INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Harini Amarasuriya specified that the job to distribute clever boards for 1,000 schools with the goal of enhancing education has entirely
stopped working to meet its objectives and the investment of LKR 1.7 billion has been underutilized.The Minister of Education, Higher
Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr
Harini Amarasuriya made these remarks in the Parliament complex while going over the task to develop networked class by helping with wise
boards to the school system, according to the Prime Ministers Media Division.The Cabinet Memorandum No
AMP/24/0385/ 601/027 and the Cabinet decision dated March 4, 2024 has actually been presented for the approval of the arrangement of digital
wise boards and other related devices to 1,000 chosen schools, with the goal of enhancing education through the establishment of an
organized network of wise classrooms within the school system moneyed by the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL)
Consequently, an extra Cabinet Memorandum, No
AMP/24/0978/ 630/009, dated May 14, 2024, was presented, proposing the application of this job in positioning with the task proposed by
Chinese federal government for digitalizing Schools.Under this Chinese-funded project, strategies were made to establish a centralized
control center and a studio center, along with the provision of an extra 500 smart boards
Accordingly, the combination of both projects was proposed to produce a network of clever class across 1,500 schools.The cabinet choice has
been presented needing Sri Lankan Government to purchase smart boards with specs identical to the clever boards which were proposed to be
dispersed by the Chinese Government, the statement said.In line with the Cabinet decision of May 14, 2024, the procurement for the 1,000
smart boards began in July 2024
At the time of purchase, the job proposed by the Chinese Government was still at the discussion stage, and no official agreement had been
reached regarding the technical requirements of the smart boards.However, the procurement was brought out through the Sri Lanka State
Trading (General) Corporation without a competitive bidding procedure, relying on rate quotes obtained from a single supplier based on
uncertain sources that were not officially confirmed by the Chinese government.The Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission
incurred the complete expense of LKR 1.7 billion, with an extra LKR 430 million allocated for services and installation, it said.The
aforementioned procurement appears to have been performed at an abnormally accelerated rate when compared to the standard treatment normally
followed for high-value procurements
Particularly, rate quotations were asked for on July 5, 2024, opened on July 15, 2024, and by July 16, 2024, the Technical Evaluation
Committee had actually completed and submitted the report.Subsequently, the report was examined by the Standing Procurement Committee
appointed by the Cabinet on July 17 and 18, 2024, with suggestions being provided on the exact same day
These recommendations were then submitted to the Cabinet on July 23, 2024, and approval was approved on July 30, 2024
Followed by this, the purchase requisition was issued to the supplier on August 5, 2024
Accordingly, the entire procurement procedure was completed within a span of one month.As part of this procurement, a Letter of Credit was
opened to facilitate the payment of USD 3,135,392.50 for 1,000 smart boards to Intelligent Express Limited Hong Kong, which has actually
been determined as an agent of Huawei.While the appropriate Cabinet paper indicated Huawei as the designated producer supplying the wise
boards under the Chinese financing job, the Chinese government has not yet confirmed the choice of such a provider for this job, the
statement highlighted.According to previously mentioned purchase requisition, the bought clever boards and associated equipment were
delivered to the Ministry of Education in October 2024 and are currently saved at Pattala Gedara Teachers Training College.Although the
procurement of the abovementioned Smart boards by the Sri Lankan Government has actually been finalized, the appropriate task, which was
planned to be carried out under the financing of Chinese government, has actually not yet started and a final contract concerning its
application has actually not been reached.Prior to reaching a last arrangement on the network integration centers and centralized system
proposed by the Chinese government, the procurement of these smart boards has actually led to the failure to make use of the equipment for
It is anticipated that the Chinese aid task is at the conversation stage, and the application may extend till the end of this year
Further, no main choice has actually been made relating to the choice of a supplier for the project.Given this situation, if the 1,000
clever boards and other devices presently stored in warehouses are to be distributed to schools, school principals need to be offered with
clear instructions on their proper usage
Due to the hold-up in executing the project under the financing of the Chinese government, particular standards on the installation and
utilization of the equipment can not yet be issued, the declaration added.Since network combination can not be carried out at this stage,
these wise boards can only be utilized as standalone classroom systems
As an outcome, the goals of the job will not be fulfilled, and the investment of LKR 1.7 billion made might be thought about to be
underutilized.An official investigation has actually been started to figure out whether financial and procedural abnormalities have actually
taken place in this procurement
In addition, conversations are currently continued with the Chinese federal government, and efforts are being made to secure the proposed
centers from China at the earliest convenience.
