Maldives News

Surf’s up in the Maldives

Maldivian surfers have been catching waves in a pristine spot in the north Malé atoll since the closure of a popular break in the capital almost two years ago.

Maldives offers first medical degree in 2018

The Maldives National University will offer medical degree courses for the first time in 2018 with assistance from the Pakistani government, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim has pledged.

Maldivian students released on bail after stabbing in Sri Lanka

“This quarrel has been going on for some time but the involvement of the scissor made it more serious than a playground fight between school kids,” said the Maldivian ambassador to Sri Lanka.

Six suspects charged over Anas murder

Charges were raised Thursday against Usman Shareef, Ahmed Zayan, Junaih Abdulla, Hassan Mahfooz, and Simah Moosa. Earlier in the week, the PG office also filed charges against a 17-year-old at the juvenile court.

Thousand flats pledged for civil servants

Housing ministry spokesman Ahmed Fazal said the flats would be reserved for those working in the greater Malé region. There are around 24,000 civil servants in the Maldives with the majority working in the capital.

US$875m lost or stolen from state coffers says Maldives

The Maldives declares that more than MVR13billion (US$875 million) has been lost or stolen from state coffers since 1999, as it announces efforts to recover assets lost in high-profile corruption case from former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s era.

Ministers lay foundation for SME park

Financed from the government budget, the MVR30 million (US$1.9 million) project for a six-storey building in Hulhumalé was jointly undertaken by the state-owned Housing Development Corporation and Business Center Corporation.

Maldives tax receipts dip in September

The revenue statistics for last month, published on Wednesday by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority, records a total revenue of MVR989 million (US$64 million).

Maldives introduces new ‘passport card’

The ‘passport card’ can be used to make payments and also serve as a national identity card, a health card, and an insurance card.

Opposition protest outside Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka

“We are gathered near the embassy in Colombo with about 50 people and five MPs against various human rights violations at home, after taking necessary permissions from the Sri Lankan government,” said MP Mahloof.

Quarter of Maldives youth unemployed: World Bank

The employment share of Maldivians in the booming tourism and construction industries – the main drivers of economic growth – is relatively low as both sectors attract many migrant workers.

Fenaka under fire for Addu City power cuts

State utility firm Fenaka has been fiercely criticised for power cuts in Addu City, where four generators have failed.

Maldivian charged over migrant worker death

The prosecutor general’s office has charged a Maldivian man over the death of a Bangladeshi migrant worker in Kaafu atoll Himmafushi island.

MP Faris temporarily moved to house arrest

Maldives defends Saudi Arabia over UN report on killing Yemen children

The Maldives mission in New York claimed that “the allegations levelled against the [Saudi-led] coalition were based not on first-hand observation by the officials of the United Nations, but regrettably, on reports by various other parties, including NGOs.”

Hundreds of non-Maldivian fishing vessels operating illegally

Audit flags US$22k ‘missing’ from ports company

A special audit of the Southern Transport Link has flagged more than MVR350,000 (US$22,700) worth of income gone missing from the subsidiary of the state-owned Maldives Ports Limited.

MDP calls for probe into custodial deaths

Police ask High Court for nine MoniCon orders

Yameen condemns opposition’s ‘anarchist, ruinous ideology’

Accusing the opposition of “advocating the destruction of institutions” and “calling for attacks against the police and military”, Yameen said: “These aren’t characteristics of democracy. Political leaders cannot openly criticise the courts and the judiciary.”