Right of Reply: BPPE responds to PMAC over water contracts

Thursday, 1 January 2026 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Business Promoters & Partners Engineering Ltd., (BPPE) has issued the following Right of Reply to the article headlined ‘RTI exposes irregularities in SL water contracts involving Chinese SOEs – PMAC calls for accountability and urgent probe into unsolicited bids and inflated costs’ published in the Daily FT on 29 November 2025:

We write on behalf of BPPE with reference to the above-titled article published on 29 November 2025, which makes reference to BPPE’s participation in Joint Venture arrangements with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) in relation to water supply projects implemented by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB).

We wish to place on record that the CMEC-BPPE Joint Venture was awarded both the Ambatale Water Supply Project (AFD co-financed) and the Jaffna-Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project (ADB/GoSL-funded) strictly through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) conducted in accordance with standard bidding procedures. Neither of these projects was unsolicited.

Further, BPPE fully satisfied all pre-qualification and eligibility criteria stipulated in the respective tender documents.

We also wish to clarify that both projects have been successfully completed and formally handed over to the Employer, with Taking-Over Certificates duly issued, confirming completion to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

For completeness, we state that BPPE has never secured any unsolicited project at any time. The company has a long and established record of delivering civil engineering projects awarded through national and ICB, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s infrastructure development.

These contributions span road development, water supply, irrigation, harbour development, reclamation and drainage works, as well as the supply of aggregates and asphalt essentials to national development projects.

This clarification is respectfully submitted to correct the erroneous impressions conveyed in the said publication. We request that the necessary correction be carried out ethically and responsibly, in keeping with the principles of accurate and balanced reporting.