The Food and Drug Authority halted the production of Bileiymaa Tasty's packaged foods, including fried leaves, dried fish, spicy snacks, and rihaakuru (local fish paste). An inspection found the facility failed to meet food safety and hygiene standards. The business had been operating without mandatory registration, MFDA noted, advising the public against purchasing or consuming any products made under the brand name.
A cross-party group including former MDP chairwoman Mariya Ahmed Didi, former Chief Justice Dr Ahmed Abdulla Didi, and former Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain held a press conference opposing the referendum on concurrent presidential and parliamentary elections, which is scheduled to take place alongside the April 4 local council elections. The group argued the government could save more money by cutting 30 of its more than 400 deputy ministers, which would be enough to cover the MVR 60 million (US$ 3.9 million) election cost, rather than rushing through a constitutional change.
Parliament passed a government-sponsored amendment to the Employment Act allowing the cabinet to exempt certain businesses from paying foreign worker quota fees. The exemptions target micro, small, and medium enterprises. The cabinet will be able to determine eligible business categories based on criteria including promoting SME growth, creating long-term employment, and fostering market competition.
A separate amendment to the employment law was passed to extend paid nursing breaks for civil servants from one year to two years after returning from maternity leave. Government employees will continue to receive two daily 30-minute paid breaks until the child turns two, up from the current provision of one year. An MDP MP's proposal to extend each break to 45 minutes was rejected.
The housing ministry opened applications for Rasmalé land plots under a special category for residents of Malé whose spouses own property. Such applicants were previously ineligible. The government is offering 1,250 square feet plots from reclaimed land in the Fushidhiggaru lagoon south of the capital.
A magistrate court in a northern island ordered a man to pay his ex-wife MVR 1,026,440 (US$ 66,500) after she proved she had used her own money to build a house on his land during their marriage. The court issued the ruling in the husband's absence after he failed to respond to any summons or filings over the three years the case was pending, and ordered full repayment within two weeks, though it did not rule on her separate request for a share of the land.
Customs and police arrested two Indian nationals, Jainab Wajid Ali, 25, and Mohamed Nawaz Dhayatharu, 21, at Velana International Airport after intercepting more than one kilogram of drugs they allegedly smuggled into the country. Both men were remanded in custody for five days pending investigation.
The tax authority collected MVR 2.8 billion in February, 12 percent below forecast due to lower collection of the goods and services tax, airport fees and the tourism green tax. GST receipts accounted for more than half of monthly revenue.
Hulhumalé Phase 1 recorded the highest number of traffic accidents during the second week of Ramadan in both 2025 and 2026, with 37 and 35 cases respectively, followed by Boduthakurufaanu Magu and Majeedhee Magu as other notable hotspots, police data showed.
Police arrested three suspects – Maldivian Ali Irufan, 28, and two Indian nationals, Dhanushkandan Gopal, 19, and Kathirvil Manimaaran, 21 – in connection with the smuggling of more than six kilograms of drugs on March 3. The two Indians were intercepted by customs at Velana International Airport, while Ali Irufan was arrested in a separate police operation. A court remanded Ali Irufan in custody until trial. The two Indians were held for five days pending investigation.
MTCC was contracted for the second phase of the Madaveli land reclamation and shore protection project.
