He has told BBC Sandeshaya that neither the proper tender procedures nor the competitive bids had been followed with regard to those projects.

Higher the bids, we could surmise that massive corruption had taken place, he said.

Majority is Chinese companies

According to a cabinet minister, 25 of these projects are run by Chinese companies.

Wickramaratne said most international companies do not become interested when the tenders are awarded outside the competitive procedure.

The projects by the Chinese companies have been funded by banks in their own country, he said.
Burden on the public

Money has to be paid for the projects, while the loans too, have to be repaid in the long term, with the public having to shoulder the debt burden, said the deputy minister.

Officials of the foreign firms, local officials as well politicians were to be blamed for the corruption and irregularities that have taken place in these projects, he added.