 billion remain outstanding to contractors.
He said that he met the relevant contractors and informed them not to come to meet the accountants of the Ministry who are responsible in making calculations.
“No contractors were given priority and the money was credited to their bank accounts.The Minister added that only Rs.20 billion has been set apart for the construction of roads for 2024.
He added that a stretch or roads in extent of over 18,000 – 20,000 Km can be developed, if outstanding bills of the contractors were not settled.
The Minister added that contractors faced many issues due to non payment of their bills by the government.
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