Category: News in Brief

MIRA to impose fines for failure to maintain financial records

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has warned that legal action will be taken against businesses with incomplete financial records from April 2015 onward.

In a statement yesterday (December 22), MIRA announced that fines would be imposed on taxpayers who fail to maintain records in accordance with the Tax Administration Act of 2010.

MIRA noted that it has been providing instructions and information to businesses through the media as well as its compliance inspections.

Moreover, a guide on maintenance of financial records is available on the MIRA website and urged businesses to call 1415 for further information and assistance.

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Police Special Constabulary charged with security at Hulhumalé Hospital

The Maldives Police Services’ private security provider Special Constabulary Forces are now in charge of providing security at Hulhumalé Hospital.

“This move will give customers additional satisfaction and establish a safer environment,” the Hulhumalé Development Corporation’s Managing Director Suhail Ahmed said at a ceremony this morning.

Police’s Special Constabulary are also in charge of security at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the Youth Center in Malé.

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3G services must be available to all islands next year, says CAM

The Communication Authority of Maldives (CAM) has said that that all inhabited islands in the Maldives must have access to 3G internet services.

While universal coverage was previously optional for the country’s two telecommunications providers – Dhiraagu and Ooredoo – the regulator has said that new policies make 3G mandatory in all 196 inhabited islands.

Source: Haveeru; Sun Online

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Government transfers paralysed Indian woman to Guraidhoo Special Needs Home

The Ministry of Law and Gender has temporarily transferred an Indian woman suffering from paralysis below the waist to the Home for People with Special Needs on Guraidhoo Island.

The woman had married a Maldivian man 23 years ago, but her husband died two months ago, leaving her in the care of her husband’s niece, local media have reported

She had been living alone in a rented room, but her landlord had told her she must leave by Thursday as she could no longer afford rent.

Speaking to Haveeru, Deputy Minister of Gender Mohamed Zahid said the ministry is in discussions with the Foreign Ministry and the Indian High Commission to transport the woman to her family in India.

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BML to sell Reethi Beach Resort and Mahandhoo island

The Bank of Maldives Plc Ltd (BML) has made an announcement seeking buyers for the Reethi Beach Resort and the island of Mahandhoo.

BML had seized the 120-bed Reethi Beach Resort and 87-bed Gaaf Alif Mahandhoo – currently under development as a resort – following non-payment of loans by Mahandhoo Investments and Kabalifaru Investments.

Both companies have ties to former Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.

The Civil Court had authorised the bank to sell the mortgaged properties in October 2009 and the rulings were subsequently upheld by the High Court upon appeal.

While the High Court decision was appealed at the Supreme Court, the parties reached an out-of-court settlement in June 2013.

BML has reportedly assigned Singapore-based Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) to oversee the bidding process.

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Thumburi Guesthouse Island invites bids for hotel development

The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has invited developers to submit bids for beachfront hotel development at Laamu Atoll Thumburi Guesthouse Island.

Plots of 5,000 and 10,000 square feet are available for 25 years. The 5,000 square feet plots are to be given out at US$ 30,000 per year with a US$ 100,000 acquisition fee, while the 10,000 square feet plots are to be given out at US$ 66,000 per year with a US$ 200,000 acquisition fee.

An MMPRC announcement  said bidders must submit documents to the Thumburi project management section at the MMPRC office at Velaanaage in Malé by February 26.

The Thumburi project was launched earlier this year with the aim of making land available on the 17 hectare uninhabited island – as well as the linked Hulhiyandhoo island – for local investors to develop hotels, a diving school, water sports centres, restaurants, and shopping centres.

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Mega Maldives US$99 return tickets to Malaysia sell out in two hours

Return tickets to Malaysia priced at US$99 by local airline Mega Maldives sold out in less than two hours today.

The airline told local media that 99 tickets at the promotional price sold out shortly after it went on sale at 9:00am this morning.

The promotion offered travel to Malaysia on December 26, 27, and 31 with a return date before January 20.

Customers reportedly began queuing outside the Mega Maldives office as early as 1:30am last night.

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PPM wins by-elections in Madduvari, Kondey

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) won by-elections held yesterday for vacant seats on the Meemu Madduvari and Gaaf Alif Kondey island councils.

According to preliminary results from the Elections Commission, PPM candidate Muhthar Mohamed was elected to the Madduvari island council with 201 votes, while the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate received 198 votes.

On the island of Kondey, PPM candidate Abdulla Shihab emerged the victor with 116 votes, followed by the MDP candidate with 73 votes, and an independent candidate with 45 votes.

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Four Maldivian policemen depart for fully funded training in India

Four Maldivian police officers have today left for a year’s training in Hyderabad, courtesy of the Indian government.

The officers – all chief inspectors – will conduct training at the National Police Academy, with all expenses covered by India, including air travel.

“Training of police officials is part of the capacity building initiatives of India and the Maldives, which is a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship between the two countries,” read a statement from the Indian High Commission today.

The statement pointed out that comprehensive training opportunities were also available for government departments as well as independent institutions, pointing out a recent MoU signed between the Maldives’ Civil Service Commission and the Administrative Staff College, also in Hyderabad.

“High Commission of India is encouraging similar MoUs between Indian and Maldivian organisations in the area of training and human resource development,” the statement continued.

Earlier this month, government and high commission officials held a ceremony to mark the conclusion of the country’s largest ever ICT training scheme. The ‘Technology for the Future of the Next Gen’ project was conducted with US$5.3 million in Indian aid and implemented by India’s NIIT Ltd educational services company.

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