Government procurement is not merely an administrative procedure, but a key mechanism that transforms public funds allocated for the people into roads, buildings, healthcare services, educational facilities, drinking water projects and other public services. Therefore, as every delay in procurement activities directly affects service delivery to the people and provincial development, Northern Province Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan emphasized that the Electronic Procurement Monitoring System (ePMS) should be transformed not merely into an online tool, but into an administrative instrument that creates a transparent, streamlined and accountable procurement culture.
A training workshop on the Electronic Procurement Monitoring System for the Northern Provincial Council was held today – on Tuesday, 01 September 2026, at the Local Government Department Training Hall located in Kaithady. At this event, the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province delivered the special address, while the Chairman and Secretary-General of the National Procurement Commission, Secretaries of Provincial Ministries, Heads of Departments, officials and technical resource persons participated.
Addressing the event, the Governor stated that the Chairman of the National Procurement Commission had served during the period when I was working as the District Secretary in Kilinochchi District. He was a person who worked with great dedication. He expressed his appreciation to the National Procurement Commission for expanding the Electronic Procurement Monitoring System to Provincial Councils and conducting the training, and to the United Nations Development Programme for its cooperation in introducing this important national initiative.
The Governor noted that every rupee of public funds must be used only for the approved public purpose and that the expected benefit must reach the people within the stipulated period, and said that a good procurement process should be based on the principles of transparency, accountability, fairness, competitiveness, efficiency and value for money.
He further stated that, through the Electronic Procurement Monitoring System, procurement activities are recorded on an integrated electronic platform, enabling responsible officials and decision-makers to quickly identify the current status, timelines and delays occurring in each procurement and take corrective action at the appropriate stage.
In particular, the Governor noted that essential matters such as land availability, designs, technical specifications, estimates, environmental clearances and administrative approvals must be completed before a procurement activity is initiated, and stated that many procurement activities are being suspended precisely because these requirements have not been fulfilled. Therefore, he said that the readiness plan should be used efficiently and that it must be ensured that each procurement is ready to proceed without avoidable obstacles.
The Governor emphasized that the progress of the approved procurement plan should be continuously monitored, and that differences between planned dates and actual progress should be identified immediately, the reasons examined and appropriate corrective action taken without waiting until the end of the financial year.
The Governor requested that all Ministries, Departments, statutory institutions and other institutions under the Northern Provincial Council provide their full cooperation in implementing the Electronic Procurement Monitoring System, and instructed the responsible officials to hold the relevant officers accountable, provide accurate information and continuously review procurement progress.
The Governor noted that the Provincial Coordination Officer will play an important role in coordinating with the National Procurement Commission and providing the necessary assistance to provincial institutions, and further stated that all institutions should provide the necessary information and cooperation without delay.
The programme included a welcome address by the Chief Secretary, the Governor’s special address, an explanation of the purpose and objectives of the day, the keynote address by the Chairman of the National Procurement Commission, an explanation of the importance of procurement monitoring and the role of the Electronic Procurement Monitoring System, an introduction to the system, technical training and a discussion-based question-and-answer session.
The event was attended by the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, the Chairman and Secretary-General of the National Procurement Commission, Secretaries of Provincial Ministries, Heads of Departments, officials, resource persons from the National Procurement Commission and technical experts from Techreeks, among many others.
