President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday ratified the Utility Regulatory Authority Act, which establishes an official authority to regulate and oversee the proper management of the country’s public utility services.

The government-endorsed bill proposed by South-Thinadhoo constituency MP Abdulla Shareef was passed by the People’s Majlis on November 23, with 63 lawmakers voting in favour while two abstained from the vote.

While the Act establishes an official authority to regulate and oversee the proper management of the public utility services, it also defines the mandate of the regulatory body, including general guidelines, plans and procedures in the provision of utility services.

Its objectives include providing high quality utility services to all those residing in the Maldives in a more affordable, sustainable and trustworthy manner which is efficient and also environment friendly, as well as to establish a penalising mechanism to ensure that special laws and regulations in relation to utility services are adhered to.

Following ratification, the Utility Regulatory Authority Act has been published in the government gazette.