Citing a shortage, Maldives Gas halved the amount of cooking gas sold per cylinder, filling 10kg bottles with only 5kg and selling them for MVR 100 (US$ 6.5). The state-owned company also stopped accepting new customers. The rationing comes despite repeated government assurances that there would be no fuel or gas shortages from the Middle East conflict. The company ran out of stock in January and had to buy from private competitor Villa Gas. The Strait of Hormuz closure has disrupted LPG supplies across Asia as Qatar suspended gas exports. Several countries including India has imposed emergency rationing. STO said the rationing was a temporary measure for this week and that a new gas shipment would arrive next week, restoring normal supply.
STO managing director Shimad Ibrahim said the country has enough fuel for two weeks, with additional shipments expected on March 20 and 23, but warned that refined fuel prices have more than doubled since the war began and further retail price increases are likely. Insurance providers have cancelled coverage for many shipments in the region, though STO said it continues to import fuel with insurance. STO, Hawks, and Villa are the three companies currently importing fuel directly.
Police are investigating the hanging of a pregnant cat in Haa Alif Hoarafushi after video of the killing was shared on social media, provoking widespread outrage. Three people have been questioned, police said. The video shows the cat being hanged, dragged after death, and thrown into the sea. Animal cruelty carries a maximum sentence of one month and six days under the penal code.
Residents of Haa Dhaal Hanimaadhoo protested against the allocation of land plots to people from neighbouring Hirimaradhoo, who are due to be relocated to Hanimaadhoo under a government plan. Protesters said plots should go to Hanimaadhoo residents first. President Muizzu promised during a visit last August that every household in Hirimaradhoo, the atoll's smallest inhabited island with a population of 293, would receive a house in Hanimaadhoo within 18 months. HDC was tasked to build the homes.
The government will soon submit constitutional amendments to reform the Judicial Service Commission and cap the number of parliament seats, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said, responding to criticism from former Justice Husnu Suood that the government was ignoring more pressing reforms. The concurrent elections amendment required a public referendum by law, making it logical to hold the vote alongside the April council elections to save the estimated MVR 80 million cost of a standalone referendum, whereas the JSC and parliament size amendments do not require referendums, Usham said.
Police faced criticism after a group of minors were stopped at Fishermen’s Park in Malé around 9:30pm on Saturday and taken into custody. A female police officer threatened the teenagers, denied them the chance to contact their families, and held them at a police station for two hours, a parent alleged. Police spokesperson Ahmed Shifan said officers responded to a report of minors in a public area at 9:15pm on Saturday, attended the scene, ensured the children’s safety, and took them to the Family and Child Protection Services office before handing them over to their parents as the most appropriate protective measure. He denied that the officers’ actions had compromised the wellbeing of the minors.
The construction ministry signed an MVR 126 million contract with Trusteng Maldives to build a 15,525 square feet market complex on the plot currently occupied by the local market in Malé. The complex, which is required to be completed within 20 months, will bring the current fish market and local fruit and vegetable markets under one roof along with a top floor dedicated for a food court.
The Islamic ministry announced that Fitr Eid prayer will be led at 25 mosques and four outdoor congregations at stadiums and open spaces across the Greater Malé Area.
Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali laid the foundation for a new mosque to be built after demolishing Zikura mosque.
The criminal court sentenced Mohamed Shafeeq (Janbureezgasdhoshuge, Gaaf Dhaal Gadhdhoo) to four years in prison after finding him guilty of carrying out an assault with a sharp object in February 2023 when he and others attacked Ahmed Faiz (Snowsky, Kaafu Maafushi) with a machete near the Villimalé ferry terminal.
Bangladeshi national MD Soheb Mia was sentenced to life imprisonment by the criminal court on March 5 after being convicted of trafficking a Class 1 narcotic, having been found to have smuggled 536 grams of methamphetamine in June 2023.
