Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake yesterday (16) said that the government had to suspend the construction of the Army Headquarters in Athurugiriya

Addressing an event in Colombo, Karunanayake asserted that there were many issues pertaining to the project.

Karunanayake stated that the total estimation for the project was 50,000 million rupees and that amount ‘exceeded expenditures of the Pentagon.’

“We would like to ask former defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as to whether Cabinet approval was granted to this project and how he managed to obtain funds for it” the minister questioned. He further asked what tender procedure was followed in obtaining funds.

Karunanayake stated that “these funds have been obtained through innocent taxpayers’ money.” He added that the government will not allow the continuity of such fraudulent projects.