An audit examination has uncovered widespread theft of electrical infrastructure and other equipment along the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway, with 100 incidents recorded between 2021 and 2023.
The findings are contained in the 2024 audit report, which states that the stolen items included electrical cables, copper wires, streetlight poles and other equipment installed along the expressway.
Of the 100 reported incidents, the value of 11 thefts was estimated at approximately Rs. 580 million. The financial value of the remaining 89 incidents had not been established, according to the report.
The audit also identified weaknesses in the design and protection of the expressway's electrical cable system. Cables installed along the median had been partly covered using Hume pipes with a semi-circular diameter of around three feet, instead of being completely enclosed in concrete.
A field inspection found that the method of installation had left the cables vulnerable, allowing them to be relatively easily cut and removed.
According to the audit findings, theft incidents continued to increase after the first case was reported in 2021, with no adequate security mechanism introduced to prevent further incidents. The report also noted that responsible supervisory officers had failed to take the necessary measures.
The financial impact could be significantly higher when the cost of repairing damage across the entire expressway is considered. Based on a comparison with the estimate prepared for the first 10 kilometres, the audit estimated that repairs throughout the expressway could cost more than Rs. 1.77 billion.
The audit further highlighted shortcomings in efforts to identify those responsible for the thefts and resulting damage, noting that adequate action had not been taken in this regard.
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