The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has reportedly called for bids to purchase 1,775 four-wheel-drive diesel-powered double cabs, a massive, multi-billion-rupee tender, with a mere 12 days given for submissions. The tender closes on 4 November and according to media reports, the vehicles are to assist in work progress of the Government’s development programmes.

At first glance, such a purchase might appear as a logistical necessity for development work, particularly in rural areas. But, the timing, the urgency and the lack of transparency of the process have raised alarms. Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises former Chairperson Prof. Charitha Herath took to the social media platform X, to query the Government’s haste and lack of transparency. He questions the haste in which such a large-scale procurement is being carried out with little notice, and the rationale or justification behind it. 

Dr. Herath’s questions are direct and the kind that every responsible citizen should be asking – why such secrecy and haste? What public purpose does this purchase serve? Who will use these 1,775 double cabs, and according to what criteria? Are proper procurement and evaluation procedures being followed? And, in a time of severe fiscal stress, is this how public money should be spent? He also noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is closely monitoring Sri Lanka’s public expenditure, cannot turn a blind eye to this kind of deal. His remarks echo a growing sentiment among the public that the Government’s actions seem to contradict its own promises of transparency, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility. 

Needless to say, many who voted for the Government also share these concerns. This is a multi-billion-rupee purchase, even if the vehicles are imported duty-free for State use, the total cost will still run into tens of billions of rupees. In such a context, public outrage is not hard to understand. The same Government that once auctioned off the vehicles used by the former Government, calling them luxurious and unnecessary, now seems to be trying to expand its fleet with thousands of new double cabs.

There are more questions to be asked including what will happen to the old vehicles if the Government is trying to replace them. If there is indeed a legitimate administrative need for new vehicles, why the sudden rush? Why purchase all of them at once, and within less than two weeks of bidding time? What is more, why specifically double cabs – has a large number of double cabs become unusable? Is the Government trying to replace other types of vehicles with double cabs? Or, is there a shortage that needs to be filled specifically with double cabs? Large-scale government procurements require careful and advance planning, technical evaluations and a transparent selection process. Rushing through a multi-billion-rupee tender of this size attracts suspicion and raises questions. That is why these questions need to be answered.

As pointed out by some, the timing of this process is also troubling. The tender closes on 4 November, just three days before the presentation of next year’s (2026) Budget on 7 November. Whether this timing is purely coincidental is an unavoidable question. Is the Government attempting to finalise the deal before the new Budget is tabled, possibly to avoid Parliamentary scrutiny?

Transparency is the foundation of good governance, especially in a country struggling to rebuild public confidence and the economy after years of financial mismanagement. A procurement of this scale must be justified by clear explanations. The Government owes the public not just the assurance that procedures are being followed, but also proof of it. Sri Lanka cannot afford another period of wasteful or politically motivated expenditure disguised as development. 

The IMF programme has already required sacrifices from the people which include higher taxes and tariffs and also spending cuts. Against this backdrop, news of an expensive vehicle fleet purchase is alarming. It suggests that while citizens are urged to tighten their belts, those in power continue to operate with a privileged mentality. This issue goes beyond the vehicles themselves.

At least now, the Government should issue a full public explanation providing answers to the abovementioned questions. That will say a lot about the Government and how transparent it is when it comes to procurements. The Government should demonstrate that this tender, like every use of public funds, serves the people’s interests.