The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) has demanded answers from contractor Access-CONICA JV after water started seeping out from the multi-million-rupee synthetic track at Sugathadasa Stadium, just four weeks after it was unveiled.
In addition to the seepage, the project supervisor has also observed “unusual wearing of high stress synthetic area of South side ‘D’ corner”.
“It was observed following defects on the newly laid synthetic surface of 400metres track and D corner area,” the letter signed by TGDT Dharmawardene, Additional General Manager (Projects), reads. “Water patches on synthetic surface (track and D corner areas) and when the patches were pressed by hand, it was noted water seeping out,” the letter, which has been copied to the Secretary Ministry of Sports and Chairman Sugathadasa Sports Complex Authority, stated.
The project supervisor has advised the contractor to obtain expert opinion on the matter. “You are hereby advised to obtain expert advice and submit a clarification report/remedial actions for above defects,” he instructs.
The seepage was reportedly visible in at least one area but the extent of the damage is yet to be determined. On the CECB’s instructions, the local contractor has referred the letter to their foreign partner–the Switzerland-based CONICA–requesting their explanation.
“We are not in a position to comment as of now since it’s a highly technical matter,” said Ranil Samarasinghe, General Manager Access International. “We have referred the letter for clarification to the foreign partner. Once we received their feedback, we will take the next course of action. We had our engineers visiting the site and with their inputs we have referred the letter to our foreign party.”
Circled is one of the spots seeping
CONICA is a reputed company with extensive experience in track laying-technology. According to their official website, the company has been active in the sports flooring business for more than 40 years and their know-how guarantees that their partners have the most technologically advanced, reliable and environmentally friendly indoor and outdoor sports flooring systems, it states.
Industry experts say the water seeping out of the track could be caused by a number of reasons like the use of wet raw materials during installation or installation during wet weather. It could also be that track is beginning to hydrolyse with water inside the system and, combining with high heat and humidity, the polyurethane is reverting to liquid form.
“It’s quite possible that there are more areas affected than they have noticed thus far,” one expert said. “I would suggest that they take a very close look at every inch of the track to see the extent of the damage and decide the next course of action.”
He also argued that, given the changing weather patterns in the country, Sri Lanka should have opted for a pre-fabricated track.
The Sports Ministry, which funded the project, has also referred the matter to their engineers for a detailed report but it’s not clear whether the ministry has the required expertise.
The Sugathadasa track tender was awarded under controversial circumstances to a joint venture between Access International and CONICA at a cost of Rs. 269,339,325 (without VAT).But the latest development has raised eyebrows over fears that the track faces the same fate as the previous one laid in 2012 which showed signs of extensive physical damage just 12 months into the completion of the project. This resulted in the venue being closed down for more than four years with national athletes having to train and compete on the worn-out track at Diyagama.
Once rejected by the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) on an appeal made by Sierra (an unsuccessful bidder who argued that the tender was tailor-made to suit the favoured bidder), it was re-tendered last year with Access-CONICA JV winning it again despite a fresh appeal by Sierra.
The bid document called for the fulfilment of several stringent conditions to qualify, including prior experience in laying at least five Class I Full PUR tracks and five Class II tracks in South Asia for the relaying of 400m class 1 synthetic track and relaying of 200m synthetic track at the Sugathadasa Sports Complex.
While it was declared open for the South Asian Junior Athletics Championships that ended last week, the track is yet to be officially handed over to the Sugathadasa Sports Authority which is the caretaker of the country’s only multi-sport sport facility. The track has a five-year warranty.
In 2002, a new track was laid to hosts the Asian Athletics Championship using prefabricated materials and it lasted nearly 10 years.
By Champika Fernando to www.sundaytimes.lk
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