Pres. Muizzu wraps up AA. Atoll tour

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu returned to the capital Malé City on Thursday after concluding his tour of some of the inhabited islands of North Ari Atoll.

As part of his tour, the president visited eight inhabited islands of Alif Alif Atoll.

As such, he visited Thoddoo, Rasdhoo, Ukulhas, Mathiveri, Bodufolhudhoo, Feridhoo, Maalhos, and Himandhoo, where he met with the island councils, Women's Development Committees (WDC), and residents to discuss the development needs of the islands and matters related to the condition of the islands and their inhabitants.

A delegation consisting of some government ministers and heads of state companies accompanied the president on the tour. The delegation provided up-to-date information on ongoing and planned projects for each island.

As part of the trip, Bank of Maldives (BML) ATM services were introduced across all inhabited islands of the atoll. In addition to this, the construction of police stations in Maalhos, Himandhoo, Feridhoo, and Thoddoo was officially inaugurated.

Further, development projects targeting various islands of the atoll were initiated, and project agreements were signed across different sectors. The president also shared updates on the work scheduled for implementation in the islands for the current year 2025 and the upcoming year with the residents of these islands.

In his speeches during the meetings held as part of the tour, the president expressed his disapproval of the local tourism industry, stating that tourists visiting guesthouses on inhabited islands expose children and the community to negative influences. He also mentioned that he will propose to the People's Majlis in this year's final session to abolish the Atoll Councils, which were established under the authority granted by the Constitution for decentralized administration of administrative regions, and to make further amendments to the Decentralization Act.

Up until President Muizzu's trip, no actual work on any development project had been carried out on any island in Alif Alif Atoll. Projects initiated during the previous administration had also been halted. However, in connection with his tour, vehicles and equipment needed for some island projects were transported. For instance, a barge carrying rocks and a high-mast light were sent to Rasdhoo just two hours before the president's arrival to commence work on the harbor development project.

The President's Office states that visiting inhabited islands of the Maldives, listening to people's concerns, assessing their situations, and working closely with the public is an important policy that the president places great emphasis on.