Attorney General queries tourism promotional campaign
Sri Lanka is trying to promote a destination that most people left after the Easter Sunday attacks but it continues to run into problems with the latest being the Attorney General’s Department requesting that correct procurement process be followed. The promotion campaign was expected to target the winter bookings.
Sources have informed the Business Times that the AG’s Department had spotted an error and that the procurement paper had not been drafted correctly.
Cabinet too was found to have not correctly identified some of the procedures that should have been followed in the awarding of the contract to a PR advertising agency, industry sources said.
It is understood that a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) needs to be established which had not been carried out for the procurement of the agency.
The total cost of the recovery and digital campaign is Rs.950 million and sources now say that it would be necessary for the authorities to resubmit papers, which could mean a delay in the campaign launch.
JWT had been selected as the agency to carry out the promotional campaign for Sri Lanka Tourism soon after the April 21 incident however, under the circumstances it is now believed that many agencies would have to send in proposals prior to the proper selection.
Wunderman Thompson (JWT) CEO Alyna Omar told the Business Times on Friday that right along they have been concerned whether the whole process is clear and the process is legally sound.
Attorney General stalls tourism promotional campaign
The agency had indicated that they were keen to follow the correct process as this is part of their standard format for vetting any agreement.
“We have submitted proposals and done everything – we are waiting for confirmation that the whole process is in order and if there is confirmation then we will sign the contract,” Ms. Omar said.
JWT had been showcasing their proposal to authorities and it is learnt that the first of this happened three days after the attack happened.
The agency is said to have been ready to have the campaign go live from the date of signing the contract.
The campaign was set to target the winter bookings and it is believed that should the contract be signed any time soon the agency is said to be ready with the campaign to get underway within two weeks. This would mean they would still be in time for the winter bookings.
Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga however stated that following the issues raised by AG’ department the matter would be taken up by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a bid to fast-track the process.
He noted that Mr. Wickremesinghe is expected to speak with the AG’s department and would be able to convince them on the need to fast track the process.
A meeting in this respect with the AG’s department is likely to take place next week, the minister said.
