Govt.Printing Dept.overspends overtime allowance in millions

• The amount spent for the first two months of this year alone had been Rs. 133,616,987

By J.K.L.Chaminda  

The Department of Government Printing has violated circulars on overtime allowances by overspending 60.39 percent of approved allowances last year, according to an audit report issued by the National Audit Office.   

Despite the amount approved by the Finance Ministry as overtime and other allowances being Rs. 992,000,000, the department had spent Rs.1,591,076,895 for the year 2023 and the months of January and February this year. The amount spent for the first two months of this year alone had been Rs. 133,616,987.  

This increased overtime and other allowances had been paid in spite of the instruction by the Finance Ministry by its circular dated January 27, 2023 to reduce these allowances at least by 6 percent.   

Besides, the department had paid Rs. 814,476,871as allowances on piece rate without the sanction by the Director , according to the audit report.