President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has officially inaugurated the Halfway House in Hoarafushi island of Haa Alif atoll, which was established and completed during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration.

The Hoarafushi Halfway House was unveiled on Thursday.

The Hoarafushi Halfway House construction project was awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) by Solih's administration for MVR 15.6 million.

As part of the project, groundwork, concrete work, masonry and plastering, roofing and ceiling work, door and window installation, finishing work, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work, and fire system installation were completed on 25 January 2024.

The former administration awarded the project to MTCC in October 2022.

While the previous government had completed the building and prepared it for opening, even hiring staff, on 6 June 2024, the Halfway House was dissolved, and the current administration terminated the employment of the staff working there.

The termination letter sent to the employees at that time stated that the Hoarafushi Halfway House was dissolved due to the lack of children requiring the service. In addition to this, the letter highlighted that it was decided to convert the Halfway House building into a Juvenile Residential Center.

However, during President Muizzu's ongoing tour of some islands in Haa Alif atoll, he officially inaugurated the Halfway House.

This is a facility established under the Juvenile Justice Act to provide treatment for children exposed to criminal environments before reintegrating them into society.

The Halfway House will provide care and assistance to children brought in for several offenses and offer the necessary support and rehabilitation treatment for their reintegration into society.

This facility was developed on a 10,000 square-foot land in Hoarafushi.

The foundation of the building was laid by then-Home Minister Imran Abdulla during a foundation-laying ceremony held on 29 July 2022.