Maldives this week: 21 - 27 March 2022

On 27 March, Vice President Faisal Naseem departed on a four-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the World Government Summit 2022.

On 27 March, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih officially inaugurated the College of Security and Law Enforcement, established in Addu City under grant assistance from the Indian government. 

On 27 March, the Maldivian government inaugurated the coastal surveillance radar system established in the Maldives by India. The system was inaugurated by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and India's Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar.

On 27 March, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, inaugurated the Addu City road development project, financed by India. 

On 27 March, national airline Maldivian commenced operations to Ratmalana Airport, Sri Lanka. 

On 27 March, the Maldives Police Service said it has arrested nine people from Addu City on suspicion of attempting to carry out an act of terrorism. 

On 27 March, the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure signed an agreement with Netherland's Van Oord company for land reclamation in Addu City. The project is funded under a USD800 million credit facility extended by Indian EXIM Bank, 

On 27 March, Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem, Minister of Foreign Affairs Shahid and India's Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated a drug treatment and rehabilitation center in Addu City. The center has the capacity to treat 60 people at any one time and was developed under assistance from India. 

On 27 March, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih officially inaugurated the Addu City Maradhoo and Maradhoo-Feydhoo harbours. 

On 27 March, Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, paid a courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, where the President said that the Maldives will uphold the 'India First' policy. 

On 26 March, Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in the Maldives on a two-day official visit. He was received at the Addu International Airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs Shahid.

On 26 March, the Maldives and India signed agreements on each accepting the other's COVID-19 vaccination certificates, and on linking the Maldives' higher education network and India's national college network. 

On 25 March, former President Abdulla Yameen, commenting on alleged police brutality during an opposition protest, said that his administration had never obstructed protests. 

On 25 March, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) detained 17 people from an opposition protest held on the same day. The Criminal Court has remanded nine, two have been released, and the remaining six released with conditions. 

On 24 March, the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) called to fast-track the annulment of amendments brought to laws in 2016 that restricted the right to protest. 

The Bank of Maldives (BML) proposed a final dividend of MVR35 rufiyaa per share for 2021. The proposal has to be approved by its Board of Directors. 

On 24 March, Dhiraagu, at its annual general meeting, approved dividends of MVR6.20 per share. 

On 23 March, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) informed opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) that it could not hold a rally planned for 25 March against Indian soldiers being stationed in the Maldives, citing intelligence reports of unrest being planned through the protest. 

On 23 March, Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla held discussions with the Ambassador of China to the Maldives Wang Lixin, on fostering cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the Maldives and China.

On 23 March, Minister of Tourism Dr Abdulla Mausoom said that an international summit on tourism will be held in the Maldives from 14 to 16 June, in coordination with the World Tourism Organisation.

On 23 March, the parliament approved the Maldives being a signatory of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). 

The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, in a written response to questions by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Eva Abdulla, indicated that the housing projects currently ongoing in the Male region will not be completed during the government's current term. 

On 22 March, Member of Parliament for Naifaru constituency and Vice President of opposition PPM Ahmed Shiyam said that India had obstructed the iHaven project planned in Ihavandhippolhu by former president Abdulla Yameen's administration.

On 22 March, Minister of Tourism Dr Abdulla Mausoom said that homestay tourism will be introduced in at least 100 islands by the end of 2022. 

On 22 March, the Maldives National University held the 'First Policy Roundtable on Marine Litter Prevention,' held as part of the 'Prevention of Marine Litter in the Lakshadweep Sea (PROMISE)' project funded by the European Union.  

On 21 March, the High Court of Maldives annulled the Criminal Court ruling that charges for accepting bribes against the current Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof could not be pursued as a civil case.  

On 21 March, the Maldives supported an emergency resolution proposed by New Zealand to 144th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting, on "Peaceful Resolution of War in Ukraine Respecting International Law, the Charter of UN and Territorial Integrity."  

On 21 March, the parliament secretariat on 21 March said that 14 members of the parliament's public finance committee as well as two staff, will be travelling to London, on a study tour, funded under grant assistance provided by the World Bank under the 'Public Finance Management System Strengthening Project.' 

On 21 March, Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla, at parliament, said that the organisers of an 'India Out' rally by the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC) scheduled for 25 March have been informed that the rally cannot be held.  

 On 21 March, Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla  said that the 'National College of Policing and Law Enforcement' being developed in Addu City under grant assistance from the Indian Government, will be opened on 27 March.