A two‑week capacity‑building programme for 30 officials of Sri Lanka’s National Audit Office has concluded at the International Centre for Information Systems & Audit (ICISA) in India.

The programme, which focused on Information Technology Audit, forms part of India’s broader commitment to train 700 Sri Lankan professionals, a pledge announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025.

According to the High Commission of India in Colombo, the initiative is designed to strengthen Sri Lanka’s audit capacity by equipping participants with advanced knowledge and skills in IT‑based auditing practices. (Newswire)

The post Capacity‑building programme for Sri Lankan audit officials concludes in India appeared first on Newswire.

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has approved the Budget Estimate of the National Audit Office for the year 2026.

The approval was granted when the budget estimate was taken up for consideration at the COPF in parliament this week (19) and was approved to be presented to Parliament with the Committee’s proposals. 

According to a Parliament statement, this consideration was carried out in terms of Section 34 of the Audit Act No. 19 of 2018.

Given that the COPF Chair, MP Harsha de Silva, was overseas, the said Committee met under the chairmanship of MP Rauff Hakeem, who was appointed as the Acting Chair of the Committee. 

A group of officials representing the National Audit Office, including the Acting Auditor General, G.H.D. Dharmapala, as well as officials from the Department of National Budget, were present at this occasion.

During the COPF meeting, attention was drawn to the issues prevailing in the National Audit Office. Discussions were held on issues including staff shortage and the introduction of modern technology at the Audit Office, which audits nearly 2,000 institutions, including ministries, departments, foreign projects and state enterprises. 

Officials of the Auditor General’s Department stated that at present only about 35 officials at the level of Chartered Accountant are serving in the National Audit Office, and that due to the prevailing salary scales, there is a difficulty in retaining officials who have passed the higher examination bars in accountancy.

In addition, attention was also drawn to the importance of establishing an office system at the provincial level under the National Audit Office, and the possibility of enhancing efficiency with a minimum number of staff through the use of modern technological features such as Artificial Intelligence. (Newswire)

The post COPF approves Budget Estimate of the National Audit Office appeared first on Newswire.

A report by the National Audit Office has revealed several significant delays and financial issues in several major infrastructure projects.

According to Lankadeepa newspaper, construction of the Kurunegala-Dambulla section of the Central Expressway, estimated to cost Rs. 23.4 billion, has reportedly been abandoned. 

Similarly, Rs. 102.5 billion allocated for the Colombo-Ratnapura-Pelmadulla Expressway and Rs. 1.34 billion for the elevated expressway from the New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya had been spent by 2023, despite no progress in construction.  

The report also notes that delays in the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal project have resulted in compensation payments exceeding Rs. 720 million to 825 affected individuals. 

Compensation payments are expected to continue until construction is completed, with an additional Rs. 200 million reportedly paid to 1,000 individuals the report said. 

Although the Kandy project was scheduled to begin on May 6, 2021, delays in the procurement process have stalled civil construction work. 

Meanwhile, a contractor involved in one phase of the Central Expressway project had not been paid Rs. 403 billion as of December 31, 2023. This could lead to penalty payments under the contract’s terms, the report said. (Newswire)

The post Billions in wasted funds on key infrastructure projects : Audit Office appeared first on Newswire.