Govt's 1,000 Double-Cab Tender Returns With Looser Specs — Real Fix or New Favourite?

The Finance Ministry closed bids on October 22 for 1,000 brand-new automatic 4WD diesel double cabs for state use. A near-identical 1,775-vehicle tender was pulled last year after critics said the specs - a 2,500cc engine floor, 300mm ground clearance - left only one supplier able to qualify. This round the engine floor dropped to 2,400cc, ground clearance to 220mm, and the bid bond jumped to Rs. 250 million with Rs. 5 billion in required financial backing. One side says this finally widens the field to more brands and is routine fleet renewal for ministries and officials. The other side asks why the state needs 1,000 brand-new double cabs at all when a private buyer pays a 50% import surcharge plus full duty on the same models, and whether the "looser" specs and massive bid bond still quietly protect a chosen few. If you've ever bid on a government vehicle tender, or just priced a double cab for yourself recently, how does the math compare? රජයට නව කැබ් 1000ක් මේ වෙලාවේ අවශ්‍යමද, නැත්නම් මේකත් කාටහරි වාසියක් හදන එකක්ද?