Minister to seek Defense Ministry clarification on helicopter repair tender

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said he would discuss the helicopter repair tender with the Ministry of Defense and provide a detailed response next week.

He made this remark in response to a question raised by a journalist during last week’s Cabinet media briefing held at the Government Information Department.

According to reports, three companies had submitted bids for the tender, which was ultimately awarded by the Ministry of Defense to one of the applicants. The tender process reportedly includes four mandatory conditions, the key one being the requirement to obtain approval from the original helicopter manufacturer for any repair work.

The second condition requires approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Georgia, where the repairs are being carried out. However, it is reported that the Georgian CAA has not given formal approval to the selected company, instead only indicating that it has “no objection” to the repairs proceeding.

Adding to the controversy, the CAA of Georgia has clarified in a letter that the helicopters in question have not been registered with the authority since 2022, raising further concerns over regulatory compliance and oversight in the tender process.