People's Majlis goes into recess

The People’s Majlis has gone into recess, after the end of the third and last session of the 19th parliament, 2020.

The 28th sitting of the third session of the concluding year was held on Monday, where 15 bills were passed.

Some of the major bills passed by the 19th parliament during the last session of the year include the Maldives Police Service bill, the Education bill, amendments to the Maldives Tourism Act, a bill to ensure joint efforts to investigate cases related to children and several others.

Parliamentarians also passed the state budget for 2021, during this year.

Prior to concluding the last session, the parliament chamber submitted eight cases, alongside eight cases from the state and 14 others.

During this year, parliament questioned 17 Cabinet Ministers as well.

Some of the significant work conducted by parliament committees during the session include the investigation of cases revolving around corruption, including the ventilator scandal, over which the Majlis has voted to seek charges against former Health Minister Abdulla Ameen.

Parliament is set to reconvene during the first week of February.

The first session of the People’s Majlis is from February – April and after it comes to an end, the parliament goes into recess for a one-month period.

Although the parliament was set to go into recess at the end of November, the third session was extended through December 7, due to pending work. According to parliament regulations, the third session of each year will convene from October 1 to November-end. Some of the important work pending by the time the end of November approached were the amendment to the Tourism Act, the Police Service Bill as well as passing the state budget 2021, all of which had been completed by the time the extension came to an end on Monday.