Contractor to take legal action against alleged failed payments by Basil Rajapaksa
A contractor has taken preliminary steps to initiate legal action over the alleged failure to make payments for the construction of a mansion for former Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
A letter of demand has been addressed to the individual who was in charge of the project via a lawyer. The mansion in question has been built over several acres at Riverside Villa in Malwana where a chartered architect had been in charge of the project.
The letter of demand notes that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa had participated at the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone for the mansion. The contractor’s lawyer point out that subsequently, Rajapaksa’s wife and daughter too had come to the premises on several occasions and instructed that changes be made.
However, the chartered architect who was in charge of the project had not informed the contractor about for whom the mansion was being built. When a final bill for Rs. 103,496,140 were presented at the completion of construction, the individual in charge of the project had allegedly used threats and political power to demand that the amount be reduced to Rs. 70 million.
Owner of the Construction Company Upul Kumara noted that information on the owner was hidden from him and that in addition, this was done without an estimate or contract agreement. He said that when he finished the work and submitted a bill, they were forced to bring a letterhead, put down their amount and forced us to sign it. Kumara said it was then all over and he was personally asked not to cause trouble ‘or else.’
Through the letter of demand, the contractor is seeking damages of Rs. 20 million from the chartered architect for the use of political force and the loss of more than Rs. 31.6 million.
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