The Report of the Committee to Review Project Offices and Project Management Units has recommended to close down 55 existing Project Management Units, to suspend the activities of 32 and others to run 46 Project Management Units with minimum staff.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Finance Economic Stabilization and National Policies Minister to implement the recommendations of the committee report.
In the 2022 Interim Budget, the President has proposed that the functions of the Project Offices and Project Management Units established for various purposes should be reviewed, taking into account the Cost and recruitment of considerable staff. Accordingly, a committee under the chairmanship of Kamal Padmasiri, a former ministry secretary, was appointed to review and make recommendations as to whether the desired objectives of those Project Offices and Project Management Units have been achieved and whether they should be continued. The committee has recommended to close down 55 existing Project Management Units, to suspend the activities of 32 others and to run 46 Project Management Units with minimum staff.
Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to implement committee recommendations. The minister said that the proposal was discussed at length in Cabinet and the President expressed his willingness to take the final decision on this on the ministers’ request. Accordingly, Dr.Gunawardena said that the committee’s report will be discussed with the Finance Ministry in the future. “These projects are being implemented on a medium and large scale. Project offices and project management offices have been established for that purpose. There are consultants, experts and others paid high salaries. This committee has taken such a decision based on efficiency and effectiveness. Even the Cabinet ministers declared that this is a very important proposal because the government is strict in eliminating wasteful and non-productive expenses” the minister added.