An audit report of HDh. Atoll Council states that there is no visible benefit from the council's trip to Bangkok, Thailand, which cost nearly a million rufiyaa.

According to the audit report released by the Auditor General's Office last Thursday, the "experience trip" to Bangkok in 2023 included 20 staff members, including all council members, the Secretary General, and some senior management staff.

The report states that MVR 952,885 was spent on the 10-day trip for experience and training. Although the trip was intended to expand and develop many areas related to the council's work and increase professionalism, the audit report notes that even a year after the trip, no project utilizing the experience and technical advancements gained has been initiated in any island of HDh. Atoll.

The report further states that instead of using the income received by the council in 2023 for long-term development of the atoll or for the benefit of the citizens, a large portion of the income and block grant was spent on this trip.

The audit report mentions that the trip was not budgeted in the council's approved budget for that year. The expenses were covered by increasing the budget for overseas trips without submitting a supplementary budget, after obtaining budget controls.

Although the Finance Ministry's circular requires obtaining permission before making official trips abroad, the council made this trip without such permission. The report recommends taking action against those responsible for these expenses under the Public Finance Regulations, as the expenditure is considered unauthorized.