India grants MVR14m for convention centre, police academy

The MVR7.8 million convention centre on Ukulhas would “provide a venue for the local council, guest house owners and business communities to host conferences thereby promoting MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions] tourism,” the foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

It noted the lack of such facilities outside the capital.

The Equatorial Convention Centre built in Addu City for the 2011 SAARC summit is in the process of being converted to a 100-bed hospital. Last year, the Maldivian Democratic Party held its congress in Ukulhas after the government refused to lease the convention centre in Malé.