Category: News in Brief

Australia to allow online tourist visas for Maldivians

The Australian government will allow Maldivian nationals to apply for tourist visas online from July 1.

In a statement, the Australian High Commission in Colombo said the new system would not require Maldivians to have a visa label placed in their passport.

“A notification is sent to the client providing details of the visa and airlines are able to confirm the visa entitlements through the Advanced Passenger Processing System,” the High Commission said.

“Clients can also, if they wish, print a copy of their visa approval notification email to carry with them whilst traveling to Australia.”

For more information and to access the lodgement gateway, go to www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/e676.htm

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Tourism Ministry threatens to revoke resort licenses over payments

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is threatening to suspend the operating licenses of a number of resort and hospitality properties unless they pay outstanding government charges and related fines before July 20, Haveeru has reported.

The Nasandhura Palace Hotel and 10 resort properties in the country reportedly owe a combined total of US$16million to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA), with failure to pay these individual debts expected to lead to a revocation of operating licenses under the Lease Rent Regulation.

Any enterprises that fail to pay these state charges before the 90 day deadline passes on July 20 will be able to have their licenses reinstated once any outstanding government debts are met, according to tourism officials cited by the paper.

Galaxy Enterprises, which rents the Nasandhura Palace Hotel, is facing legal action by the MIRA, who filed a case at the Civil Court this week over claims it is owed some US$265,000 by the company.

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Maldives to see lunar eclipse tonight

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has said that tonight the Maldives will see a lunar eclipse.

The lunar eclipse will be seen from  23:23pm to 3:30am.

The Islamic Ministry said that in all the inhabited islands eclipse prayer will be conducted and in Male’ the prayer will be conducted at the Islamic Centre.

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Faseyha Point reopens after live goat found in toilet

Famous teashop ‘Faseyha point’ that was closed by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has reopened.

The teashop was closed after MFDA officials found a live goat inside the toilet of the teashop.

The MFDA has so far inspected more than 100 teashops and restaurants in Male’ during a special operation to improve restaurant hygiene.

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Gayoom praises MP support during Afrashim vote

Former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has issued a statement thanking MPs who supported Judicial Services Commission (JSC) member and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Dr Afrashim Ali during a motion of no confidence that saw him removed from the judicial watchdog yesterday, according to local media.

Miadhu reported that Gayoom praised the 34 MPs who voted against removing Dr Afrashim from his post with the JSC, despite the no confidence motion passing with 38 votes in favour, claiming the Ungufaaru MP had strived to ensure “freedom and independency” in the Maldivian judiciary.

Gayoom used the statement to praise the need for independence in establishments like the judiciary that he said served as “foundations of democracy” that needed to be kept free of “undue political influence.”

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MIRA seeking US$265,050.93 in fines and non-payment for Nasandhura Palace Hotel

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) is seeking US$265,050.93 from Galaxy Enterprises Maldives in fines and non-payments under an agreement with the Ministry of Tourism for the rent of Nasandhura Palace Hotel, reports Haveeru.

MIRA is contending that Galaxy has not paid US100,000 in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fees stipulated in the agreement, and US$65,050.93 in fines for failure to pay the rent before deadline in the second and third quarters of last year.

The Civil Court has granted Galaxy seven days to respond.

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India targets South Asian energy security boost with regional loan plans

Indian authorities have unveiled plans to offer US$1oo million loans to neighbouring countries like the Maldives for the development of infrastructure like roads and power, according to media reports.

The Indian Express newspaper reported today that the development loan announced this week at a meeting  in Male’ of the South Asia Free Trade Area Ministerial Council in order to outline credit cover for various nations at levels of interest close to the regularly updated London Inter Bank Offer Rate.

The report has claimed that the funds, which will be supplied by India-based Exim bank, would be used to try and bolster energy security among the member nations of the South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC), particularly across national borders.

Indian officials also reportedly used the meeting to call for the lifting of trade barriers across the SAARC region in areas such as textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, electronic goods and car production.

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Two-year-old discovered dead in Raa Atoll lagoon

Health officials on the island of Maakurath in Raa Atoll have confirmed the death of a two-year-old boy whose body was discovered in a lagoon this morning, according to press reports.

Haveeru reported that the boy had no pulse by the time he arrived at the island’s health centre and had an undisclosed foam coming from his mouth and nose.

The young boy was believed to have been discovered by his mother.

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Police free Bangladeshi man tied upside down in Hulhumale’

Police have found a Bangladeshi man tied upside down inside a Hulhumale’ home, newspaper Haveeru has reported.

Haveeru reported that the man was beaten up badly when he was discovered by police, who have since arrested nine expats in connection with the case.

The report claimed that the man was unconscious upon arriving at hospital and was suspected of having been held in the house for several days.

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