President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced a deferment for resort lease payment.

During a televised address on Wednesday night, the president highlighted the importance of providing relief to resorts which have been closed since late March amid the Covid-19 pandemic; a suspension on on-arrival visas has been in effect since March 27.

As such, he said that the government has reached the decision to defer resort lease payments for the second half of the year. He did not provide any further details.

The same applies for lands leased for agricultural purposes, as well as any other lands leased through the finance ministry.

Further noting that the country has to prepare for beyond the pandemic, the president said that the “National Taskforce on Resilience Building and Economic Recovery” is working on impact responses.

The taskforce was established on May 7, due to the severe and widespread socio-economic repercussions due to the Covid-19 precautionary measures.

It’s key mandate is “to formulate strategies, in close coordination with and advice from relevant stakeholders, to revive the Maldives’ economy, boost economic growth, and relieve and realign the social sector to face new challenges”.