The National Audit Office has reported an approximate loss of 90 million rupees during the installation of a fire protection system at the Colombo National Museum Library.

This was revealed in the 2023 annual report issued by the Department of National Museums.

The report indicates that the loss occurred due to the assignment of the fire protection system installation to an unqualified contractor. Consequently, due to the contractor's poor performance, the contract was terminated and reassigned to another contractor.

The initial estimate provided by the first contractor on January 1, 2021, was 100 million rupees. According to the audit report, over 40 million rupees had already been paid when the contract was terminated.

Subsequently, on December 18, 2023, the incomplete project was reassigned to a second contractor under an estimate exceeding 180 million rupees.

Therefore, the audit report highlights that the installation of the fire protection system at the Colombo National Museum Library, involving two contractors, resulted in an additional expenditure of approximately 90 million rupees.