The Government of Sri Lanka has invited businesses to register on its official e-procurement platform, promise.lk, offering free registration for a limited period and free training on the bidding process.
According to a public notice issued by the Government, the promise.lk portal now facilitates procurement of goods under the “Shopping Method,” covering procurements up to Rs. 25 million per procurement using local funds and up to Rs. 40 million per procurement using foreign funds.
The categories listed include infrastructure and construction materials, medical and health equipment, vehicles and transportation, IT goods, and office supplies and equipment. A dedicated hotline (1925) has also been provided for inquiries.
Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, commenting on the new digital procurement drive, said the Government is shifting towards a transparent system to prevent political interference and ensure competitive bidding.
He said that in the past, major government tenders — including those related to gas, coal, identity cards, driving licences and other large-scale supplies — had circulated among a limited group of suppliers.
The Deputy Minister stated that under the new system, ministers and Members of Parliament will not be involved in procurement decisions, adding that the reform reflects public demand for transparency.
He acknowledged that during the transition to a fully competitive digital process, there could be temporary supply challenges, but stressed that continuing under the previous system was not an option.
Abeysinghe encouraged businesses to come forward and register as government suppliers, noting that the State remains the largest purchaser in the country and that opportunities previously restricted to politically connected parties are now open to all.
He added that although approval for such a digital procurement framework had been granted in 2017, it had not been fully implemented earlier due to political constraints.
The Government said it remains committed to strengthening a procurement process free from political intervention while expanding access for new suppliers. (Newswire)
