Rejection of Government Printer’s bid for e-Passport raises eyebrows

The Cabinet then approved a proposal by the Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Harin Fernando to award the contract to supply an end-to-end e-Passport solution through an unsolicited bid to De La Rue Lanka Ltd.

Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) sources said that the cost to upgrade the existing infrastructure at the DIE to issue e-Passports would be less than Rs.50 million.

Lawyers of the petitioner who filed a Fundamental Rights case at the Supreme Court raised quetions as to why such an exorbitant amount has been approved to implement the new system under De La Rue Lanka Ltd.

In July, 2017, the Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration sent a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs expressing the willingness of the Government Printer to supply the intended e-Passport to the DIE.

With the above letter, a feasibility study conducted by the Government Printer to set up facilities to print and supply e-Passports was included confirming that the Government Printer does possess the required knowledge and capabilities to produce e-Passports as required by DIE.