Covid-19: ministry to process payments two days a week

Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has revealed that they will process payment through two days of the week, despite the government offices being closed for an additional week.

Speaking at the press conference held at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) established in Dharubaaruge on Thursday night, spokesperson for all matters related to the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in the country, Mabrook Aziz revealed updated the public on some of the finance ministry’s decisions.

This includes processing payments two days of the week, the information in connection to this decision will be available though the “Bandeyri Portal”. As such, individuals can access this information by entering their vendor numbers, which are noted on purchase orders.

The ministry earlier revealed that the stimulus package, introduced to extend assistance to those who are facing the burden and challenges due to the fast-spreading pandemic and aims to mitigate the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, will be issued starting next week.

The pandemic surfaced in the Maldives on 7 March and since then, there have been 19 confirmed cases out of which 15 are foreign and four local cases. Since then, the government has been implementing stringent measures to curb the spread of the disease, and with the government having stopped issuing on-arrival visas to inbound tourists starting 27 March, the country’s tourism is seen spiraling downward.

The president has also noted with concern that the pandemic has impacted heavily on the country’s economic growth, and that the entire globe is facing economic downturn in the wake of the disease.