Aishath Easha Ashraf was revealed to be the former political appointee who appeared anonymously in an Adhadhu documentary about her alleged affair with President Muizzu. Her identity was widely reported after police summoned her for questioning in connection with a gazf investigation into the "Aisha" documentary. Easha remains barred from travelling overseas along with Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and editor Hassan Mohamed after police raided the newsroom and seized electronic devices last week. Her lawyer Hussain Shameem, a former Prosecutor General, described her as "a victim" in the case. Easha would not invoke the right to silence and would tell police what happened "from beginning to end," Shameem told the press outside the police station. Her other lawyer, Mohamed Fareed, said police told them they had questioned Easha because they had "obtained evidence" identifying her, but had not specified whether the evidence was documentary, video or anonymous testimony. Shameem characterised the alleged extramarital advances by President Muizzu as "unfortunate" and said workplace incidents of this kind were common but should not be tolerated. The police interview was paused at Eesha's request and will resume Wednesday. Easha was previously moved between two ministries before being dismissed from her presidential office political post.
The health ministry told a parliamentary committee that only two of 14 required regulations have been gazetted two years after the Food Safety Act took effect, blaming budget constraints and procurement delays tied to ADB funding. A deputy minister acknowledged the delays have hampered enforcement and says the remaining regulations are at various stages of completion, with three sent to the President's Office for gazetting, and drafting still underway on six others. The ministry expects all regulations to be finalised by June or July.
Police pushed back against media coverage of the HRCM's annual detention monitoring report, saying some outlets misrepresented findings about inmates being shackled and held in isolation in hot conditions at Dhoonidhoo Custodial Centre. The report's findings are systemic recommendations, not legal determinations of wrongdoing, police said, contending that coverage failed to account for operational constraints facing institutions. The HRCM publishes the report annually under the UN's Optional Protocol against Torture.
The ruling PNC submitted a parliamentary resolution calling for legal action to stop opposition street protests, arguing the demonstrations by MDP and PNF are unlawful and causing hardship to Malé residents. The move comes a day after the Elections Commission warned PNF it would face legal consequences under the Political Parties Act. Featuring a sofa staged on the street for live broadcasts by Channel 13, PNF demonstrations have amplified allegations against President Muizzu made in the Adhadhu documentary. PNF condemned the EC statement as undemocratic and damaging to the party's reputation, threatening to pursue legal action against the commission. The EC has no mandate over public spaces in Malé and that political parties do not require EC permission to protest, PNF said.
During his state visit to Sri Lanka, President Muizzu pushed for expanded economic cooperation and launched the national fisheries company's branded products into the Sri Lankan market. Delivering the keynote at the Maldives–Sri Lanka Business Forum, Muizzu pitched the Maldives as a "rising digital hub in the Indian Ocean" and highlighted the modernised Foreign Investment Law, revised Foreign Investment Entry Requirements, and amendments to the Special Economic Zones Act as the basis for an investor-friendly framework. He invited Sri Lankan collaboration on infrastructure, sustainable tourism, digital innovation and food security, and stressed the importance of two-way investment flows. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya delivered a special address. Earlier, Muizzu attended the Colombo launch of MIFCO's value-added fisheries product line, sampling dishes prepared from the products at a malaafaiy cultural display alongside Sri Lankan Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed met Maldivians living in Colombo and discussed visa concerns, a planned Bank of Maldives presence in Sri Lanka, and improvements to the Maldives High Commission's services. The First Lady separately attended a Sri Lankan tea experience hosted by Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar at the official mayoral residence Siri Nivasa.
Dengue cases in Kulhudhuffushi accounted for nearly 60 percent of the 107 cases reported nationwide over the past 10 days, the Health Protection Agency said. Kulhudhuffushi reported 62 cases, followed by Milandhoo (17) and Thinadhoo (16); Haa Dhaal atoll alone accounted for 83 cases, with Gaaf Dhaal second at 35. Kulhudhuffushi Hospital's customer services director Mohamed Hussain told Mihaaru that 147 people had presented with dengue between April 21 and May 5, including 112 Kulhudhuffushi residents, 11 foreigners, and 24 visitors from other islands. Kulhudhuffushi and Thinadhoo, both regional hospital hubs, see patients from across their respective regions, so HPA's per-island figures may not all reflect local transmission. The Kulhudhuffushi council has set up a dengue task force with island institutions, carried out clean-ups, and plans door-to-door visits on Saturday to clear standing water at homes. Nationwide, dengue cases this year have crossed 2,000, sharply up from 373 in the same period last year.
The medicine shortage that has tested public patience for months is the result of accumulated neglect rather than a sudden disruption, State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation CEO Dr Shah Mahir told parliament's state-owned enterprises committee. Speaking alongside Aasandha and STO officials, Shah said the system had cracked under sustained pressure that had not been addressed in time. Private importers control 70 percent of the pharmaceutical market with STO holding only 30 percent, and the country has no live system showing what medicines are stocked where. Shah said an ERP system would be introduced to monitor the supply chain in real time and allow demand to be forecast and procured in bulk. He argued for the government to take greater control of the medicine market, saying medicines should be treated as essential commodities like rice, sugar and flour, without excluding the private sector from the system. Aasandha managing director Aminath Zeeniya said 60 percent of the country's health spending goes to pharmacies, yet complaints about unavailable medicines remain widespread; over 800 pharmacies are empanelled with Aasandha and over 3,000 medicines are registered on the MFDA's Approved Drug List, "but people still can't get medicine." Two-year-old margins of 500-600 percent had prompted the previous government to introduce bulk procurement through UNDP, but only 25 medicines are currently procured this way, and a maximum retail price for medicines mandated under the health services law has never been enforced – pharmacy resistance derailed implementation under the previous government. STO planning manager Fathimath Limya said 62 importers are registered, the ADL contains over 4,000 medicines, but only 1,300 are actually being imported with full documentation; an MFDA change allowing 2,000 medicines to be imported with simplified documentation has helped, but the source of those imports is unclear. The 90 percent emergency medicines list was met by accredited hospitals last year, Limya said, but characterised the arrangement as a temporary fix.
Mohamed Lamaan, who was appointed MPL Deputy CEO earlier this month, was also appointed to the role of PNC Deputy Secretary General. Lamaan previously served as MACL's deputy MD before moving to MPL following the government's post-election reshuffle of state enterprise leadership.
Police asked the public for help identifying a man being sought in connection with a sexual harassment case. Police released a video showing the man wearing a light blue T-shirt walking with two women visible behind him. Anyone with information was asked to call Henveiru Police Station on 9400053.
