Former Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim has sharply criticized amendments to the Public Finance Regulation that permit certain projects, approved by the cabinet or a cabinet committee, to be awarded to government-selected companies without competitive bidding.
The amendments, effective February 26 this year, expand provisions for single-source procurement of goods or services, allowing non-competitive awards for projects deemed critical by the cabinet. 
One key amendment allows projects addressing essential public needs, living standard improvements, or security services to be procured directly by a relevant government office, subject to cabinet or committee approval, bypassing open tenders.
Single-source procurement refers to the direct acquisition of goods or services from a specific provider without competitive bidding, a practice intended for urgent or specialized needs but often criticized for lacking transparency.
In a Facebook post on Monday evening, Niyaz condemned the amendments, alleging that such rules enable governments to exploit public funds. He accused authorities of altering policies to facilitate "non-transparent deals" and urged citizens to oppose them.
"Protests must be held. Such practices should be halted, even if it requires civil disobedience," Niyaz wrote, calling for public action to ensure accountability.
Since assuming office, the current administration has increasingly awarded projects to state-owned enterprises without competitive processes, prompting concerns from private companies about fairness and market access.