Four consecutive tender cancellations have held up the full commissioning of the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal (ECT), with the Government now making a fifth attempt to procure 15 straddle carriers even as it explores handing over operations of the State-owned facility to a private operator.
With 82–85% of civil construction completed, the terminal faces a further wait of 10–12 months for the equipment to arrive after the contract is awarded, raising questions over repeated procurement failures at one of Sri Lanka’s key port development projects.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka revealed that four previous tenders for straddle carriers had been cancelled for different reasons, while the fifth procurement process was nearing completion following negotiations with two bidders.
“The main issue is the procurement of equipment, particularly straddle carriers,” the Minister said.
He said that the Government expected to conclude negotiations and award the contract within approximately two months, particularly as the validity period of the current bids was approaching its expiry.
“We expect to complete the process within this year. The bid validity period is also approaching its end. Therefore, we need to complete the negotiations and award the contract within approximately the next two months,” he explained.
However, even if the contract is awarded within the anticipated time frame, the terminal will not be immediately ready for full operations.
“After awarding the contract, it will take another 10–12 months for the equipment to be delivered and become operational,” the Minister said.
- https://www.themorning.lk/articles/tjXnS9M7t8DEoVhFYNNi
With 82–85% of civil construction completed, the terminal faces a further wait of 10–12 months for the equipment to arrive after the contract is awarded, raising questions over repeated procurement failures at one of Sri Lanka’s key port development projects.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka revealed that four previous tenders for straddle carriers had been cancelled for different reasons, while the fifth procurement process was nearing completion following negotiations with two bidders.
“The main issue is the procurement of equipment, particularly straddle carriers,” the Minister said.
He said that the Government expected to conclude negotiations and award the contract within approximately two months, particularly as the validity period of the current bids was approaching its expiry.
“We expect to complete the process within this year. The bid validity period is also approaching its end. Therefore, we need to complete the negotiations and award the contract within approximately the next two months,” he explained.
However, even if the contract is awarded within the anticipated time frame, the terminal will not be immediately ready for full operations.
“After awarding the contract, it will take another 10–12 months for the equipment to be delivered and become operational,” the Minister said.
- https://www.themorning.lk/articles/tjXnS9M7t8DEoVhFYNNi
