Category: News in Brief

National University provides MVR2.7 million worth of research grants

The Maldives National University (MNU) has provided grants worth MVR2.7 million (US$175,097) at a ceremony this morning to five individuals to conduct research.

The research projects include a study of renewable energy in the Maldives by Faculty of Engineering’s Dean Dr Muaviath Mohamed, and a study to monitor air pollution in the capital by Dr Mizna Mohamed from the post-graduate research centre.

Dr Nashia Mohamed from the Faculty of Arts received a grant to study the effect of foreign languages, while studies on distance learning by Roza Ibrahim from the Centre for Open Learning, on growing capsicum using hydroponics in Laamu Gan, and on improving teacher training all received funding.

A special committee was formed by the university to oversee the research grant scheme. The committee reportedly evaluated eight proposals and considered potential benefits to the nation.

MNU Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Ali Shareef – chair of the evaluation committee – said at today’s ceremony that the university plans to provide further grants and invited interested parties to submit proposals.

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Majlis sitting adjourned after minister’s question time

Today’s sitting of the People’s Majlis was adjourned after minister’s question time with no other items on the agenda.

Following a 30-minute question and answer session with Housing and Infrastructure Minister Dr Mohamed Muiz regarding the construction of a harbour in Thaa Omadhoo, Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed adjourned proceedings and announced that the next sitting would take place on Monday (October 27).

Two previous sittings had been canceled due to the absence of agenda items. Parliament returned from a one-month recess this month.

However, meetings of parliamentary committees took place today with the public accounts committee reviewing the annual budget proposed by the Auditor General’s Office and the national security committee interviewing President Abdulla Yameen’s nominee for Maldivian ambassador to India, Ahmed Mohamed.

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Dharumavantha mosque Imam to be held in pre-trial detention

The Criminal Court ordered police yesterday to hold an individual arrested for leading an independent prayer congregation at Dharumavantha mosque in Malé in remand detention until the conclusion of his trial.

The 34-year-old man was arrested on September 30 on charges of “attempting to incite religious strife and discord” and leading prayers without authorisation from the Islamic ministry in violation of the Protection of Religious Unity Act of 1994 and regulations under the law.

According to police, the Prosecutor General’s Office filed charges against the accused at the Criminal Court on October 19.

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Thief offers to return stolen phone in exchange for sex

Police arrested a 30-year-old Maldivian man on Monday night (October 20) after he offered to return a stolen phone in exchange for either sex or MVR1,000 (US$65).

The suspect allegedly snatched the phone from a woman while she was walking on a street in Malé and the theft was reported to police around 8:30pm.

The thief made the offer to return the phone when the owner called the number.

Police revealed that the suspect has a criminal record for drug abuse, theft and assault. He had been previously been arrested 24 times while 11 cases had been forwarded for criminal prosecution, police said.

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Cancer society launches SMS quiz

The Cancer Society of the Maldives has launched an SMS quiz to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Running from October 20 – 29, the quiz’s winners will be in with a chance of winning a weekend for two at Reveries Diving Village, in Laamu Atoll.

Participants must SMS ‘BC’ to 360 and answer all 10 questions correctly to be entered for the prize. The competition is being run in association with Dhiraagu.

The Cancer Society of Maldives seeks to raise awareness of the disease within the community as well as producing a cancer patient database in the country, which currently has no official record of the illnesses prevalence.

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Housing Ministry opens bid for Malé roads improvement project

Housing Ministry has invited national and foreign companies to participate in a bidding process to recruit a design and management consultant for the Malé roads improvement project.

In an announcement made today, the housing ministry stated that the government has decided to address the numerous issues of the poorly constructed roads in Malé.

A large portion of the roads were severely flooded in the heavy rainstorms last week with some of the roads having to be drained using pumps by the MNDF.

The deadline for submitting bids is November 19.

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Parliament repeals law on detention procedures

Parliament today repealed an outdated law specifying procedures to follow in arresting and detaining suspects for longer than seven days.

The national security committee had reviewed the government-sponsored bill (Dhivehi) to repeal the 1978 law and forwarded it to the People’s Majlis floor, where it was passed unanimously with 51 votes in favour.

The legislation was part of a raft of bills submitted on behalf of the government by ruling Progressive Party of Maldives MPs to bring outdated laws in line with the new constitution adopted in 2008.

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Amendments to banking law sent to committee

Amendments to the Banking Act of 2010 submitted on behalf of the government by Progressive Party of Maldives MP Ali Arif was sent to committee for further review at today’s sitting of parliament.

The amendment bill (Dhivehi) was sent to the economic affairs committee with 55 votes in favour and none against.

During the preliminary debate, most MPs stressed the importance of improving the financial sector and allowing new commercial banks to open.

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President sets US$150 million minimum on SEZ investment

President Abdulla Yameen has announced a minimum investment of US$150 million for any projects in the recently introduced special economic zones (SEZ).

Yameen announced the measure by presidential decree, publishing it in the government gazette today.

The Specials Economic Zones Act – the flagship policy of Yameen’s administration – was passed in August, being hailed by the president as a way to incentivise multi-million dollar investment in the country.

“We have now created the legal environment required to attract major investments. This creates such a framework,” he said following the passage of the act.

Tourism Minister and chair of the SEZ board of investment has suggested that just one ‘mega project’ attracted under the new scheme could transform the country’s economy.

Under the SEZ Act, each zone would be granted to a developer – following evaluation of a proposal – to take overall responsibility for management and operation. Once a permit is granted, finding and choosing investors is left to the developer.

Opposition MPs have contended the SEZ law would pave the way for money laundering and other criminal enterprises, undermine the decentralization system, and authorize a board formed by the president to “openly sell off the country” without parliamentary oversight.

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