Cabinet approves Rs. 1.96 bn for 2nd phase of Jaffna Municipal Council building

The Cabinet has approved a revised cost estimate of Rs. 1,958.85 million (without tax) to complete the second phase of the Jaffna Municipal Council building project, including the installation of an air-conditioning system. The proposal, presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, authorises Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (Pvt) Ltd., the project’s original contractor, to complete the remaining construction work. Construction of the building began in October 2019 after Cabinet approval was granted the previous month, and had reached around 70% physical progress by 2022. However, work could not be completed within the original contract period due to funding constraints caused by the country’s economic crisis. The Jaffna Municipal Council has agreed to take over the building once the second phase of construction is completed, enabling municipal operations to be carried out from the new premises. (Newswire)