Auditor General Criticizes Costly Bangkok Trip by Haa Dhaalu Atoll Council

  • Maldives
  • Travel
PUBLISHED 04 December 2024

The Auditor General has called for accountability following an audit that revealed a 10-day trip to Bangkok by the Haa Dhaalu Atoll Council, costing MVR 952,885, failed to deliver any tangible benefits.


The trip, undertaken in October last year, included 20 participants—13 councilors, the secretary general, and six senior management officials. Funded from the council's budget, the visit was intended to study Thailand's governance, attract investments, and learn about Good Governance, Public Policy, and Rural Development.


However, the audit report released yesterday revealed significant shortcomings:



  • No clear plan was devised to achieve the trip's stated objectives or integrate the experiences into council operations.

  • A year after the trip, no projects or initiatives had been implemented in the atoll based on the knowledge gained.


The audit further uncovered major financial mismanagement:



  • The council exceeded its allocated travel budget of MVR 651,572 by over MVR 300,000.

  • Expenditures were improperly managed, with funds reallocated without securing legal approvals for supplementary budgets.

  • The trip was conducted without necessary permissions from the Ministry of Finance.

  • Alternative funding sources, such as sponsorships or foreign assistance, were not explored. Additionally, procurement regulations were violated during the trip.


The report also highlighted similar cases of councils engaging in costly overseas trips, including visits to the UAE, Turkey, and Thailand, despite government instructions to limit expenditures and avoid non-essential international travel.


The Ministry of Finance has been directed to take action against those responsible for the mismanagement of the Haa Dhaalu Atoll Council’s budget.