The massive Security Services Headquarters under construction in Akuregoda, Battaramulla, commonly referred to as the ex-Defence Secretary’s ‘Pentagon’ project, is to be investigated by a special committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Committee will probe and report on the activities pertaining to the construction of the security complex, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told a news conference yesterday. Several questions have been raised by a committee of officials with regard to the company appointed to provide consultancy services for the construction project, the Spokesman said.

He said the Cabinet of Ministers had been informed that the relevant company, Muditha Jayakody Associates, had been selected to provide consultancy services without a competitive bidding process.

The company would be paid a total sum of Rs. 606 million for its consultancy services with Rs. 509.9 million or 83% of the sum already paid by the Government. However, Senaratne said only 30% of the project had thus far been completed.

The company had been registered with the Registrar of Companies on October 27 2010, Senaratne said. It had obtained accreditation from the Sri Lanka Architects Institute in 2011 only after it was selected to consult on the Pentagon project, the Cabinet has learnt.

There had been no proper agreement to obtain the services of the company in question, Senaratne added.

The Minister said the Cabinet had decided to launch a full-scale investigation into the company involved in the construction project under the Ministry of Defence, and take appropriate legal action based on the findings.