A project to build 400 housing units was among several projects launched in Fuvahmulah during President Muizzu's visit to the southernmost atolls. The construction ministry contracted Heavy Force to develop a new harbour. The tourism ministry enlisted the Maldives Airports Company Ltd to build a city hotel. In his remarks at the ceremony, Muizzu highlighted pay rises under a harmonised pay structure. The president also opened a futsal pitch, opened a Bank of Maldives US dollar ATM, inaugurated a CT scan service, and attended groundbreaking ceremonies for a waste management centre, a police accommodation block, upgrading the atoll education centre, and a National Library branch.
In the face of protests by local conservation groups, the Environmental Regulatory Authority approved a project to reclaim 2.5 hectares and construct a road in Addu City's Moolekede Fishimathi, an area adjacent to Hithadhoo's protected Eedhigali Kilhi wetland. The approval followed Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim invoking new powers to designate the reclamation as a “priority project.” The recently amended regulations allow him to “instruct” how environmental impact assessment should be reviewed for such projects. The Addu-based NGO Project Thimaaveshi warned that dredging would destroy mangrove plants and damage the wetlands.
Nine individuals remain in custody and 19 other suspects have been barred from travelling overseas, police revealed in an update on the investigation into the theft of 13.6 million cigarettes from the Hulhumalé port. The detainees include the alleged masterminds, accomplices, and the captain of the boat used to transport the stolen 40-foot containers after they were replaced with replicas. The stolen containers were taken to Thilafushi, dismantled, and discarded. The vessel’s name and registration number had been altered to avoid detection. Last week, the criminal court detained seven suspects for the duration of their trial. Two officials from the Maldives Ports Limited were remanded for 16 days.
Hawwa Fajuwa, the Chief Financial Officer of the Maldives Pension Administration Office, resigned for undisclosed reasons.
A 47-year-old Bangladeshi man, identified as Rottan, was found in the stairwell of a house in Maafannu after falling from the sixth floor on Tuesday evening. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, police said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Dawood was removed as head of Hulhumalé police. The veteran officer is under investigation by the police watchdog over alleged corruption uncovered by a parliamentary committee.