Airport and Aviation Services Ltd alleged corruption comes to light

11 July 2024 08:32 am Views - 101

• Tenders were called in December 2023, toconstruct a new building to enhance capacity for the benefit of departing passengers and improve the services provided at check-in, satellite boarding gates and baggage handling system at the Bandaranaike International Airport
• The Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) and the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) selected to award the contract to substantially responsive and the lowest evaluated bidder
• However, the Ministry Secretary deliberately did not inform this to the successful bidder but to all other unsuccessful bidders requesting them to appeal if they wish, to the Procurement Appeal Board preventing the successful bidder from representing at the appeal board when the TEC/ SCAPC recommendations were overturned which is in breach of the principals of natural justice

Airport and Aviation Services Ltd which is plagued with corruption has now come to light on how the substantially responsive and lowest evaluated bidder in the tender to construct a new building to enhance capacity for the benefit of departing passengers and improve the services provided at check-in, satellite boarding gates and baggage handling system at the Bandaranaike International Airport has been overlooked and offered to the bidder the TEC has declared as not acceptedtechnically for further evaluation.  Allegations have been levelled against the Secretary Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation and the Chairman Procurement Appeal Board who is working under the same Ministry as Chairman Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, for this blunder.  

“They have openly flouted Government Procurement Guidelines of 2006 when offering this tender,” Ministry sources said.