Audit: Contrary to directives, Gaafu Dhaalu Council spent MVR 1.9 million on three study tours

An audit report has revealed that the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Council spent MVR 1.9 million on three study tours in violation of government orders.

According to the Audit Office’s 2024 Compliance Audit of the Secretariat of the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Council, the council spent a total of MVR 1.9 million on three overseas study tours that year. However, the expenditure appears to be inconsistent with directives issued by the Ministry of Finance and the now‑dissolved Ministry of Local Government to curb public spending and improve efficiency.

One of the trips was a study tour to Sri Lanka undertaken by nine council members and 10 others, including the Secretary‑General. The audit states that MVR 894,082 was spent on this trip. The report further notes that 17 staff of the council office spent MVR 306,848 on another study tour to Sri Lanka that same year.

In addition, nine council members and 10 others, including the Secretary‑General, undertook a 13‑day study tour to Thailand to observe sites related to the taro leaf blight affecting islands in southern Huvadhu. The audit states that MVR 723,936 was spent on this trip. However, the expenditure appears inconsistent with the Finance Ministry’s directive, and that of the former Local Government Ministry, to control public spending and increase efficiency.

Gdh. Atoll Council 2024 - Compliance Audithttps://t.co/K0DH6vExp0 pic.twitter.com/XsTiITOWa8

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The trip report contained no evidence of meetings with Thai authorities, research institutes or officially recognised agricultural bodies. The audit further noted that the delegation had not met the country’s agriculture or tourism authorities.

The audit also highlighted that the council failed to properly maintain records of receivables for 2024. This includes the failure to register bills, maintain the state‑house receivables system, and recover MVR 833,070 from previous years in accordance with finance rules.

The Audit Office had previously recommended recovering MVR 233,018 allocated between 2018 and 2023 for constructing the council office boundary wall. However, the Auditor General’s Office noted that the council had not acted on the recommendation.

The audit further found that MVR 180,100 received by the council as state revenue up to 2024 had not been deposited into the public bank account as of 18 August last year.