The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I seek leave of this Hon. House to table the circular issued by the Secretary to the Treasury regarding facilitating procurement processes and relief measures during an emergency situation.

¶ 02 Budget Circular No. 05/2025 was issued to all District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries on “Providing relief to people affected due to the emergency situation.” I will read it:

¶ 03 “To expeditiously provide relief to the people affected under the prevailing emergency situation, actions should be taken in accordance with Paragraph 3.1.8 of the Procurement Guidelines and Manual – 2024 for goods, works and non-consultancy services.

¶ 04 02. Accordingly, the Procurement Commission has informed me that a Divisional Secretary may, without any hindrance, promptly carry out necessary procurement up to the limit of Rs. 50 million specified under Paragraph 2.9 of the above Guidelines and Manual.

¶ 05 03. District Secretaries should promptly take action to grant the necessary financial authority to Divisional Secretaries to incur expenditure up to Rs. 50 million in order to act as stated in Paragraph 02 above.

¶ 06 04. In addition, if further expenditure is required to provide relief to the people affected by the disaster, the Ministry of Defence, Disaster Management Division, should, without delay, inform me to make necessary arrangements for commitments and provide required virements.

¶ 07 Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma Secretary to the Treasury”

¶ 08 Copies have been sent to: Secretary to the President; Secretary, Ministry of Defence; Secretary to the Prime Minister; Secretary to the Cabinet of Ministers; Chairman, Procurement Commission; Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; and the Auditor General.

¶ 09 Further, under “Emergency Procurement (Reference to relevant Procurement Guidelines – 3.1.8)”, it is stated:

¶ 10 “Emergency Procurement (Reference to relevant Procurement Guidelines – 3.1.8)

¶ 11 Procedures relating to emergency procurement of goods, works and non-consultancy services under emergency situations shall be used in parallel with the general procedures specified under Clause 3.1.8 of the Procurement Guidelines.

¶ 12 (a) Situations in which emergency procurement procedures may be used

¶ 13 The Procurement Entity may use these procedures under the following circumstances:

¶ 14 i. In exceptional situations such as those caused by human intervention or natural disasters;

¶ 15 ii. In situations, including those declared by relevant State institutions vested with authority to declare an emergency or proclaimed by the Government of Sri Lanka, where imminent threats to life, property, public assets or the environment cause irreversible damage that cannot be restored to normal conditions, and where unforeseen social obligations must be fulfilled.

¶ 16 (b) Relaxations permitted for procurement during emergencies

¶ 17 Considering the nature of each emergency situation, and with the prior approval of the Chief Accounting Officer/Accounting Officer, the Procurement Entity may decide on necessary relaxations relating to the following areas to expedite procurement.”

¶ 18 Thank you very much.