Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee held back-to-back meetings with the Elections Commission, the Attorney General and representatives of political parties, seeking to fast-track constitutional amendments to merge presidential and parliamentary elections and to hold the required public referendum together with the April 4 local council elections. The EC told lawmakers they would need to make a decision by February 18 if the polls are to be held on the same day, which would require an additional MVR 20 million (US$ 1.2 million). Holding the referendum separately would cost between MVR 60 million and MVR 80 million, the commission estimated. During the meeting with political parties, representatives from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party walked out after objecting to what they called a rushed process. MDP Vice President Hisan Hussain said the public needed to be adequately informed about the proposed constitutional changes before the referendum, and that the party had not been afforded sufficient time to discuss the amendments internally ahead of the committee meeting.
The Maldives National University withdrew a permit issued to Dr Shamsul Falah to hold a public lecture about controversial anti-defection amendments made to the constitution in November 2024. The permit was withdrawn due to repair work to be carried out on the auditorium ahead of the first semester of 2026, the university claimed.
Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef inaugurated a land reclamation and harbour development project to build a fish processing factory in Gaaf Dhaal Fiyoaree. The facility will include cold storage with a capacity of 3,000 metric tonnes, a canning line capable of processing 100 tonnes of fish, and a fishmeal plant with a production capacity of 100 tonnes. Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam said the government plans to significantly expand the overall canning capacity of the state-owned Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company, increasing it from the current 50-tonne capacity at its sole factory in Lhaviyani Felivaru to 300 tonnes through additional factories to be built nationwide.
The High Court's registrar rejected a case filed by former President Yameen's PNF challenging the Elections Commission's decision to require the use of eFaas, the national digital identity system, for endorsement forms submitted by independent candidates contesting the April 4 local council elections. Independent candidates must secure 50 verified signatures to qualify for the ballot and supporters must personally log into eFaas to verify their endorsements. The EC lacks legal authority to mandate digital-only processes, the party argued, accusing the commission of erecting barriers for independent candidates in violation of electoral laws. But High Court Registrar Mariyam Hursheedha ruled that the appellant failed to show how the EC's decision violated the stated provisions. Yameen's senior counsel, former Vice President Dr Jameel, lambasted the registrar's decision, characterising it as a "judgment" issued without hearing arguments, and accused the court of stalling until the candidacy deadline passed on Sunday.
The Civil Court ordered real estate developer Hanbo to hand over an apartment from the delayed K-Park Residence project and pay MVR 1.9 million in compensation to Fathimath Moosa Manik. The ruling followed findings that Hanbo failed to deliver the apartment after its minority shareholder, Hassan Mamdhooh, defrauded Fathimath by collecting MVR 4.1 million in booking fees. The court ordered the compensation to be paid at a rate of MVR 25,000 per month for each month from September 2019, when the apartment was due to be delivered under the agreement.
The annual rate of inflation decelerated to 0.4 percent in December 2025, down from 1.4 percent in November 2025, central bank statistics showed. Electricity cost fell marginally (-0.80 percent) along with slower rises in other categories: fish (0.43 percent) and restaurants and cafés (0.22 percent). However, food inflation remained at elevated at 3.8 percent year-on-year.
The Civil Court ordered Hajj and Umrah tour operator Askoi Travel Services to refund MVR 185,250 to Mausoom Ahmed after the company accepted payments to arrange Umrah travel for him and five family members but failed to provide the service. The Islamic Ministry suspended Askoi’s licence to organise Umrah tours last July after the company cancelled an Umrah trip at the last minute despite having collected payments from multiple customers.
The Coast Guard seized two Sri Lankan fishing boats that illegally entered Maldivian waters. The boats were identified in a joint surveillance operation conducted with the Air Corps drones and intercepted 109 nautical miles east of Haa Alif Kelaa.
Japan donated a sea ambulance to the defence ministry.
The Housing Development Corporation launched a celebration campaign to mark its 25th anniversary.
