President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has returned to Malé City, after concluding his tour of Shaviyani and Raa atolls.

President Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed departed on the two-atoll tour at 11am on Tuesday, their first destination being Sh. Funadhoo, where they met with the island council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) as well as visited important landmarks on the island.

Throughout the three-day tour, the First Couple toured four islands of Shaviyani atoll; Funadhoo, Lhaimagu, Foakaidhoo and Maaungoodhoo as well as four islands of Raa atoll; Vaadhoo, Alifushi, Rasgetheem and Angolhitheem. They also travelled to Maduvvari island in Raa atoll.

Discussions were held with Shaviyani and Raa Atoll Councils as well as the councils and WDCs of all islands, key stakeholders including fishing and farming communities, police stationed across the islands, education sector employees as well as healthcare providers.

During the trip the president officially inaugurated the Job Center established in Alifushi island, facilitated by the Ministry of Economic Development as the first of its kind in the nationwide campaign to connect job-seekers with employers.

The new multipurpose hall at Maduvvari School was also inaugurated during the trip.

Further, First Lady Fazna Ahmed also toured a number of schools during the trip and donated books on anti-bullying and creating awareness on sexual violence. She engaged in discussions regarding concerns and difficulties teachers and students face. She also toured the Family and Children’s Services Centre (FCSC) by the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services located in Funadhoo.

The course of the trip saw the First Couple touring important landmarks, historical sites as well as the inspection of progress on ongoing development projects and programmes initiated by the government in these islands.

Members of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had also sought to meet with the president, which was accommodated during the trip.

Some senior government officials, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail and Managing Director of state utilities company FENAKA Corporation joined the First Couple on the trip.

The President’s Spokesperson, Mabrook Aziz told RaajjeMV that the purpose of the three-day trip was to check updates on the development projects ongoing at the islands, while sitting down for discussions with the island councils.

President Solih had conducted a similar visit, touring seven islands of Thaa atoll during August.