Author: Minivan News

Maldivians in Sri Lanka unaffected by violence

Maldivian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Zahiya Zareer has assured local media that Maldivian citizens have not been caught up in the Buddhist-Muslim clashes that killed three and injured dozens over the weekend.

The Sri Lankan government has imposed a curfew on the southern towns of Beruwala and Alutgama after a Buddhist rally in the area on Sunday was followed by attacks on Muslims – who make up around 10 percent of the population.

“The tensions have not reached areas inhabited by Maldivians yet. There is no imminent danger to Maldivians. Even the Sri Lankan government has not yet given us any indications of this,” Zareer told Haveeru.

Meanwhile, the Maldives High Commission in Colombo announced the start of Dhivehi, Islam, and Quran classes for Maldivians living in the country.

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STO makes MVR 44 million profits in May

State wholesaler State Trading Organization (STO) made a profit of MVR 44 million in May, the company has said.

STO Managing Director Adam Azim told local media that the company has been able to maintain projected profits due to cuts in expenditure.

In November, President Abdulla Yameen declared that the STO was bankrupt.

The Managing Director at the time Shahid Ali was dismissed and Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim’s brother Adam Azim was appointed to the post.

Shahid told an emergency meeting of parliament in early November that government-owned companies had failed to pay the STO the almost US$40 million it was owed, and appealed to the central bank to use the foreign currency reserves to bail it out of its debt.

In January, STO launched a campaign to cut operational costs by MVR 50 million in 2014 (US$ 3,242,542).

The state-owned STO is the country’s primary wholesaler, responsible for bringing in the vast majority of basic foodstuffs such as rice and flour, as well as other imported commodities such as electrical goods.

It also imports the vast majority of the Maldives’ oil, used to fuel fishing and transport vessels, diesel generators, air-conditioners and water desalination plants.

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Government seeking loan for Hulhumalé phase two development

The government is seeking a loan from the Bank of Ceylon for the second phase of the Hulhumalé development project, reports local media.

“We are going through the terms of the loan deal, assessing all conditions and in discussion with them. The State is of the mind to continue this project with own finances,” Managing Director of Housing Development Corporation Suhail Ahmed told Haveeru.

The development had previously been one of five mega-projects pitched to international investors at a landmark forum in Singapore in April. The cost of the project has been estimated at US$60 million.

After having reclaimed 188 hectares of land during the first phase of development between 1997 and 2002, the next stage is set to add another 230 hectares to the northern side of the Maldives’ first fully reclaimed island.

Potential investors in Singapore were made aware of President Abdulla Yameen’s plans to develop the island into a ‘youth city’ with a population of 50,000, which will include a “technopolis park” to facilitate light industries.

The construction of the long-awaited bridge between Malé and Hulhumalé is also planned to further open up economic opportunities in the reclaimed island city.

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Indian armed forces doctors conducting medical camps in central atolls

A team of Indian doctors will be conducting medical camps across the central atolls until Friday (June 20), having treated 133 patients in Thulusdhoo, Kaafu atoll, yesterday.

The newly arrived team of four doctors from the Indian Defence Forces, led by Col RK Thapar, will be accompanied by specialists from Malé’s Senahiya military hospital, on a tour of the central atolls.

The team  – specialising in internal medicine, dermatology, dentistry, paediatrics and general surgery – plans to visit Kaafu, Alif Alif, Alif Dhaal and Vaavu atolls this week.

During the Maldives-India friendship celebrations in January, a similar scheme saw 2000 patients treated by Indian doctors.

The‘Dosti-Ekuverikan’ friendship week in January also included a free ‘Eye Camp’ providing free consultation and services for more than 500 people in Malé and Hulhumalé.

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Foreign minister travels to Jeddah for OIC council

Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon has travelled to Saudi Arabia to participate in the 41st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Accompanied by Ambassador-at-large Abdullah Hameed  and Assistant Director Mariyam Midhfa Naeem, Dunya will join representatives of the 56 other member states to discuss issues of concern to the Ummah in Jeddah on June 18 and 19.

During the foreign minister’s trip, the Islamic Ministry in Malé will seek the advice to scholars regarding Maldivian jihadis fighting the Assad regime in Syria. The OIC suspended war-torn Syria in 2012 following Assad’s brutal reaction of the rebel opposition.

The foreign minister’s session will include the adoption of resolutions on various issues, including the cause of Palestine and the Middle East, the conditions of Muslim minorities and communities in non-OIC Member States, as well as general political and humanitarian affairs.

Established in 1969, the Maldives became a member of the organisation in 1976.

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Maldivian reported missing in Malaysia crossed the Thai border

A Maldivian student reported missing in Malaysia has crossed the Thai border, the Maldivian High Commission in Malaysia has said.

Hamdhan Mohamed, 28, checked in at a Malaysian Airlines counter at KL Sentral train station on June 12. He was on standby for a flight that night.

Maldivian Ambassador in Malaysia Mohamed Fayaz told news agency Haveeru that Malaysian immigration records show Hamdhan crossed the Bukit Kayu Hitham border into Thailand at 6:30am on Friday (June 13).

Hamdhan is also reported to have crossed the border in 2013.

“We heard [from the family] that they could not reach Hamdhan after his check in at KL Sentral 7:30pm on Thursday June 12,” Fayaz said.

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Criminal Court on recess until June 30

The Criminal Court is in mid-term recess starting from today until June 30.

Home Minister Umar Naseer’s trial for disobedience to order, however, will proceed as scheduled at 11:00am on Tuesday (June 17).

A Criminal Court media official said the court will focus on administrative affairs and will reduce hearings during the period.

The Juvenile Court is also currently on recess.

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Mohamed Ashmalee appointed state minister of finance

Presdent Abdulla Yameen has appointed Mohamed Ashmalee as a state minister for finance and treasury.

The appointment brings the number of ministers to include 16 cabinet members, 5 other appointees at ministerial rank, 32 state ministers and 60 deputy ministers.

Yoosuf Abdul Ghafoor was appointed as the ‎‎state minister for home affairs last week. ‎

The president has also submitted the name of Aishath Zahira to the People’s Majlis for a second term as the ‎deputy governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority, while applications are currently being received for the new post of information commissioner as well as a new member of the Police Integrity Commission.

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Equatorial Convention Centre’s unpaid bills approach MVR8 million

The unpaid electricity bills for Addu City’s Equatorial Convention Centre (ECC) have reached MVR 7.9 million (US$512,000) local media has reported.

Local director for the state-owned FENAKA utilities company told Sun Online that the constant supply of electricity needed for the three-year-old facility had not been paid since its construction.

Built on reclaimed marsh land for the for the hosting of the 17th SAARC summit in 2011, the ECC has become somewhat of a white elephant, with current responsibility for its upkeep falling to the Housing Ministry.

Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodig has previously expressed concern that the neglect of the convention centre could cause irreparable damage to the premises.

Earlier this year the Housing Ministry also reclaimed oversight of the country’s other major convention centre, Dharubaaruge in Malé. On this occasion the ministry accused Malé City Council of failing to maintain the facility, to which the council responded that it had not been granted the promised funds.

Both Malé City and Addu City councils are heavily dominated by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party.

Zuhair told Sun today that requests to secure payment for the ECC’s bills had been unsuccessful.

Previous plans to lease the centre to private companies were shelved after the fall of the MDP government in February 2012, the same month the winning bidder was to take over operations.

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