Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP D.V. Chanaka says that the Rs. 60 billion pick up truck procurement process involves “one of the most blatantly corrupt tenders in recent times.”
Addressing Parliament during the Budget debate, he said that although international tender procedures require 42 days, this tender was mysteriously shrunk to just 12 days.
Even a tender worth Rs. 1 million, he noted, would typically include a pre-bid meeting but the massive Rs. 60 billion procurement had none.
Chanaka said the tender specifications were crafted so narrowly that only one Sri Lankan company could realistically qualify.
The requirements mandated an engine capacity between 2500cc and 3000cc, and at least three to five service centres across the country, in addition to Colombo.
Ten companies — five local and five international — submitted bids. However, all were rejected except Toyota.
The rejections were attributed to non-compliance with the engine capacity range or the lack of the required number of service centres.
Chanaka pointed out that the only company in Sri Lanka with five nationwide service centres is Toyota Lanka, which has been operating for nearly a decade.
“So why the sudden rush to purchase these vehicles?” he questioned.
“If the intention was to buy from Toyota anyway, they should’ve simply awarded it to Toyota without pretending to call for a tender,” he added.
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