Yet another Yahapalana game : Project to provide TABS for Grama Niladhari to be given to a higher bidder!

Serious concerns have been raised regarding the project to provide 2 in 1 tablet computers to Grama Niladhari officers islandwide by the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital

According to sources all state procedures have been violated to give the project to a higher bidder when better bids existed. They say an underhand deal has taken place with the participation of several high ranking officers of the Ministry to hand over the project to the said company.

The project commenced according to the 2017 budget proposal is set to provide 2 in 1 tablet computers to all Grama Niladhari officers in the country.

Accordingly an advertisement had been placed in the Daily News on August 25, 2017 seeking out companies that can provide the necessary tabs for the project.

While the bids to provide 7000 tabs were opened on September 21, 2017 the Ministry had received six bids on the day.

Second bidder given prominence

According to sources the owest bid had been Rs. 683 Million with the second lowest bid being Rs. 731 Million. The highest bidder had reportedly quoted Rs. 854 Million.

However no technical assesment as required by state procedure has taken place for this project sources say adding that the Ministry Secretary has handed over the tender to V S information system who had submitted a bid of Rs. 731. While informing all bidders of this decision the Ministry Secretary has requested the bidders to approach the Presidential appeals board if needed.

While one bidder had approached the appeals board, a tripartiate comitte had conducted an investigation in this regard in Ocotber. However the result of this investigation remains unknown. The project also appears to have halted while in reality the officers should have received the tablet computers by now.

Meanwhile photos have been leaked which shows a close relationship between the committee members with the successful bidder.

The photographs show the Secretary of the Ministry with Kasun Warnakulasuriya of EZY which provides computers to V S Information systems. ICT is also said to have a close relationship with EZY.

While handing projects over personal friendships cannot be acceptable if proper action against this is not taken by the Minister Harin Fernando he would in turn have to face the consequences sources said.