Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage plans to introduce a mechanism to assess sites given to development, following the introduction of the Heritage Bill.
The bill, which is yet to be approved by the People’s Majlis, aims to preserve heritage items and culture.
Speaking on RaajjeTV’s Fala Surukhee programme on Tuesday night, state minister Mohamed Thoriq said that there are no mechanism’s where cultural items discovered at development sites can be reported.
Noting that such a regulation is necessary, the state minister highlighted the 18th parliament’s failure to take a vote on the Heritage Bill before heading to recess on April 29.
While the new parliament will take oath on May 28, Thoriq said that he expects it to complete the work.
He noted that with the introduction of the bill, a system to conduct heritage assessments in development site “will be established.”
Thoriq further said that it will also detail the procedures in which cultural items found at development sites can be reported, adding that the bill will require them to inform it to the ministry.
He also noted that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s vision to protect Maldives’ heritage and culture will help create a society that will want to do so.
