Ruling party MP for Hithadhoo North, Mohamed Sinan, was stripped of his seat after the Supreme Court disqualified him for failing to comply with a court order to repay MVR 2.5 million (US$ 162,100) owed to Maldives Islamic Bank. The constitution states that an MP “becomes immediately disqualified if he has a decreed debt which is not being paid as provided in the judgment." Presiding Justice Aisha Shujune Mohamed said Sinan had not followed the Hithadhoo magistrate court’s order from October 14, 2024 to repay the debt through monthly instalments over six months. Although Sinan settled the full amount in February 2025, he had failed to make the monthly payments on schedule. The court also dismissed Sinan’s claim that he was unaware of the ruling, noting records showed he had been notified via Viber and email, and had neither appealed nor challenged the decision. Ignorance of either the law or the consequences of his actions was not a valid defence, Shujune noted. Justices Ali Rasheed Hussain, Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, Hussain Shaheed and Mohamed Saleem concurred with the ruling, which came more than a year after the apex court accepted the case. Former Addu Mayor Abdulla Sodiq expressed interest in contesting for the seat in the by-election due to take place in 60 days.
Farhath Shaheer, managing director of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company, and Abdul Matheen Mohamed, managing director of the Malé Water and Sewerage Company, resigned from their posts. Both were removed after they asked to step down, the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board said.
Damage to one of the four main power lines supplying electricity to Hulhumalé Phase II caused a prolonged power outage across large parts of the densely populated area, including several towers of Hiya and Vinares housing projects. The State Electric Company reported the outage shortly after 3pm and said technicians were working to resolve the issue. Power was gradually restored in some areas as the load was redistributed across the remaining three lines, though two Hiya towers remained without electricity late into the night. At around 11:30pm, STELCO said power had been restored to all towers, with only a few customers near the Phase II beachfront still affected. The company added that work was underway to lay additional cables to restore supply to those areas.
Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib announced plans to amend the guidelines for the special category of the government’s Housing for All scheme to allow parents or guardians of persons with disabilities to apply on their behalf. The move drew criticism with concerns raised over repeated changes ahead of the April 30 application deadline.
Four men were arrested on suspicion of stealing MVR 4 million (US$259,403) from an apartment at Nalahiya Residences in Malé on March 16. Police said a fifth suspect remains at large, with a manhunt underway, and that MVR 50,000 of the stolen money had been recovered. The suspects in custody are Mohamed Nooru Ahmed, 40, Mohamed Afrah, 40, Ismail Asif, 36, and Ahmed Faris, 39. Police added that the investigation is in its final stages, with preparations underway to forward the case to the Prosecutor General’s Office for charges. Ismail Asif was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2022 for stabbing a man during a dispute on a sea cucumber harvesting boat, though it is unclear why he was released.
The cabinet committee formed to address the impact of the Middle East conflict will continue its work despite the ceasefire, ministers said at their weekly press briefing. Finance Minister Moosa Zameer said there are no immediate concerns over fuel shipments from Oman, with contingency arrangements in place to source fuel from Singapore if needed. He warned that fuel prices may need to be increased again to reduce losses for private importers. He also said official foreign travel will be limited to funded trips under austerity measures, with government offices and state-owned enterprises instructed to cut non-essential spending. The economic minister said progress has been made in easing supply chain bottlenecks, with hundreds of containers stuck in Sri Lanka expected to be cleared over the coming week.
President Muizzu is expected to visit Sri Lanka in May, according to Sri Lankan media reports. The Daily Mirror reported that Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar recently met with Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Imad Masood to discuss preparations for the visit and potential investment opportunities. These include combining Maldivian fisheries resources with Sri Lanka’s canning industry, and developing value-added products in Sri Lanka for direct export to the Maldives. The Maldivian government has yet to officially confirm the visit.
A student at Gaaf Dhaal Atoll School in Gadhdhoo attacked an Indian female teacher, police said. The teacher was initially treated at the health centre in Gadhdhoo before being transferred to Dr Abdul Samad Hospital in Thinadhoo for further treatment.
The Coast Guard Southern Command’s Fourth Squadron assisted a 78-year-old French passenger aboard the MSC Magnifica cruise liner, travelling from Panama to Seychelles, after the passenger fell ill at sea and required urgent medical treatment at a hospital.
The Food and Drug Authority cautioned against the use of supplements being sold online and in shops with claims of “weight loss, muscle building, skincare and sexual performance enhancement” without health safety verification. These unapproved products pose severe health risks, including stroke and sudden death, the authority said, and warned that it would take legal action against those importing or selling them without permits.
The Civil Court accepted a case filed by Adhadhu on February 1 seeking to overturn a Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission order to remove a political cartoon published in late January.
