COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – 31 August 2026 – Sri Lanka is making significant strides in modernising its public procurement landscape through the widespread adoption of Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP). The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development today announced the accelerated implementation of the e-GP system, Promise.lk, aimed at fostering greater transparency, efficiency, and accountability in government spending.
This initiative marks a crucial step in the nation’s broader digital transformation agenda, positioning Sri Lanka to leverage international best practices in public procurement and create a more data-driven ecosystem.
Why Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) Matters
The transition to e-GP is poised to deliver multifaceted benefits across the public and private sectors. Key advantages highlighted by the Ministry include:
- Enhanced Transparency and Accountability: Making procurement information more accessible and strengthening visibility of public spending.
- Reduced Administrative Burdens: Streamlining processes, minimising paperwork, and speeding up information exchange.
- Improved Procurement Efficiency: Faster cycles and better resource allocation.
- Wider Supplier Access: Creating a more inclusive environment for businesses, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to participate in government tenders.
- Strengthened Electronic Records: Ensuring robust data integrity and traceability.
- Reliable Procurement Data: Providing valuable insights for better analysis, policy formulation, and decision-making.
Promise.lk: Sri Lanka’s National e-GP Platform at the Forefront
Promise.lk stands as Sri Lanka’s national electronic Government Procurement platform, empowering Government Procurement Entities (PEs) to conduct shopping goods procurements digitally. Bidders can submit online bids securely, while procurement notices and award details for all other procurement types are published online through the platform.
Currently, Promise.lk supports procurements up to LKR 25 million for local funding and up to LKR 35 million for foreign funding within the applicable procurement framework. These limits vary based on the level of authority:
- Ministry Procurement Committee (MPC): LKR 25 Million (GOSL Funding), LKR 35 Million (Foreign Funding)
- Department/Project Procurement Committee (DPC/PPC): LKR 20 Million (GOSL Funding), LKR 30 Million (Foreign Funding)
- Regional Procurement Committee (RPC): LKR 6 Million (GOSL Funding), LKR 6 Million (Foreign Funding)
- Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) / Head of Department (HD) / Project Director (PD): LKR 1 Million (GOSL Funding), LKR 2 Million (Foreign Funding)
The platform serves as a unified hub, facilitating:
- For Government: Publication of notices, online bid opening, and transparent evaluation information.
- For Bidders: Secure online bid submission and greater visibility into procurement opportunities.
- For the Public: Access to award opening information and details of awarded contracts.
e-GP Implementation: A National Picture of Rapid Expansion
The expansion of e-GP is evident across various levels and categories of government entities. As of August 2026, the system boasts 324 active Procuring Entities, encompassing Cabinet Ministries, Departments, other Central Government organisations (including State-Owned Enterprises), District Secretariats, and Provincial organisations.
Notable figures include:
- 19 out of 25 Cabinet Ministries are active e-GP users.
- 17 out of 20 Departments under the Ministry of Finance are actively using the platform.
The distribution of active PEs by category demonstrates widespread adoption:
- Cabinet Ministries: 19
- Departments: 143
- Universities: 16
- District Secretariats: 14
- Other Central Government Organisations: 107
- Provincial Organisations: 25
From Basic Automation to a Fully Fledged Digital Procurement Platform
The growth trajectory of e-GP in Sri Lanka has been remarkable. The number and value of e-procurements have surged dramatically over the past few years:
| Year | Number of e-Procurements | Value of e-Procurements (In LKR Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89 | 186.6 |
| 2021 | 984 | 3,404.3* |
| 2022 | 1,063 | 884.6 |
| 2023 | 2,812 | 1,289.8 |
| 2024 | 18,149 | 7,716.9 |
| 2025 | 31,099 | 15,195.4 |
| 2026 (As of July 31) | 25,294 | 13,261.1 |
| Total | 80,390 | 41,938.7 |
*During the peak of Covid-19 in 2021, in the absence of facility to call bids in the regular manner, certain high-level (NCB) procurements were undertaken through promise.lk by way of uploading bidding documents allowing online bid submission.
Beyond individual procurement activities, e-GP is laying the groundwork for a more transparent, efficient, competitive, and data-driven public procurement ecosystem. The process encompasses fully digital e-Procurements for Shopping Goods, manual procurement notices published for other categories, and public disclosure of results through Procurement Awards.
- Over 80,000 e-Procurements completed.
- More than 20,000 Manual Notices published.
- Over 12,000 Awards published, detailing awarded bidder information and contract values.
The Opportunity Ahead: Expanding Supplier Base and Future Innovations
As the country’s single largest buyer, the Government of Sri Lanka’s digitalization of public procurement presents a significant market opportunity for businesses nationwide. The Ministry of Finance aims to cultivate a diverse supplier base, ensuring greater competition and better value for public money.
To facilitate the expansion of the e-GP registered supplier base and encourage broader participation, the Ministry of Finance has announced a temporary waiver of vendor registration fees on Promise.lk. This initiative will commence from September 2026, allowing potential suppliers to register free of charge for a limited period.
Despite Sri Lanka’s comparatively later entry into the e-GP journey within the region, this provides a unique advantage to learn from global experiences and deploy a more robust system. With 324 active Procuring Entities, Promise.lk is primed for significant transformation in the nation’s procurement landscape.
Already, 90% of Departments under the General Treasury routinely undertake Goods procurements through the e-GP platform, with the Treasury making it mandatory for applicable limits. The next phase of the e-Government procurement system is scheduled for launch in 2027. This advanced platform will handle both National and International Competitive Bidding (NCB/ICB) and support procurements for goods, works, consulting services, and non-consulting services. Future enhancements are envisaged to include advanced procurement features such as reverse auctions and e-catalogues as user adaptation improves.
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