Hirimaradhoo Council and Atoll Councils officially dissolved
Under these structural changes to the Addu City administrative framework, separate island council secretariats will be established in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo, while the Hirimaradhoo Council is set to be dissolved following the decision to relocate the island's residents to Hanimaadhoo.
President Muizzu meets with the HDh. Hirimaradhoo Council during a meeting held in 2024. | President's Office
Following amendments to the Decentralization Act of the Maldives, the Haa Dhaalu Atoll Hirimaradhoo Council and all Atoll Council administrations across the country have been dissolved, effective May 17, 2026.
According to an announcement issued by the President's Office on Monday, these changes have also resulted in significant structural revisions to the administrative framework of Addu City.
Under this decision, separate island council secretariats have been newly established for Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo in Addu City. Following Presidential Decrees 2025/33 and 2025/34, the secretariats for the "Addu Meedhoo" and "Addu Hulhudhoo" councils have been officially constituted. Furthermore, the area comprising Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, and Feydhoo has been designated as a single administrative entity under the name "Addu City," with the Addu City Council secretariat being restructured accordingly.
Changes have also been introduced to the numbering system for official correspondence issued by government agencies. Under the new guidelines, letters addressed to the "Secretariat of the Addu Meedhoo Council, Addu Atoll" must use the code 1140, while those sent to the "Secretariat of the Addu Hulhudhoo Council, Addu Atoll" are to use 1141. The President's Office has also released the official English designations for both administrative bodies.
The decision to dissolve the HDh. Hirimaradhoo Council follows the government's move to relocate the island's residents to HDh. Hanimaadhoo and the President's subsequent declaration of Hirimaradhoo as an uninhabited island. Consequently, both the island council and its administrative office will be officially dissolved effective May 17, 2026.
The decision to dissolve all atoll councils across the Maldives follows the ratification of the 17th amendment to the Decentralization Act. According to the law, these councils will be disbanded once the newly elected members of the upcoming local council elections assume office. Consequently, the President has designated May 17, 2026, as the official date for this structural change to take effect.
