Author: Mohamed Reehaan

The government’s expenditure has reached to MVR 39.5 billion as of November 16, 2023, reports the Ministry of Finance. According to the Ministry of Finance in its most recent ‘Weekly Fiscal Developments’ report, the state revenues inclusive of foreign grants stood at MVR 28.7 billion by the same review date. The overall balance for the period is a deficit of MVR 10.8 billion. The cumulative total of tax revenues by the review date stood at MVR 20.9 billion compared to MVR 16.7 billion in the corresponding period last year. The cumulative total of non-tax revenues stood at MVR 7.3 billion…

The Maldives has emerged as the World’s Leading Destination accolade for the fourth consecutive time. Maldives was bestowed the with prestigious accolade at the World Travel Awards 2023 held at Dubai’s Burj Al-Arab, United Arab Emirates. The island nation was crowned as the World’s Leading Destination for the fourth year in a row after competing with 17 other global destinations that included Dubai, Indonesia, New Zealand, Spain, and Vietnam. Besides this, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), the country’s national tourism board, won the World’s Leading Tourist Board title for the second consecutive time this year. Additionally, Maldives…

Manta Air has announced its plans to initiate direct flights from Dhaalu atoll Kudahuvadhoo Airport to Bangalore, India. In a statement, the airline said that direct flights to Bangalore are set to commence from January 2024, operating from Kempegowda International Airport to Kudahuvadhoo. This introduction of direct flights by Manta is expected to streamline travel for tourists heading to resorts in Dhaalu atoll, and thereby, eliminating the need for layovers and waiting times at Velana International Airport. Dhaalu atoll hosts some of the most prestigious and top-tier resorts in the Maldives which include Kandima Maldives, Niyama Private Island, The St.…

The Maldives Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has said that the government is looking to press 225 charges against Hassan Mamdhooh, the embattled director of K-Park; a luxury-tier residency project in the Maldives. Mamdhooh is looking to face charges of graft and embezzlement, and deceptive acquisition of payments from property buyers. Although the director has been released after his initial arrested for the alleged charges, Maldives Police Service have confiscated several expensive items discovered from his residence. The Maldives PG, at the press conference on Thursday, November 30, said that the state can press 225 charges against the director based on…

Maldives Customs Service has revealed a total of MVR 31.7 million has been confiscated by the authority in the past six years under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act. Statistics from the authority further indicated the highest confiscation recorded in 2018. Former Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi provided the details in writing as response to the inquiry regarding the matter submitted by Central-Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed in 2022. The MP had demanded statistical evidence of the money confiscated by Customs under the money laundering prevention law, which came into effect in 2014. The minister’s response…

Seasoned media professional, Heena Waleed, has been officially appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Social Protection Agency (NSPA). NSPA is the government agency providing financial aid for medical and other essential needs of the public. Heena previously served as the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during former President Abdulla Yameen’s presidency. She rose to fame, and garnered popularity from her extended career as a television presenter at PSM. Heena was the Executive Editor of the state-run media until her departure. Currently she is abroad for medical treatment.

Ahmed Niyaz, a prominent figure during the inception era of Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has been appointed as its new Managing Director. With an extensive history at the MTDC, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the UK, Niyaz is both educated and experienced to helm the tourism body. Until his recent appointment as the MD this Tuesday, Niyaz had been the organization’s Deputy Managing Director since 2016. Previously he had been a Board Director and an Operations and Development Manager of MTDC as well. Besides this, Niyaz had chaired several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as well. His tenure…

The Chief Operation Officer of Island Aviation has been appointed as its new Managing Director. Island Aviation Services (IAS) runs the national airline of the island nation; Maldivian. Ibrahim Iyas, has been serving as the COO of IAS since 2019 until his recent promotion. He first joined the company in 2008 as a Safety and Quality Manager. Iyas has been employed at the company for 15 years, and has since served in several managerial positions of the company. Iyas had previously held the Engineering Head position at the department overseeing flight operations of IAS for three years as well. The…

The newly appointed Managing Director of State Electric Company (STELCO), Hussain Fahmy was quick to move forward with his responsibilities, as on Tuesday, November 28, he initiated work on removing the transformer placed on Maaveyo Magu in the central district of Male’ City, that was blocking part of the road. STELCO reported that the utility company’s new MD visited the site where the transformer was placed on Tuesday afternoon, and apologized to the public for the inconvenience caused by the transformer. Fahmy assured that work on removing the transformer would be completed before the end of 2023. Since 1998, Fahmy…

Former parliament member of Madaveli constituency (from 2014 to 2019), Muaz Mohamed Rasheed, has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Fenaka Corporation. Before he began his political career in prominent roles in various political parties in the Maldives, Muaz worked as a Project Officer at the then Construction and Infrastructure Ministry. The new Fenaka Corporation honcho completed higher studies in architecture, and worked in a private capacity as an architect before venturing into politics. During the recent presidential elections, Muaz acted as the assistant campaign manager of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Fenaka Corporation, a state-owned enterprise (SOE) is…