New tendering process planned for Sri Lankan highway project

Sri Lanka’s proposed northern highway project is being reviewed and looks likely to be put out to tender shortly. The country’s new administration previously suspended the project due to issues with non-transparent tenders as well as concerns over its high cost. The project was estimated to cost around US$2.26 billion, which the country’s new administration deemed of concern. At the end of 2014 a number of contractors were awarded work to several sections of the expressway linking Jaffna with capital Colombo. But the work was awarded without a proper bidding process, which was why the new administration decided to take action. A timeline for the new tendering process will be released shortly.