Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has revealed that the LKR 1.7 billion project to distribute 1,000 smart boards to schools has failed to achieve its intended goals, resulting in significant underutilization of funds.
Speaking at the Parliament complex, Dr. Amarasuriya stated that the procurement process, handled by the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation, lacked competitive bidding and was completed at an unusually rapid pace. The purchase was based on unverified price quotations from a single supplier, Intelligent Express Limited Hong Kong, allegedly representing Huawei. However, the Chinese government has not confirmed Huawei as the designated supplier for its proposed digital classroom initiative.
The smart boards, currently stored in warehouses, remain unused due to delays in the Chinese-funded network integration project, which has not yet reached a final agreement. Without the necessary connectivity and centralized system, the boards can only function as standalone classroom devices, failing to meet the project’s educational objectives.
A formal investigation has been launched to probe potential financial and procedural irregularities. Meanwhile, discussions with the Chinese government are ongoing to secure the necessary infrastructure and complete the project.
