by Our Correspondent in Colombo
A shocking new report from the National Audit Office has revealed that billions of rupees meant for the Sri Lankan government from expressway operations have been siphoned off through large-scale fraud over nearly five years. The audit found that between November 2019 and July 2024, more than 130 million vehicles entered the country’s expressway network and obtained tickets, yet over 182 million exits were not properly recorded or ticketed, creating a glaring discrepancy in revenue collection. The total loss to the government is estimated at Rs. 4,614.47 million, averaging a staggering Rs. 1 million lost per day.
The investigation highlights direct involvement of cashiers and other staff in this scheme, while the Road Development Authority’s management has failed to identify or discipline those responsible, raising concerns about oversight and accountability. Officials appear to have masked the fraud as technical errors or systemic weaknesses, allowing the financial irregularities to persist for years.
