Is the President xenophobic?

Is the President xenophobic when it comes to insurance? According to a leading English weekend paper, the President has ordered that the ‘Suraksha’ insurance scheme to provide benefits to both Government and private school students be given to SLIC although Allianz Insurance has given the best offer. 

Even the Presidential Secretarial Appeal Board to which an appeal was made by SLIC has decided that the contract should be given to this private company. 

This sort of erratic conduct on the part of the Head of the State will create a negative perception when signing contracts with the Government and as a result the country will not be able to get the get the best offer when the State does call for tenders for various supplies and services.

I hope that the President will not intervene and make ad hoc changes when bids are finalised and awarded to the bidder who has given the best offer.

Mohamed Zahran

Colombo 14