Island council of Magoodhoo in Faafu atoll has decided to pay 50 percent of residents’ electricity bills in commemoration of the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan.

The council reached the decision following deliberations among council members and the approval from all three members.

Council President Abdulla Waheed revealed that this decision was reached in order to bring an ease for the island community for the hectic month of Ramadan, set to begin in May.

The council is to pay the 50 percent of electricity bills for April to state utilities company FENAKA Corporation which generates power across the island.

Further, the council will also be rewarding island residents who win places in the Faafu Atoll Quran Competition set to commence during Ramadan. Special prizes include a laptop computer for the first-place winner, MVR 4,500 for second and MVR 3,500 for the island resident who secures third place.

Those who come first in the elderly category of the competition will be given MVR 3,000 while second-place winner will be given MVR 2,500 and MVR 2,000 for the third-place winner.

In other preparations for the fasting month of Ramadan, the council is set to air-condition the island mosque and bring in Islamic scholars to give religious sermons during the months as well.

867 residents live in 94 of the households in Magoodhoo. Every household gets a monthly electricity bill ranging from MVR 700 – 3,000.

The island council comprises of President Waheed, Vice President Ibrahim Zuhuree and member Moosa Jaleel, three of whom represent the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).