MP Ravi Karunanayake has alleged that the government is planning to purchase 1,775 new double-cab vehicles while bypassing the standard international tender process.
Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, Karunanayake claimed that a previous proposal to import 2,000 double cabs for Members of Parliament, which was earlier shelved, has resurfaced in a modified form.
“There was a proposal from the government to bring in 2,000 double cabs for MPs. At that time, I said MPs don’t need vehicles. But if you want to give these vehicles to someone else and claim they’re for MPs, don’t do it. After that, the proposal was shelved. But now, it has resurfaced,” he said.
He alleged that the government now intends to procure 1,775 double cabs through a tender completed within just 12 days, instead of the standard 42-day international tender period.
“The original plan for 2,000 vehicles has been reduced by 225, likely excluding MPs. The cost to the government is Rs. 42.8 billion. What’s concerning is that such a massive expenditure is being fast-tracked with only 12 days for tender submission,” Karunanayake said.
He also claimed that the tender requirements — including a minimum annual turnover of Rs. 10 billion, island-wide vehicle service operations, and a 2,500cc engine capacity — effectively allow only one company to qualify, raising serious transparency concerns.
