Shaping successful procurement futures: the evolving landscape of public-private partnership in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a long-term arrangement wherein a government agency and a private sector consortium work together to supply public asset or service, with the private sector bearing considerable risk and administrative burden. In the modern world, PPP is a strategic approach that many governments use to manage their public obligations while additionally earning the benefits of the private sector's engagement in the development of infrastructure. In practice, there are two approaches that PPP initiatives can begin: by solicitation or un-solicitation. For both approaches, the ultimate product's delivery is influenced by the performance of the procurement process. One important factor in the success of PPP projects is seen to be a fair and transparent procurement procedure. The authors conducted a comprehensive study on the evolution of Sri Lanka's PPP procurement process. The results of the comprehensive analysis revealed that the PPP procurement process in Sri Lanka has been evolving for more than 25 years, utilising both unsolicited and solicited approaches. Finally, it was noted that the evolution of the PPP procurement process can be utilised to guide future developments and reforms to shape a fair and transparent PPP procurement process.