A sum of Rs.12 billion has been allocated from the budget for the year 2022 for the construction of the Army Headquarters building.
The land where the Army Headquarters was located during the tenure of the present President as the Defense Secretary was sold for the construction of the Shrangarila Hotel. Accordingly, a sum of Rs.7747 million has been spent to establish the Army Headquarters in the Akuregoda area in Battaramulla.
It is learned that there is a big difference between the minimum amount of land sold and this amount. This large building complex is planned to be built in the style of the Pentagon in the United States. It was estimated at Rs. 53300 million in 2011 and although plans have been made to complete the construction in 2019, the work has not been completed yet. Accordingly, Rs. 4280 million has been spent on this building in 2020 and Rs. 789 million in 2021.
Many people are of the opinion that this building complex is just another white elephant swallowing money like the Hambantota buildings.