Sri Lanka, April 3 -- The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) questioned the officials of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority regarding the expenditure of approximately Rs. 2 billion on renting another building instead of renovating their own premises. Due to the construction of a shopping complex adjacent to the Authority's building, it became unsuitable for occupancy. Although the company responsible proposed paying the Authority a monthly payment of Rs. 3 million as rent for another building, this proposal was rejected. Instead, since 2021, around Rs. 2 billion has been spent on renting an alternative building.
The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) had estimated that the renovation of the Authority's building could b...