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Cabinet approves Rs 566mn tyre tender despite concerns by engineers

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The Cabinet has approved a Rs. 566 million tender to supply tyres to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) despite a technical evaluation committee (TEC) finding that the product sold by the winning bidder had deviated from a multitude of fixed, predetermined specifications.

The order, equivalent to the SLTB’s four-month requirement for tyres, has been granted to M/s Ferentino Tyre Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, according to official documents seen by the Sunday Times.

The company is owned by controversial businessman Nandana Lokuwithana. In 2017, he secured a sweetheart deal from the Yahapalana Government to set up his factory, including a massive discount on the lease premium on 100 acres of land in Horana and sweeping tax concessions.

Ferentino’s competitor for the bid, M/s CEAT Kelani International Tyres (Pvt) Ltd, was rejected as its price package was around 15 per cent higher and because it did not comply with two technical requirements to meet the SLTB’s expectations. The latter is related to the “minimum load capacity” of one type of tyre; and the “minimum expected guaranteed mileage” of all four tyre sizes.

CEAT subsequently went to the Procurement Appeals Board (PAB) countering that the successful bidder, Ferentino, had secured the tender based on “untested/unproven mileage” and that this was “totally against the bid evaluation procedure and good governance practices”. It urged the PAB to reassess the evaluation process.

The PAB, however, rejected CEAT’s appeal and upheld the Highways Ministry Secretary’s decision to award the tender to Ferentino. It maintained that, where CEAT had failed, the selected bidder offered a tyre type that met the SLTB’s requirements on load capacity and minimum guaranteed mileage. CEAT had offered less guaranteed mileage on all four tyre sizes in contrast to Ferentino, it also said.

The Cabinet subsequently approved Ferentino’s bid. But there are now concerns in transport circles about a number of crucial technical specifications that the winning bidder had itself departed from–and the possibility that this could impact negatively on public safety.

For instance, the three-member TEC has found the Ferentino’s tyre of size 7.50 x 16 deviated from the required overall diameters ordered by SLTB.

In samples provided by Ferentino, the “load capacity double” of this tyre also fell below the weight required by SLTB. (“Load capacity double” refers to how much weight one tyre is rated to carry when paired with another).

The groove depths of these tyres were several millimetres lower than the SLTB specifications. More critically, in one out of the three Ferentino tyre samples that engineering staff inspected, the tyre number–which is indicative of the date of manufacture and must be stamped on the date the product is made–was “unclear”.

“We, therefore, recommend that the stock of 7.50 x 16 tyres do not conform to the Sri Lanka Transport Board specifications as per the samples we have tested,” the TEC holds.

In tyre size 8.25 x 20, the SLTB ordered an outer diameter of the tyres to be 988mm. The three inspected samples had outer diameters of 970, 962 and 968mm each, the TEC observes, adding that this stock of tyres also did not conform to SLTB requirements.

The tyre size 9.00 x 20 had a more serious problem, the TEC holds, indicating that the manufacturing date had been tampered with.

“While the tyre numbers of these tyres are very clearly marked, it is clear that after the production of the tyre, rubber has been applied on the spot and the number marked on top of it,” its report says. “The tyre number should be recorded during the production process. The production year and week of production of a tyre can be known through this number. If the number is printed later, there is a problem in determining the age of the tyre.” This stock is also deemed by the TEC to be outside of SLTB specifications.

In tyre size 1000 x 20, the tyre numbers of two out of three samples were unclear and the outer diameters as well as depth of the tyre treads were lower than ordered. The stock is held to have deviated from SLTB requirements.

Despite these issues, SLTB Chairman S.M.D.L.K.D. Alwis in July defended the tender award to Ferentino and revealed that the company had already started supplying the tyres. He admits in a letter seen by the Sunday Times that engineers who inspected the products had highlighted the shortcomings.

“But considering the current tyre crisis in SLTB and the need to speedily put 175 buses on the road under the project of rehabilitating 400 buses, I give approval to accept 1,032 tyres while notifying the relevant company to correct the minor defects in the parameters indicated by the technical reports and to re-manufacture the tyres,” he states.

(sundaytimes.lk)

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The National War Heroes Commemoration tomorrow at Kotte Cenotaph

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The 16th National War Heroes Commemoration Ceremony will be held on Monday (19 May) at the National War Hero Cenotaph in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte, from 4.00pm to 6.00pm.

A series of island-wide community welfare programmes will also be carried out by armed forces, Police and Civil Security Department in view of the War Hero Commemorations.

Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) is expected to represent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the event. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force Roshan Gunathilleke are also scheduled to attend the ceremony.

The Ministry of Defence on Friday convened a press conference to announce the preparations for the ceremony. Commanders of the Navy and Air Force, Army Chief of Staff, senior military officials and Ministry representatives were present at the press briefing.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) underscored the national significance of the annual commemoration, paying tribute to the brave men and women of the armed forces, Sri Lanka Police and Civil Security Department who laid down their lives in the defence of the nation.

He reiterated the Ministry’s and the Tri-forces’ commitment to preserving the memory of fallen heroes, ensuring that their legacy of patriotism, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to duty continues to inspire future generations.

During the briefing, officials of Ranaviru Seva Authority and armed forces provided an overview of the ceremonial proceedings, which will include wreath-laying, special tributes, and military honours, with the participation of distinguished guests, military personnel, and the families of war heroes.

The event seeks to serve as a solemn occasion for the nation to express its gratitude and respect for those who selflessly served the country’s sovereignty and national security.

The Ministry of Defence calls upon all citizens to stand in solidarity in remembering the nation’s war heroes, reaffirming collective appreciation for their dedication to protecting the country and its people.

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NMRA chief resigns, citing threats to life

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Saveen Semage, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), resigned with immediate effect yesterday, citing threats to his life.

On May 9, CCTV in his home captured two men breaking in and walking around the residence for around half an hour from 11.30pm to midnight. They were observed peeping into the bedroom where Dr. Semage slept. His wife and children were also asleep in the house.

Dr. Semage, a public health specialist, was appointed to the position in January 2024. He was also previously CEO from November 2021 to May 2022, when he resigned over differences with former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. He was brought back last year by Ramesh Pathirana—who replaced Minister Rambukwella after he was forced to resign over irregularities in drug procurement—to clean up the drugs regulatory mechanism.

However, he faced stiff resistance from the pharma industry, particularly in his efforts to break drug monopolies and oligopolies that were blamed for rigging tenders (typically agreements among competitors to fix prices, allocate markets, or engage in other anticompetitive activity). He was also a victim of social media attacks largely blaming him for being politically motivated.

“There was a lot of tension within the NMRA and the pharmaceutical industry during the last two to three weeks because of my efforts in pricing and in breaking monopolies and oligopolies to save public funds,” Dr. Semage told the Sunday Times. “I think the break-in was a threat in an effort to remove me.”

“During the past 15 months, the NMRA has cleared the backlog of registrations and streamlined re-registration for drugs. He was also able to trace fake documents and to kick-start a digitalisation process that abruptly came to an end in 2021 when the NMRA database was mysteriously erased. During his term, the Authority also doubled its staff, taking in 30 new pharmacists, among others. The National Advisory Committee and Appeals Committee were also put in place, and a pricing mechanism, along with guidelines, was published.

(sundaytimes.lk)
(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Dual citizenship backlog: 1000 to be issued soon

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The Department of Immigration and Emigration is struggling with a backlog of more than 3,000 dual citizenship applications piled up over the past few months, with some papers submitted more than seven months ago remaining unattended.

At least 1,000 of these applications have got the all clear from the relevant authorities, including clearance from the Police and the State Intelligence Service (SIS), but the applications have stalled at the department level, the Sunday Times learns.

The main dual citizenship applicant is required to pay US$ 2000 (around Rs 600,000), with the spouse and unmarried children below the age of 22 paying US$ 500 each. It is this category of applicants who contribute substantially to the income of the department.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, when contacted by the Sunday Times, admitted the clearance of dual citizenship certificates had slowed down and said that he had instructed the department to immediately begin the issue of certificates to around 1,000 applicants whose background checks had been completed. They will receive the certificates within a week.

“There has been a delay, but I have instructed the department officials to ensure that the work is expedited,” he said. The department’s citizenship division, which handles the applications, comes under a deputy or assistant controller.

Many dual citizenship applications are submitted through Sri Lanka’s overseas missions. “Applicants are inconvenienced by the delay in the issuing of the certificates, as those who have taken foreign citizenships need the dual citizenship from here for their land/property transactions, financial activities, etc.,” an applicant told the Sunday Times.
According to the performance report of the department for 2023, more than 7,300 dual citizenships were issued, but the latest statistics are not yet available.
Meanwhile, the Department of Motor Traffic has run out of new number plates.

(sundaytimes.lk)
(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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