The Audit Office has revealed that the Addu City Women’s Development Committee (WDC) spent approximately MVR 700,000 on study tours to Singapore and Malaysia. The findings were detailed in the audit reports for the years 2022, 2023, and 2025, which were published today.

According to the audit, a delegation of 11 individuals—comprising nine WDC members, a City Council member, and the Secretary General—undertook an eight-day trip to Malaysia and Singapore in 2024. The report highlighted that MVR 685,509 was utilized directly from the committee’s budget, rather than seeking external sponsorships or foreign aid to cover the costs.

Of the total expenditure, MVR 347,891 was allocated solely for pocket money. Furthermore, the Audit Office noted a significant lack of accountability, stating that the trip report failed to include any specific developmental initiatives or implementation plans derived from the experience to benefit the women of Addu City.

In light of these findings, the Audit Office has recommended that the committee strictly adhere to the Ministry of Finance’s financial circulars. It also emphasized the importance of following President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s directives on state expenditure reduction, as communicated by the Ministry of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works.