The government has exceeded its annual travel budget by MVR 17.3 million as of December 18, according to the latest figures from the Finance Ministry.
The approved budget for transport‑related expenses this year is MVR 249.1 million. However, the ministry’s statistics show that spending has already reached MVR 266.4 million, surpassing the allocation before year‑end.
Transport expenditure during the same period last year stood at MVR 259.5 million, meaning this year’s spending is MVR 6.9 million higher.
While travel spending has increased, the government has received only MVR 301.5 million of the MVR 2.6 billion allocated for free aid. This is less than two‑thirds of the free aid received last year.
Critics argue that despite increased official travel, foreign aid inflows have declined due to the country’s financial constraints, stalled reforms, and diplomatic challenges.