Category: News in Brief

Dhiraagu shares to sell on Maldives stock exchange

Local telecommunications provider Dhiraagu will sell shares to the public via the Maldives Stock Exchange (MSE) starting next Thursday.

Government shares have meanwhile been sold to all applicants.

Of its 11.4 million shares, Dhiraagu has sold 41 percent under the Initial Public Offering (IPO) at a rate of Rf80 (US$5.2). The IPO became effective on December 25, 2011.

The government lately released 48 percent of its shares, which had a value of approximately Rf376 million (US$24 million). Of those shares, 15 percent were set to be sold and 4.7 million have been sold, reports Haveeru.

Most government shares were purchased by the Pension Administration Office, the State Trading Organisation (STO) and Allied Insurance.

Foreign investors may also purchase Dhiraagu shares.

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Maldivian Air drops three flights from weekly schedule

Maldivian flights to Fuvahmulah have been reduced to four days a week due to a decrease in demand for passage to the single-island atoll.

Maldivian previously operated daily flights due to an increased demand during the holiday season of October through December.

The new airline officially began operating scheduled flights to Fuvah Mulah’s newly opened airport in November 2011.

Flights are now scheduled for Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, Haveeru reports. Additional flights may be added according to passenger demand.

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Kanditheemu islanders suspect sorcery at remote site

An area believed to be a sorcery site has been found in Shaviyani Atoll Kanditheemu, raising the islanders’ level of speculation of sorcery practices.

Kanditheemu Island Council has told local media that an old man found a suspect area on the island jungle’s south side.

Council officials confirmed that the area had been found, but said no official report had been made to the council.

Officials noted that curious islanders found flowers supposedly used to cast spells at the site.

Although the council maintained that fear of sorcery was not a serious issue on the island, it noted that a Facebook group alleging that six people had had spells cast on them had been created to counter the spread of sorcery, local media reports.

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President inspects Gulhi Falhu

President Mohamed Nasheed has visited Gulhi Fallhu, a reclaimed area of 50 hectares to be developed into an industrial-residential area.

The project originally stated that 2500 houses would be built in the area.

Global Projects Development Limited (GPD) is running the operation in conjunction with Gulhifalhu Industrial Zone Limited (GIZL).

Since the project began in March 2011 a foundation for a mosque has been laid and a port opened.

During his visit, the President examined the progress of the residential flats, the mosque and pre-school planned for Gulhi falhu.

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Tourism pioneer dies

Maldivian tourism pioneer Kan’di Ahmed Ismail Maniku has died while being treated at Sri Lanka’s Nawaloka Hospital.

Maniku diligently served the Maldives’ tourism industry since its introduction in 1972. He received an award from the Ministry Of Tourism in 1997 for being a pioneer of tourism in the Maldives.

He was also awarded the National Award of Recognition in 1997 and National Award of Honour in 2005, in recognition of his many contributions to the tourism industry.

He held many other positions with the government during his life, including Under Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Second Secretary at the Office of the Maldivian High Commissioner in Ceylon, Representative of the Maldives’ Office at the United Nations, Manager at the Shipping Department, Under Secretary at the President’s Office, and Deputy Minister of Fisheries.

Tourism Minister Dr Mariyam Zulfa left for Sri Lanka last night to attend Maniku’s funeral.

He is survived by his wife Moomina Haleem, the first female cabinet minister in the Maldives and an honouree of the National Exemplary Service Medal, and four children.

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Addu landowners of ECC plots to be compensated

People who had been awarded land from the now-off limits area around the Equatorial Convention Center (ECC) in Addu will be duly compensated, the Addu Island Council has announced.

Although people had received land plots for development around the ECC, a recent decision has defined that area ‘uninhabited’ in order to preserve it for tourism development.

In 2011, the government approved a regulation allowing for the sale of alcohol on uninhabited areas of inhabited islands. Alcohol is otherwise prohibited on inhabited islands.

A statement from the Addu council’s infrastructure department requested that all construction work in that area, renamed Haiy-dhoo, immediately cease, but stated that investments on houses which were being constructed would be compensated.

According to Haveeru, the now-reserved area consists of 371 land strips, eight of which were under construction.

Land owners of plots in Haiy-dhoo will also be able to apply for flats and housing units under the government’s housing scheme.

The southern-most atoll in the Maldives, Addu has historically been under developed. In the build-up to the 2011 SAARC Summit, which was hosted in Addu, however, the area received huge investments to develop roads, ports, and to build the ECC.

Officials and locals in Addu have expressed enthusiasm for the changes, and are now tasked with maintaining the pre-SAARC momentum.

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Police summon DQP over anti-government allegations

Police have summoned Deputy President of Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed and Council member Ahmed Ibrahim “Sandhaanu Ahammaidhy” Didi for questioning over Dr. Jameel’s claims that the government is working with Christians to undermine Islamic scholars, made on DhiTV on Sunday, January 8.

The two men are being questioned between 8 and 9 pm.

Dr. Jameel told local media that police intended to clarify certain information and investigate his allegations against the state, which abides by a Shariah-based constitution.

“I am ready to face this,” Dr Jameel was quoted as saying. “When the government is pressured, when they deny the constitutional rights of the people, they come after anyone who questions their actions,” he claimed.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair said action would be taken against any media who complicit in spreading false rumors that damage the government to the general public.

The President’s office has filed a case with the police against DhiTV.

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President among speakers at Global Movement of Moderates conference

President Mohamed Nasheed is among 55 speakers who have confirmed their attendance at the International Conference of Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) to be held in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia from January 17 to 19.

According to Malaysian news agency Bernama.com, Nasheed is scheduled to give a lecture titled “Environment Moderation and Development.”

Other speakers from across 2o countries include former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed, Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Marty Natalegawa and ASEAN Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan.

Retired US Admiral Dennis C. Blair will deliver a speech titled “United States of America and the Muslim World: Charting A Sustainable Future.”

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to present the keynote address titled “Global Movement of Moderates: The Way Forward” and launch the GMM foundation, which will “determine the direction of this movement and its future activities.”

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Heavy rains flood Lhaviyani Atoll

Heavy rains have caused flooding on Naifaru and Hinnavaru in Lhaviyani Atoll, damaging some houses.

According to councils from both islands, many roads are flooded while houses and property have been damaged by the rain, which began last night.

The rain continued until 6:30 am today.

Members of the police and defense forces, as well as council members and local residents are working to drain certain areas, Haveeru reports.

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