An audit report has found that 150 national schools and seven National Colleges of Education sustained damage estimated at more than Rs.2.27 billion following Cyclone Ditwah.

The Engineering Division of the Ministry of Education estimated the total damage at Rs.2,274,230,000.

The audit report also found that these losses had not been recognised or disclosed in the relevant financial statements.

That finding should be understood as an audit finding concerning financial reporting. It does not, by itself, establish intentional concealment or misconduct.

Government had already identified the restoration requirement

The scale of the education-sector damage is consistent with figures previously used by the Government when approving restoration work.

A March 2026 Cabinet decision identified:

  • 150 national schools requiring restoration;
  • seven National Colleges of Education requiring restoration;
  • approximately Rs.1,988.83 million for the national schools; and
  • approximately Rs.285.40 million for the seven colleges.

Together, those amounts total approximately Rs.2,274.23 million.

The Cabinet approved the necessary allocations for restoration and renovation using supplementary-budget funding previously approved by Parliament.

Wider Engineering Division findings

The audit also examined construction work administered by the Education Ministry's Engineering Division.

A total of approximately Rs.8.43 billion had been allocated for 41 construction activities in 2025.

According to the audit findings:

  • 10 planned activities had not been implemented; and
  • 16 had recorded physical progress below 50%.

These findings concern implementation progress and should not be described as evidence of corruption or deliberate wrongdoing without additional evidence.

Reporting limitations

Available reporting does not clearly identify the specific audit report and reporting period or provide a school-by-school breakdown of the damage.

Accordingly, the article should attribute the financial-statement and project-progress findings to the audit report rather than make broader conclusions about responsibility.