Maldives Weekly April 17-30
Major news updates - April 17-30, 2022
27 April, Former Maldives president and Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has said that his country will always follow the ‘India First’ policy, and will not allow China to continue with its plan of “land grab and debt trap”, which has led to huge debt for the island nation.
27 April, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms. Eva Abdulla announced that Speaker Nasheed will contest in the upcoming Presidential election. Eva, who is also a cousin of Nasheed made the remarks in a campaign event in Kulhudhuffushi.
On 18 April, the government signed agreements for seven projects to be carried out under a USD27 million grant provided through India's High Impact Community Development Project. The seven projects are the establishment of a mental health unit at the Addu Equatorial Hospital, the commencement of speech therapy services at the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital, orthopaedic treatment services at the Hulhumale Hospital, establishment of youth centres in ADh. Dhigurah and GDh. Gemenafushi, establishment of a sports complex in N. Manadhoo, and the repair of historical sites in N. Landhoo and Th. Dhiyamigili.
On 18 April, the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board said that it has appointed Mahjoob Shujau, former managing director of Hulhumalé Development Corporation (HDC) as the Managing Director of the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
On 18 April, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that from 14 March to 16 April, 4,225 people in the Maldives had tested positive for Covid-19, increasing the total number of cases reported in the country to 178,883.
On 18 April, the President's Office said that the Ambassador of China to the Maldives, Wang Lixin, paid a courtesy call on First Lady Fazna Ahmed.
On 18 April, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said that Indian navy ship Sutlej has arrived in the Maldives to undertake a hydrographic survey, to be carried out from HDh. To N. Atolls, from 21 April to 15 May.
On 18 April, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed returned to the Maldives after concluding their unofficial visit to Singapore.
On 17 April, the Prosecutor General's Office appealed at the High Court the charges against two acquitted by the Criminal Court in the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed.
