Removing 'Savaaheli' from Addu City's jurisdiction was a government move to hinder the city's tourism development: Fayyaz
24 ޖުލައި 2026 | ހުކުރު 17:38Fayyaz Ismail has characterized the government's decision to remove Savaaheli from Addu City's jurisdiction as a politically motivated move intended to stifle local tourism and undermine guesthouse businesses in Feydhoo. He further noted that the central government's seizure of the island, occurring just as the council had opened it for development via public tender, serves as a direct obstruction to the overall development of Addu City.
Former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail. | MDP
Former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail has stated that the current administration's decision to remove Savaaheli from Addu City's jurisdiction was a deliberate move to hinder the city's tourism development.
In a post on X on Friday, Fayyaz stated that the Addu City Council had opened the bidding for Savaaheli to establish essential facilities for tourists on the island. However, Fayyaz asserted that this move by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration is a deliberate attempt to undermine tourism development projects in Addu, specifically targeting and crippling the guesthouse businesses in Feydhoo.
Fayyaz stated that the "Savaaheli" project has been halted for political reasons. He further alleged that the government is actively ensuring that the residents of Addu are deprived of the benefits of local tourism.
Fayyaz further stated that as the administration approaches its three-year mark, projects for which funding had been secured and plans finalized are being stalled because the government lacks political support in Addu.
Fayyaz further highlighted that these projects would create numerous job opportunities for the residents of Addu and generate income in foreign currency. He emphasized that the government’s decision to halt these initiatives would result in long-term detrimental consequences spanning multiple generations.
Following the council's decision to develop the Feydhoo Tourism Zone as a coastal destination, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih incorporated the island into the jurisdiction of the Addu City Council in 2023.
It has emerged that the government’s decision to remove the "Savaaheli" island project from Addu City Council’s jurisdiction via a sudden presidential decree occurred while the council had already opened the project for competitive bidding.
Issued by President Muizzu late Wednesday night, this decree mandates a revision to the administrative boundaries and jurisdiction of Addu City.
The government reclaimed the island while the Addu City Council was in the process of seeking developers to transform it into the Savaaheli Entertainment and Recreation Facility, having already opened the project for competitive bidding.
According to the presidential decree, the decision to remove the island from the jurisdiction of Addu City was made to facilitate its development for tourism purposes. However, the decree did not provide any further details regarding the matter.
