President Muizzu reinstated Mahmood Riyaz as deputy commissioner of Customs, less than two weeks after his dismissal over alleged complicity in cigarette smuggling. Mahmood's dismissal had been advised by parliament's security services committee based on the findings of an inquiry. However, the '241' committee has since "investigated further", cleared Mahmood of any involvement and recommended his reinstatement, the president's spokeswoman announced.
The opposition MDP's national council decided to mount a legal challenge against amendments made to the public finance regulations that allow projects to be awarded without a competitive bidding process. On Thursday, the government signed 207 no-bid contracts with 53 private contractors for 206 infrastructure projects worth MVR 2.7 billion (US$ 175 million), including the construction of housing units, harbours, schools and health centres. The selected local companies included several linked to ruling party lawmakers. In addition to seeking an injunction to halt the disbursement of funds under the agreements, the MDP decided to petition the court to strike down the new public finance rules – which authorise the cabinet to bypass public tenders – as unconstitutional.
The MDP decided to indefinitely postpone a mass protest planned for November 17. The party's national council approved a proposal by the organisation committee, citing government obstruction and refusal to grant a permit for the gathering in any of the designated zones in Malé.
The MNDF's Air Corps drone detected a foreign boat illegally entering Maldivian waters. The vessel intercepted by the Coast Guard's special boat squadron was a Sri Lankan fishing boat, police confirmed, without disclosing further details. According to Sri Lanka media reports, the boat was carrying nearly 300kg of illicit narcotics, "believed to belong to an organised crime group in Sri Lanka," and the seizure was based on information provided by Sri Lankan authorities.
A boat from Faresmaathoda ran aground on a reef five nautical miles from Vaavu Felidhoo. The Coast Guard's divers were dispatched for assistance. In a separate incident, a barge belonging to fuel supplier Hawks ran aground on a reef near the Kaafu Kuda Villingili resort.
Vikash Ahmed, a young man who was critically injured after his motorcycle crashed into a wall in Gaaf Alif Villingili last Monday, passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment at IGMH in Malé.
First Lady Sajidha Mohamed inaugurated the Vara Expo 2025 in Hulhumalé. The three-day exhibition organised by the higher education ministry and sponsored by the Bank of Maldives "features 166 exhibitors, including educational and training institutions, skills providers, and key stakeholders from the job market."
