Parliament gave just 19 hours' notice for public feedback on government-sponsored amendments to the Decentralisation Act amid mounting criticism of the bill, inviting comments at 6pm on Monday with a deadline of 1pm on Tuesday, far shorter than the usual period of over a week for seeking public opinion. As former president Solih backed the opposition MDP's call to withdraw the legislation, the Kulhudhuffushi City Council criticised the proposed changes as an attempt to roll back the financial autonomy, resource ownership, service delivery, and development powers granted to local councils under the MDP government's 2019 reforms. The council released a detailed report highlighting how tighter controls over council-run businesses and land leases would specifically impact its work. The mayors of Malé and Addu as well as several island councils echoed concerns about restrictions on hiring and leasing during the final year of their terms.
The housing ministry announced a revised process to allocate flats under the previous government's Gedhoruveriya social housing scheme. Some applicants who scored above 76 points had not participated in the November 2023 lottery draw for three-bedroom apartments, some of which were allocated to applicants with 75 points. The ministry said flats will first be allocated to those who scored above 76 marks before allocating the remaining units to applicants with 75 marks or above. A policy was published for conducting the new lottery draw. But according to the former state minister for housing, the high scores who were excluded from the original lottery were qualified couples who had been intentionally held in reserve to prevent double allocation.
The Coast Guard advised suspending all non-essential travel until Wednesday as the Met office forecast strong winds and very rough seas.
Parliament’s judiciary committee endorsed former Supreme Court justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed to be the next chief justice.
MP Ibrahim Shujau was removed from the public accounts committee as the Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed that he has been under investigation since last year after the central bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit flagged suspected illicit enrichment. Shujau was reassigned to the national development and heritage committee.
The public accounts committee met the central bank’s governor in a closed-door meeting to discuss the worsening dollar shortage. Ruling party lawmakers accepted Munawar's request for a closed session.
