Lotteries board says tender not awarded

The National Lotteries Board (NLB) said the tender for printing and supplying instant/scratch lottery tickets which closed in April this year is yet to be awarded.

The NLB referring to a news item in the Sunday Times last week said that the tender is being evaluated by the Standing Cabinet Appointed (Special) Procurement Committee (SCAPC) chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy and other members.

The Technical Evaluation Committee has completed their evaluation report and submitted it to the SCAPC which has to take a final decision, the NLB said.

‘According to the procurement procedure the next stage will be appeals’, the NLB said.

The NLB said there was no interference by the Board on the procurement process and action will be taken to award the tender to the successful bidder based on the cabinet decision.

The Sunday Times last week reported that a section of the employees had petitioned the Auditor General about the delay in awarding the contract and that the previous contractor was continuing to supply the tickets despite the end of the contract.

The NLB said the computerised draw ticket were delayed as the earlier supplier challenged the procurement procedure in the Supreme Court and the action was dismissed in October. Thereafter the tender was awarded to the ‘most responsive bidders’, the NLB said.

The NLB said that the claim by the workers that the tickets were being printed on a lower quality paper than was quoted for was not correct.

However the employees have sent samples of the tickets to the Auditor General along with the petition, claiming that the tickets were printed on a lower quality paper.

The Sunday Times last week made several attempts to contact the NLB chairperson, Shyamila Perera on her mobile as well as land line.