Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The government has incurred a loss of Rs. 6,900 million by awarding the tender to a company that submitted the highest bid during the tender process for the import of urea under World Bank assistance, Sri Lanka Gulf Trade and Investment Board (SLGTIB) Chairman Mohan Perera said.

Addressing the media, he said that the UAE-based company, which submitted a bid for US$ 595 for one metric ton of urea, but it was not awarded the relevant tender and it was awarded to another company. 

The company that submitted a tender for US$ 1,000 had agreed to supply for US$ 850, and there is a US$ 40 million deficit in comparison with the last tenderer, Perera said.

Three months ago, before the Russia-Ukraine war, the Falco company said that the consignment purchased from Ukraine and transferred to another country could be supplied at the old price without the production certificate.

But Mohan Perera said that if required, with all the certificates, urea can be provided from Oman and Turkmenistan for US$ 695 per metric ton.

However, he further said that he is capable of supplying a bag of urea for Rs. 12,500 inclusive of all taxes. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)