President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has amended the administrative boundary of Maafaru in Noonu Atoll, removing Farumuli from its jurisdiction through a new Presidential Decree.
Previously, Farumuli and Kan’dinmahuraa were brought under Maafaru’s administration through a decree issued on 15 April 2024. However, the latest decree, announced on Sunday, redefines the administrative area, placing Farumuli outside of Maafaru’s jurisdiction. The amendment was made under the authority vested in the President by the Decentralization Act.
Following the boundary adjustment, Farumuli has been designated for tourism development in accordance with the Maldives Tourism Act. The annex of the Decree on Establishing Inhabited Islands of the Maldives has been updated to reflect this change and has been published in the Government Gazette.
Tourism development across the atolls is a key government priority. As part of its strategy to strengthen local economies, the government has been allocating nearby uninhabited islands to the jurisdiction of inhabited islands, enabling local councils to undertake economic activities. These efforts aim to boost financial sustainability and empower councils under the decentralized governance framework.
Under the Constitution, the Maldives operates within a decentralized system of government. The President holds the authority, under the Decentralization Act, to define the jurisdiction of city and island councils across all administrative regions of the country.