Srilanka, March 6 -- A National Audit Office Report released reveals that the construction of a canopy to protect the reclining Buddha statue at Buduruwagala, which was to be completed within 150 days, has remained unfinished for over four-and-a-half years. The statue, made from a fragile type of stone, has been exposed to environmental vulnerability, leading to physical and chemical decay.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs had instructed the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) to prioritise the construction of this canopy to safeguard the statue. The Department of Archaeology started the construction procurement process, and the contract commenced on November 4, 2019. Although a construction firm was assigned, the project, valued at Rs 1,941,43...