COLOMBO –
The current administration, which ascended to power on the back of fiery anti-corruption rhetoric, is facing a growing credibility crisis. The latest controversy emerges from the very heart of the government’s communication arm: the Ministry of Mass Media and the Department of Government Information.
A questionable procurement process regarding Zoom Application Services for 2026/2027—intended for Cabinet press briefings—has exposed what critics call a “textbook case” of tender manipulation and administrative malpractice.
The Timeline of a “Pre-Planned” Irregularity
The sequence of events suggests that this was not a clerical error, but a calculated move to bypass transparency:
- December 29, 2025: Tenders were officially opened. Two companies submitted bids. The incumbent service provider, which has successfully facilitated over 1,000 high-level meetings, submitted the lowest bid.
- The Assurance: At the opening, it was verbally confirmed that the tender would be awarded following the Technical Evaluation Committee’s (TEC) formal recommendation.
- January 16, 2026: After two weeks of silence, the department suddenly announced a re-calling of the tender.
Analysis: Why This is a “Tender Farce”
In standard procurement protocol, a tender is only re-called if no bidders meet the minimum qualifications. However, in this instance, the bids were already opened, and the pricing was made public knowledge.
The Red Flag:
By opening the bids first and then re-calling the tender, the Ministry has effectively leaked the competitive pricing. This allows “preferred” third parties to see the previous lowest bid and undercut it by a fraction in the new round.
The Official Excuses vs. Reality:
- The “Holiday” Excuse: The Accounts Division claimed other companies couldn’t bid due to year-end holidays.
- The “Insufficient Bids” Excuse: The Director General (Chairman of the Tender Committee) initially claimed ignorance of the re-call, only to later state that two bidders were “insufficient.”
The Rebuttal: If the number of bidders was insufficient, the Ministry should have extended the deadline before opening the envelopes. Opening the bids and then calling for a re-tender is an invitation for corruption.
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa: A Question of Integrity
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has often been the face of government transparency, frequently answering for the tender irregularities of other ministries during Cabinet briefings. It is deeply ironic that his own Ministry is now embroiled in a “monkey business” style procurement scandal.
While the monetary value of a Zoom subscription may seem small compared to multi-billion rupee scams, the violation of principle is monumental. If a government cannot transparently procure a software service, how can it be trusted with national infrastructure or energy contracts?
The “New” Tender: A Foregone Conclusion?
The re-tender is set to open tomorrow, January 22, 2026. It is widely expected that a “new” bidder will emerge with a price just slightly lower than the original winner’s publicized rate. This is not competition; it is a scripted heist of public funds and procedural integrity.
Conclusion: The Public is Watching
The President and the Prime Minister appear preoccupied with grander political projects, seemingly oblivious to the rot setting in at the departmental level. However, the taxpayer is not blind.
The Minister may dismiss these concerns with indifference, but the precedent being set is dangerous. A government that rode to power promising to “clean the system” is now caught manipulating a basic service contract. The people of Sri Lanka, who have seen many such “failed experiments” in the past, will undoubtedly provide their answer when the time is right.
This article was adapted from reports published by the slleader.lk website.