By Romesh Abeywickrema

Unfortunately for the powers that be, though it may seem the `no news good news` strategy is doing wonders as far as the mainstream media goes, the grapevine, the source the Sri Lankan news consuming public has increasingly come to rely on in the recent past in the evolving atmosphere of media subjugation, is working overtime with information galore on the many deals also known as development projects that are being concluded at the speed of greased lightning.

`Controversial circumstances`

One such project that has got grapevine newsmongers all ears is the recent awarding of the Katunayake expressway tender to a Chinese company in what could charitably be termed `controversial circumstances.`

Ever since the project has been in limbo until recently when news emerged that a Chinese company, China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) had been awarded the mega project estimated to cost over US$ 350 million.

A grey area

The circumstances as to how MCC landed the project have to date been a grey area.

A French company, Vinci Construction, the world`s biggest construction company in terms of revenue as at last year, it is known, was preparing to bid for the project, with a team from the company setting up camp at the Hilton Residence in Colombo for over three months working on the paperwork.

Nearly 30 % of Vinci`s global revenue comes from design, construction, renovation and upkeep of roads and highways all over the world and has been acknowledged locally as having the wherewithal to handle the Katunayake expressway project keeping to global standards.

Sadly the same cannot be said of the state owned Chinese company which does not even mention road construction as one of its specialised areas with its expertise largely being in building construction.

Project awarded to MCC

However to the surprise of many, mostly the Vinci team working in Colombo, the project was suddenly awarded to MCC. The criteria for the awarding of the project to the Chinese company yet remains unclear. In the circumstances all that the flabbergasted Frenchmen could do was mutter under their breath, pack up and leave.

What got the grapevine working overtime was the revelation that the local agent of China Metallurgical Group Corporation was none other than Dilshan Wickremasinghe who by a strange coincidence happens to be a nephew of the Chief Executive of the land.

Many are the allegations flying around that influence was peddled in high places ensuring MCC the project via its local agent, Asset International Pvt. Ltd. based at Alfred House Gardens in Colombo 3, the head of which is 35-year-old Wickremasinghe.

Lacking expertise

It remains to be seen if the Road Development Authority will even now put in the public domain the criteria it followed in handing MCC the Katunayake Expressway project other than of course the fact that it is being funded by China through MCC which is a state enterprise.

It must be kept in mind that funding alone should not be the guiding principle in allocating projects of national importance to companies clearly lacking expertise in that particular field where the lives of the public could be put at risk due to below par construction standards.

A simple google search of highway projects completed by MCC as opposed to companies of the stature of Vinci tells the story loud and clear.