Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mahindodaya
Technological Lab concept to provide technological labs for 1,000 secondary
schools in the country has become yet another money spinning machine for those
who are allegedly close to the former first family, The Sunday Leader learns.
Although, the previous regime boosted to have introduced
computer labs to secondary schools in the country as a concept of the then
President, it has now come to light as to how Hambantota District UPFA
Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was allegedly fully involved in the tender
procedure to get the tender awarded to one of his close associates who has
provided jobs for his party loyalists in Hambantota.
“In mid 2013, tenders were called to supply, delivery,
installation, networking, commissioning and maintenance of computers and
accessories for Mahindodaya Technological labs under the 1,000 secondary school
development programme.
However cancelling the first tender notice, the education
Ministry once again called for tenders from prospective bidders with domestic
preference to which the major vendors in the business did not send quotations
other than three parties, E.W. Information Systems Limited (E-WIS), Abans
Limited and yet another insignificant company that has an affiliation with the
E.W. Information Systems Limited,” Education Ministry sources said.
When Education Ministry officials inquired as to why the
first tender notification was cancelled and a fresh tender was called with new
regulations, Ministry Secretary and other higher officials had stated that they
could not trust the first technical evaluation committee (TEC) and had to
appoint another TEC by appointing the members who could be controlled allegedly
by the Ministry Secretary, MPs Namal Rajapaksa and Sajin Vass Gunawardena.
“Although there are many major companies that could send
their quotations, most of them did not take part in the bid because Education
Ministry wanted domestic preference at the time of the bid evaluation. This has
been enforced by the Treasury Secretary in a circular dated January 2, 2013,”
the sources added.
As a result , E.W. Information Systems (E-WIS) Limited, who
sent the lowest prices, was awarded the tender to supply, delivery, installation,
networking, commissioning and maintenance of computers and accessories for 100
Mahindodaya Technological labs in the country.
“The vendor had to supply 6,600 personal computer systems,
6,600 UPSs, 400 printers, 100 scanners, 85 laptop computers and network cabling
for 100 schools and power cabling for the schools,” sources said.
According to the sources, although there was nothing wrong
in awarding the tender to E.W. Information system it is questionable as to why
the Education Ministry kept on giving the same company the contract to supply
computers and other required equipments to 700 more schools without calling
tenders. “We do not have any issue of
awarding this tender to the prospective lowest bidder but the question is, how
the Education Ministry could give the same company the contract to provide
computers and other equipments for another700 schools on four other occasions
without calling for tenders,” sources alleged.
According to the sources, the most critical issue in the
procurement is that E-WIS was awarded the same contract on three separate
occasions to provide personal computer systems, UPSs, printers, scanners,
laptop computers and network cabling and power cabling for 300 schools said to
be based on a cabinet approval and for the fourth time E-WIS was once again
given the opportunity to supply the same equipment for 400 schools at one
occasion.
“This is totally against the government procedure and
according to the tender published by Ministry of Education, only 25% of the
total contract can be extended based on the same order. According to the award
of contract, at the time contract is awarded, the purchaser reserves the right
to increase or decrease the quantity of goods and related services originally
specified in section V, schedule of requirements, provided this does not exceed
twenty five percent (25%) or one unit whichever is higher and without any
change in the unit prices or other terms and conditions of the bid and the
biding documents,” sources alleged.
The sources alleged how unfair it was to give the contract
to the same company over and over without calling for tenders and added that it
was done to ensure that MP Namal Rajapaksa’s confidant the owner of the E-WIS
is benefitting from the Mahindodaya Technological Lab concept.
“The initial bid value to supply, deliver and install the
computers for 100 schools was Rs.708 million. When the same contract was given
on three separate occasions for hundred schools each and when the fourth
contract was given for 400 schools at once, the contract amount E-WIS obtained
Rs.4,956 million. If the Education Ministry called for tenders and was offered
this tender to this company, we do not have any issue but since politics
entered and prevented any other party to get the contract, the Education
Ministry officials are highly concerned,” sources claimed.
With the dawn of a new regime, and those who were involved
in money making through tender benders are no more in power, the Education
Ministry officials are waiting to take up the issue with the newly appointed
Education Minister and his officers to stop bribery and corruption that was
taking place in the ministry.
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