Contractors for the Dambulla Agricultural Cold Storage Complex have committed to submitting a detailed work plan and requested six to eight weeks to fully complete the project, including necessary electrical repairs.
They noted that 99% of the construction is already finished, with only the cooling system pending, and pledged to resolve the remaining issues swiftly.
The agreement was reached during a key meeting at the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, chaired by Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. The meeting was attended by Ministry Secretary K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, senior officials, Food Commissioner Lal Hewapathirana, representatives from the Indian High Commission including Development Cooperation Advisor Maitrey Kulkarni, and contractors LQ‑SAW Engineering (Pvt) Ltd. The Indian partner joined via Zoom, while the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) was represented by Deputy General Manager V. Ratnam and her team.
Secretary Vimalenthirarajah stressed the urgency of the project, noting that delays have deprived the country of this critical facility. Minister Samarasinghe emphasized that since the project involves public funds and grants from both Sri Lanka and India, it must be completed promptly.
The CECB highlighted issues such as roof leakage, ground-level problems, and faults in the cooling system, identifying the latter as the main challenge. The Indian High Commission representative confirmed that roof and ground issues had been partially addressed, with the cooling system remaining as the key concern. It was agreed to replace or reinstall defective machinery, ensure humidifiers function properly, and maintain the minimum sustainable cooling level.
Contractors reaffirmed that 99% of the project is complete, with only the cooling system and electrical components remaining. They committed to finishing maintenance within four weeks and requested electricity supply and relief from penalties due to delays caused by COVID‑19 and national circumstances.
Kulkarni outlined the next steps, including testing and monitoring the system through CECB, inspecting for damage from rodents or gas leaks, installing imported chambers, and ensuring voltage stabilizers are in place to protect equipment before operations begin.
Minister Samarasinghe instructed the contractors to expedite work and complete the project within the agreed 6–8 week timeframe.
