Internal Audit

Introduction

The Internal Audit Unit is an independent unit established under the Secretary of the Ministry which is separate from the finance and accounting affairs as well as the operational affairs.

Objectives

• To study the internal control systems of the Ministry and the departments, institutions and foreign funded projects under it and maintain a continuous survey and independent evaluation of the regularity and adequacy to prevent and detect the errors and frauds in those systems.

• To assist the Accounting Officer and the Progress Investigation Committee in ascertaining the progress made in the implementation of the development projects and schemes, plans and programmes implemented by the Ministry and the institutions and projects under it.
• Acting as a coordinator between those engaged in these tasks and between the Secretary of the Ministry and the Progress / Investigation Committee

Tasks

·To ascertain whether the internal inspection and control system operating in the Ministry to prevent errors and frauds is effective in terms of plan as well as in terms of quality performance.

·Determining the reliability of accounts and other records and ascertaining whether the accounting policy used provides the necessary information for the preparation of accurate financial statements.

·To find out how far the assets of the department are protected against all kinds of damages.

·To ascertain whether the Government Establishments Code, Government Finance Regulations and other supplementary instructions issued from time to time by the Ministry of Public Administration and Treasury are being complied with.

·To examine the effectiveness of the internal control system chosen to prevent and detect waste, waste capacity and cost overruns.

·To examine the accounting procedures of the Ministry and the institutions under it and the operations that lead to any expenditure of money and to find out whether the property and assets of the respective institutions are used in a safe and economical manner.

·Conducting special investigations when necessary.

·Review and prepare reports on the operational functions of the Ministry from a managerial point of view externally from a technical or an accounting point of view.

·Evaluating the progress of work schemes and projects and the extent to which programs and schedules are directed towards the achievement of objectives.

·Conducting up-to-date on-site investigations of problem areas leading to delays in execution of work. Evaluating and reviewing controls used in monitoring and supervision of operational functions.

Officers of the Internal Audit Division

Institutions and projects being investigated under Internal Audit Division

1)Ministry of Agriculture

2)Department of Agriculture

3)Paddy Marketing Board

4)Smallholder Agribusiness Partnership Programme (SAPP)

5)Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)

6)Agriculture Sector Modernization Project (ASMP)

7)Smallholder Agribusiness and Resilience Project (SARP)

8)Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI)

9)Farmers Trust Fund

10)Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP)

11)Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB)

12)Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka