Public procurement undergoes system change devoid of malpractices
The government will be enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency in the public procurement system making it more accountable, streamlined and cost effective, Finance Ministry sources said.
Sri Lanka public procurement remains an area of governance weakness tainted with corruption vulnerabilities, despite attempts to improve its effectiveness, a high official of the ministry familiar with IMF procedures told the Business Times.
The National Procurement Commission (NPC) was established under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in the latter part of 2015 with the aim of streamlining the existing public procurement system.
But it was not given due recognition by the previous Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime and it has become a redundant organisation. The NPC was abolished in October 2020 with the enactment of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.
The 21st Constitutional Amendment of 2022 has reinstated the NPC and once again vested it with responsibility for oversight of public procurement.
The government is to operationalise the NPC, with a clear mandate, authority, and responsibilities, including oversight of unsolicited proposals.
An 18-month Action Plan will be implemented with effect from January 2024 for the resurrection of the commission, finance ministry divulged.
The Public Procurement Law that reflects international good practice will be enacted in parliament next month.
Necessary action will be taken to design and operate a designated website containing information on all public procurement contracts above Rs.1 billion while updating it in every six months.