• New institution to streamline process and transparency on all State tenders, electronic platform for petroleum possible

In the backdrop of highway projects being parceled out without tenders, Cabinet approval has been given for the Government to establish an independent centralised procurement institution that would streamline procedure when purchasing goods and services to State institutions. 

The Cabinet paper presented by President Maithripala Sirisena this week noted that Cabinet had agreed last year to initiate action to establish an independent centralised procurement agency in consultation with the National Procurement Commission and the Treasury Secretary for purchasing items generally used in State institutions. 

The new Independent Centralized Procurement Agency is to be comprised of five members including the following holders of office, representing women and major ethnic groups and who are knowledgeable on stores management. 

Time management and minimising waste in the procurement process, calling for bids and evaluating efficiently and transparently are the main aims of the new agency, as listed out in the Cabinet paper. 

A new electronic procurement methodology when procuring vehicles, fertiliser and petroleum has also been suggested. An officer from the Presidential Secretariat, former Treasury Secretary or a previous Ministry Secretary would be appointed to head the agency as chairman. 

Despite promising to hold open tenders the Government has been repeatedly accused of giving projects to preferred companies and eschewing open tender evaluations, especially for the central highway project. Coal and gas were two major tenders that were surrounded by controversy when they were awarded earlier this year.

EOIs to be called for multi-modal transport hub 

Megapolis and Western Development Ministry has been given the go ahead to call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to build a multi-modal transport hub in Fort. 

The Cabinet paper presented by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka was approved, giving leeway for the appointment of a Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee (CANC) and a project committee. 

The Urban Development Authority would also be authorised to acquire lands in phases though details have not been released to media. 

The EOI would be shortlisted for selection of prospective investors to undertake the project under private financing on design, build, maintain and operate basis. Design proposals and financial proposals would also be called from the short listed investors. 

A network of Multi-Modal Centres (MMC) at Kelaniya, Malabe, Kottawa and Moratuwa was proposed under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in their initial master plan surrounding the Multi-Modal-Transport-Hub (MmTH) in Fort/Pettah. The MMCs are expected to optimise passenger traffic to Fort/Pettah by enabling inter-corridor transfers en-route, instead of passengers requiring to go to Fort/Pettah only in order to transfer to another corridor (as it is now). The measures are only a few of the highlights from those required and recommended in the Master Plan study to achieve the mobility objectives.

In December 2014, just ahead of the presidential elections, the previous Government signed a joint collaboration with Maju Group of Malaysia to transform the country’s public transportation infrastructure during a visit of Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The project was to construct an efficient, comfortable multimodal transport centre connecting train, bus, BRT, monorail, taxi and three wheelers. 

Since the appointment of the current Government, the Megapolis Ministry has approved five Light Rail systems with one to be funded by the Japanese Government.