Maldives this week: 14 - 20 February 2022
Last week's key headlines.
On 19 February, Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi departed the Maldives on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, to participate in the 'UMEX and SimTEX 2022' conference scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from 21 to 23 February on the invitation of the Minister of State for Defence Affairs of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi.
On 19 February, Minister of State for Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Asad Ali returned to the Maldives and handed himself in to the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) to serve the 15-day prison sentence against him for contempt of court.
On 18 February, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih inaugurated Madivaru Airport, developed by Kuredu Holdings.
On 18 February, the Maldivian Democratic Party elected Mohamed Aslam, Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo Uthuru constituency as its parliamentary group leader.
On 17 February, the Islamic University of Maldives signed a MOU with India's Aligarh Muslim University to cooperate in academia and training as well as in research.
On 17 February, tourism consultant George Corbin paid a courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Corbin was among the first group to introduce tourism in the Maldives.
On 17 February, Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi at the parliament's 241 committee said that the opposition's 'India Out' campaign is a threat to national security. The minister said that this was agreed in consensus at all levels of the Maldivian military establishment.
The Heritage Foundation in its Index of Economic Freedom ranked the Maldives at 161 out of a total 177 countries ranked. The Maldives received 47.3 points, the lowest since it was included in the ranking in 2009, when it had received 51.3 points.
On 16 February, the British High Commission in the Maldives opened its office in the Maldives. The The office was declared open by the Maldives Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and the UK's Minister of State for South Asia, UN and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad.
On 16 February, former President Abdulla Yameen requested the Criminal Court to delay his trial on corruption charges until the hearings could be telecast live.
On 16 February, the Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff S. M. Shadiuddin Ahmed paid a courtery call on Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi, as well as Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal.
On 16 February, the Ministry of Tourism issued a special stamp set to commemorate 50 years to Maldives tourism. The stamp set was introduced at a special ceremony by the current Chairman of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) Mohamed Umar Manik, MATI Vice Chairman 'Champa' Hussain Afeef, current Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem and George Corbin, all of whom were among the first to introduce tourism in the Maldives, and the first tourism minister of the Maldives Ahmed Mujuthaba.
On 15 February, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih returned to the Maldives after concluding an unofficial visit to Singapore.
On 15 February, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed said that tourism in the Maldives will face considerable losses in the event of a war between Russia and Ukraine and called on the government to be mindful of possible impact on the Maldives.
On 15 February, the Ministry of Economic Development signed a MOU with UNDP Maldives for the provision of technical expertise to strengthen evidence-based policy making and to enhance investments to support the UN SDGs.
On 15 February, the UK Minister of State for South and Central Asia, UN and the Commonwealth Lord Thariq Ahmed paid a courtesy call on Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi. Discussions focused on further increasing cooperation between the two countries in counter-terrorism, aviation security, the provision of humanitarian assistance as well as efforts against the narcotics trade.
On 15 February, the Maldivian parliament tabled a bill submitted by Member of Parliament for Galolhu Uthuru Eva Abdulla on financial disclosure, which proposes fines, removal from positions and prison sentences for the provision of false information in such disclosures.
On 14 February, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, at the parliament's 241 committee, said that the opposition's 'India Out' campaign is an attempt to ensure deterioration of ties between the Maldives and India.
On 14 February, the Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, on behalf of the Government of India, donated medical equipment to MNDF's Senahiya Hospital.
On 14 February, the Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar visited the MNDF Composite Training Center at K. Girifushi. He also inaugurated the Composite Training Center Phase I Annex during the visit.
On 14 February, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel said that neither the current government, nor previous ones, had signed any agreement that gives any part of the Maldives to any foreign country.
On 14 February, the President's Office said that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be visiting six islands in Lh. Atoll, from 18 to 20 February.
