Category: News in Brief

Victorious Maldivian bodyboarding team returns from Australian competition

The Maldives Bodyboarding Association (MBBA) team that took part in the Jeff Wilcox Memorial 2013 competition held in Australia last weekend received a warm welcome back to the Maldives last night (August 28).

Around 25 friends and family, as well as the Minister of State for Human Resources, Youth and Sports – Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon – and local media, greeted the team with flowers, cheers, and well-wishes in the VIP lounge of the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

The MBBA sent their top three bodyboarders to the Australian competition – Ali ‘Kuda Ayya’ Khushruwan, Ali ‘Shaam’ Raafiu, and Ali ‘JD’ Javid – who had taken 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, respectively in the Burunu Shikaaru Bodyboarding Challenge held in Male’ this May. Team official and MBBA Vice President Mohamed Khushruwan Ahmed also traveled with the team.

The Maldivian competitors stood out as “some of the best in the event”, with 17 year-old bodyboarder Ali ‘Shaam’ Raafiu winning first place in the competition’s Junior Division, Jeff Wilcox Memorial Event Director Aaron Dodds previously told Minivan News.

The returning team lauded the competition’s organisers, the Forster Tuncurry Bodyboard Association (FTBA), for holding a quality competition and offering their support to develop the sport in the Maldives.

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Parliament passes prison and parole bill

The ‘Prison and Parole Bill’ has been passed by Parliament for a third time, after being returned twice for reconsideration by President Mohamed Waheed, reports local media.

The bill was unanimously passed today (August 29) with the 28 points Waheed previously requested be reconsidered having been reviewed and amended, MP Moosa Manik told local media.

The bill currently has “no major issues,” he added.

The bill aims to strengthen the prison system, which will enable government authorities ensure inmates’ rights and privileges are protected, said Manik. Vocational training and creating a safe and secure environment for inmates will also be provided.

In addition, the ‘Prison and Parole Bill’ will establish a separate institution, referred to as the Maldives Correctional Service, to create prison regulations and run the facilities.

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Thinadhoo Regional Hospital renamed to honour late foreign minister

The name of Thinadhoo Regional Hospital has been changed to Dr Samad Memorial Hospital, President Mohamed Waheed announced yesterday (August 28), reports local media.

Waheed was advised by his cabinet members to change the hospital’s name to “create a long lasting tribute” to the late Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla.

A special remembrance meeting will be held in tribute to Samad’s “distinguished services” – a scholarship has already been announced in his memory.

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Police hold election operation briefing

An ‘Operation Blue Waves’ briefing was held for commissioned police officers who will lead internal security in the greater Male’ area today, reports the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

The head of Central Operations Command and the head of Operation Blue Waves conducted the briefing, held last night (August 27).

Information on the operational plan for the Male’ area and the different operational phases were discussed, while police officers were assigned to specific areas and given various operational tasks.

Other briefing attendees included the Divisional Operation Command Head and Deputy Head, Assistant Police Commissioner Farhadh Fikry, as well as the Commander of Operation Blue Waves for Male’ area, Chief Inspector of Police Abdulla Shareef.

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Police ask PG to charge Sri Lankan woman and Maldivian man for fornication

Police have concluded the investigation into a case where a Maldivian man and a Sri Lankan woman are alleged to have had sex in Hulhumale’, and have sent the case to the Prosecutor General’s Office for prosecution.

In a statement issued the police identified the two as Mohamed Didi, 41, of Male and Dhamika Siriyala, 41, from Sri Lanka.

Police said on May 13, 2013, they were caught inside a room in Hulhumale’ rented on a daily basis.

The investigation into the case was concluded on August 25 and sent to PG the same day.

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Maldives economy “seriously damaged and destroyed”: former President Gayoom

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has expressed concern that the Maldivian economy has been “seriously damaged and destroyed”.

Speaking during a campaign rally on the island of Kudahuvadhoo in Dhaalu Atoll, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Leader Gayoom was quoted by Sun Online expressing concern at the “serious economic problems” presently facing the country.

Gayoom argued that PPM presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen was the most capable person to save the country’s economy based on his previous government experience.

The PPM, which has the second highest number of MPs behind the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), is part of the current coalition government of President Dr Mohamed Waheed that came to power after the controversial transfer of power on February 7, 2012.

The former President’s concerns were raised as the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) this month criticised current levels of government expenditure as being “beyond appropriate”.

However, Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad responded at the time that efforts had been successful over the last twelve months to curb recurrent government expenditure, while state borrowing had remained consistent.

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Bureau of Classifications on strike over broken air conditioner

Staff at the Maldives National Bureau of Classifications have declared themselves on strike over an air conditioner they claim has not worked for two months, reports Sun Online.

“We’ve been working in this heat for all this time. We stopped work today, until we find a solution,” a staff member told Sun.

The National Bureau of Classifications is responsible for classifying all artistic content produced in and imported into the Maldives.

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Body of Bangladeshi national found in Thilafushi harbour

Police have reported the discovery of the body of a 45 year-old Bangladeshi worker floating in Thilafushi harbour early on Tuesday.

Local media identified the victim as Samar Bis Saas, a cook who worked for the BMC Company.

Samar was reported to have gone fishing on a barge in Thilafushi harbour on Monday, and was reported missing at 11:00pm that evening. Police said his fishing equipment was later discovered on the barge.

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Indian government sends condolences following death of Maldivian Foreign Minister

The Government of India has expressed its “deepest condolences” following the death of Maldivian Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla.

India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, in a letter to Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Waheed, described Dr Samad as “not only a great diplomat and statesman but also a close personal friend.”

“His hard work in the service of Maldives and his high regard for India contributed immensely to furthering the bilateral relations between India and Maldives,” wrote Khurshid. “His contribution to development work during his tenure in the World Health Organisation in New Delhi is highly regarded by the people of India.”

In a statement, the Indian High Commission said Khurshid “conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family, colleagues and the people of Maldives on this irretrievable loss of a leader.”

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