Epic Lanka gets interim order against procurement of 750,000 passports

Court of Appeal yesterday has granted an interim order suspending the operation of the Cabinet Decision dated 02.09.2024 and any consequential steps taken pursuant to the decision to purchase 750,000 of the N-Series Travel Documents from Thales Finland OY and Just In Time Technologies Ltd.

The Court also suspended the operation of the Notification of Intention to Award the Contract dated 14.03.2024, Invitation for Bids dated 09.11.2023 and the Bidding Document dated 09.11.2023 and any decisions and/or consequential steps taken pursuant thereto including entering into or giving effect to any contract and/or agreement with Thales Finland OY and Just In Time Technologies Ltd., by any one or more or all of the 1st to 6th Respondents and/or their successors in office, and/or any officer acting under their direction, and/or functioning under any one of them, in connection with procurement of 5 million e-passports and/or incidental thereto.

The interim orders were pursuant to petitions filed by Epic Lanka over the purchase of 750,000 MRPs (machine readable passports) to cover the existing passport gap and 5 million e-passports that were granted approval through a cabinet decision. Epic alleges the move was a violation of the initial procurement process.

The C.A. (Writ) Application No. 609/2024 will be taken up again on 1 October.