Total losses and write offs by the Government last year is reported to be Rs. 47.4 million, according to the Performance Report (2017), of the Department of Public Finance.
Of this, the largest write off was for the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media and Sri Lanka Customs, which included writing off unbalanced debtors of the Customs Overtime Fund for the period 1982 to 2012, reaching a value of the Rs. 23.8 million.
Other losses and write offs for the year include unrecovered house rent on Seminar House, Colombo 5, loss on paddy bought under Government sponsorship during 2006 Yala season, unrecovered value of rice provided for World Food Programme and loss occurred by the fire in Medicine storage of the Kalutara Central hospital in 2010.
The report notes that, “in terms of Financial Regulations (FR) Numbers 102 to 110, estimated losses, which occurred due to reasons beyond the control of the officers, other losses and damages to the Government properties and properties with a financial value under the custody of Government due to malpractices, negligence or delay of public servants, are considered losses and damages to the Government and action should be taken to cover them up.”
The report further states the loss that cannot be recovered from insurance schemes, from responsible persons, Government revenue dues on advanced account activities and other dues are allowed by writing off in terms of FR 108 and waving off in terms of FR 113.