“Licence Plate Delays Affect Over 165,000 New Vehicles”
With reference to the above article appearing in the Sunday Times Business on October 19, Access International has sent a response clarifying certain aspects of the article:
In keeping with principles of fair reporting and the public’s right to know, we publish below their key claims and our detailed responses.
1. Reported backlog of number plates of 165,000 vehicles:
The company states that the backlog has arisen not due to any production delay or supplier default but because the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) failed to settle payments amounting to Rs. 655 million for over a year. They further claim that production continued at their expense and that the suspension in April 2025 was entirely due to administrative inaction.
Our response:
The figure of 165,000 unissued number plates was officially confirmed by senior DMT officials. The reason for the backlog, as verified through the Ministry of Transport, is the lapse of the long-standing contract and the delay in finalising a new tender not merely unpaid dues. The DMT confirmed that Access International’s appeal before the Presidential Secretariat has effectively frozen the award process, prolonging the shortage. The report accurately reflected these official facts without attributing blame beyond verified statements.
2. Procurement History and Transparency:
The company argues that all previous tenders since 1999 were conducted transparently through international competitive bidding, with oversight from Cabinet-appointed committees, and that Access has supplied plates under legally sound contracts since 2009 without issue.
Our response:
Our report did not challenge the legality of past tenders. It merely highlighted that a single supplier’s 25-year dominance renewed through successive tenders has created procedural rigidity and dependency, as confirmed by senior procurement officials. This observation is not a question of legality but one of structural inefficiency that has now contributed to delays in transition and evaluation.
3. Past Appeals and Legal Proceedings:
The company states that all past appeals or court actions were dismissed or withdrawn, proving the transparency of its contracts.
Our response:
The article did not refer to any past litigation or irregularities involving Access. References were strictly limited to the current tender process and the ongoing appeal lodged by Access International that has stalled decision-making. The company’s detailed historical defense, while noted, does not alter the factual basis of the present administrative impasse.
4. Current Tender (2024–2025):
The company alleges that the 2024 tender was reissued with diluted technical and experience requirements, discouraging international participation. It also claims that Access submitted the lowest responsive bid, saving Rs. 516 million, but was unfairly excluded.
Our response:
Our report accurately stated that the new tender has been delayed due to “technical and procurement issues” and that Access International’s appeal is under review. Tender evaluation details, bidder pricing, and qualification criteria were not publicly disclosed at the time of reporting and therefore were not addressed. Access’s claims regarding savings or evaluation results remain unverified assertions not supported by official documentation available to us or the public.
5. Testing and the University of Moratuwa Report:
Access argues that the rejection of its samples was based on a test report by an unaccredited institution (University of Moratuwa) and that the process lacked transparency and legal validity.
Our response:
Our article stated that the verification of seven critical security features was delayed because the University of Moratuwa had tested only six within three months, with one remaining pending international verification. This information came directly from officials overseeing the testing. At no point did we suggest that any bidder’s samples were defective or rejected only that testing delays had contributed to the overall backlog. Access’s assertion that testing lacked legal validity is their opinion, not a matter verified through any public record.
6. Procurement Appeal Board Findings:
The company maintains that the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) ordered re-testing of all samples under transparent conditions and that the DMT has failed to comply, violating procurement law.
Our response:
The appeal process before the PAB was referenced in our report as one of the causes delaying the finalisation of the new tender. The company’s interpretation of the PAB’s observations or its alleged non-compliance is a matter between Access International and the relevant authorities. Our report neither commented nor drew conclusions regarding the legality of the appeal but accurately reflected that the process has contributed to the prolonged stalemate.
7. Security Feature Downgrade:
Access disputes our mention of “enhanced security features,” arguing that the new specifications actually reduce anti-counterfeiting protections compared to previous tenders.
Our response:
Our article referenced Transport Ministry sources who confirmed that the new number plates are being manufactured under updated ISO and ASTM standards indicating a design upgrade intended to align with international norms. The comparison of individual security elements between past and present tenders is beyond the scope of the article, which accurately presented the Ministry’s official position.
8. Root Causes of Delay:
The company contends that the true reasons for the delay are non-payment by the DMT, the cancellation of the previous tender, and flawed evaluation not supplier-related issues.
Our response:
We note that these explanations largely confirm the situation outlined in our article that administrative, procedural, and technical delays have left tens of thousands of new vehicle owners waiting for months without plates. Our report never attributed sole responsibility to Access but correctly identified that the company’s ongoing appeal has further delayed procurement finalisation.
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