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Contract to go to France but China not out
A billion rupee contract to procure electronic scanning equipment for the Colombo Port is likely to go to a French supplier found the most suitable but China has initiated diplomatic moves to re-consider one of its state owned contenders.

After world-wide tenders were called, the Government appointed a 12 member Project Committee of experts headed by Rear Admiral Nandana Thuduwewatte of the Sri Lanka Navy to technically evaluate the offers.

Later, he and five other members of the Committee visited Thailand, China, the United States and France to inspect the equipment. The other members were Air Vice Marshal Channa Gunaratne, Director Plans, Sri Lanka Air Force, P.D.K. Fernando, Director (Bonds) Sri Lanka Customs, Prof R.A. Attalage, Head of Engineering Department, University of Moratuwa, Major B.D.N. Perera, Senior Manager, Security and Investigation, Sri Lankan Airlines and H.A. Jayasinghe, Electrical Engineer, Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Two suppliers from the US and one from China, the team said, did not meet the required specifications. Hence they recommended the French supplier as conforming to all the required specifications. The French company's offer is to supply the equipment at US 4,600,000 (or over 4 1/2 billion rupees).

However, when financial offers were opened, it was found that the state owned Chinese company Catic had made the lowest offer - US 2,612,000 (or over 2 1/2 billion rupees). But Committee sources said when they went for inspection to China they were shown a different piece of equipment. Hence, they have held that the Chinese offer did not conform to specifications.

However, these sources said a new effort was being made to invite the Committee to visit China again to inspect 'the correct' piece of equipment. The Committee, these sources say, held the view this would be a departure from accepted norms and would make them liable to accept invitations even from the other bidders.

China has said it would provide air tickets, food and accommodation to the team that will visit for the second time. But the Committee took a policy decision before their overseas missions not to accept any funding for tickets, food or accommodation from any of the bidders. This was done strictly for reasons of transparency.

The Sunday Times learns China was to make official representations to the Government on the grounds that it would effect a large saving if the Chinese equipment was purchased. The issue had already been raised by a visiting Chinese dignitary and the matter is to be pursued.

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