Qasim Ibrahim, Chairman of Villa Group which operates Kaadedhdhoo Airport and Member of Parliament for Maamigili constituency, has stated that work is ongoing to, has stated that work is ongoing to extend the airport’s runway, renovate it, and make it an international airport. Officials from Villa Group were summoned to the Economic Committee of the People’s Majlis today to question about concerns that the standard of Kaadedhdhoo Airport is deteriorating day by day.

Speaking at the committee, Qasim said that Villa Group is carrying out the work on the airport under an agreement signed with the Ministry of Transport. He stated that the government is spending significant amounts on operating airports in the Maldives. However, he said that except for Velana International Airport, other airports are incurring substantial losses.

He mentioned that Kaadedhdhoo Airport is also being operated at a significant loss. Qasim said the reality is that the profit from the airport is very small. He stated that half of what is earned remains pending, and due to not receiving this, they have to spend about a million rufiyaa every month.

“We are proceeding with very good relations with the Transport Ministry and Housing Ministry. The Transport Minister also calls and talks. The President also said to work on converting that airport to an international airport. We are working on that, but considering the company’s situation, changes in the global market, and credit ratio, there are significant difficulties in financing such a large project. That’s why this work is delayed,” Qasim said.

Qasim said that Villa Group’s plan includes work to make the airport international. However, he also said that if the government wants to do it differently, they are ready to hand over the airport in a way that doesn’t cause loss to the company.

“I believe that place always needs to be developed. Economically speaking, a place should be developed by looking at ways to make things sustainable with what it earns. We are in the mindset of developing Kaadedhdhoo Airport, renovating it and doing everything else that needs to be done. At the very least, to make the runway 2400 meters or 2.8 meters long, even by reclamation. That’s our thinking,” Qasim said.

However, Qasim questioned how they would do it if the government frequently seizes the airport from Villa company and harasses them. He said that’s why it couldn’t be done before, and previously when investors came and finalized everything, the government took the airport from the company. He also said that the military came and removed Villa’s employees from there. He mentioned that there’s still an opportunity to file a lawsuit for that. However, leaving that aside, Villa wanted to work on developing the airport again when the government handed it back to them, he said.

A special higher education program for Members of Parliament has been initiated at the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM). An agreement has been signed to conduct an Advanced Certificate course in Sharia and Law for the members of parliament.

This is a one-year course, in which 8 members of parliament will participate. The members participating in the course and the parliament’s leadership have met with IUM’s senior officials to gather information about how the studies will be conducted. The Speaker of Parliament, Abdullah Abdurraheem, stated that the main objective of this course is to make the 20th Parliament one with highly educated, capable members. He also expressed his desire to make the parliament an exemplary institution that conducts scholarly work.

Furthermore, according to the Parliament Secretariat, administrative work to start a first degree course in the legal field will also be carried out in collaboration with IUM. Eight members of parliament have already begun studying today in an Advanced Certificate in Sharia and Law course conducted by IUM. This is also an online program specifically designed for parliament members.

Upon completion of the one-year Advanced Certificate program, parliament members will be able to enroll in the degree program.

The Parliamentary Group of the PNC has decided to reverse the decision to go on recess without holding Parliament sessions during the upcoming Ramadan month. The decision to not hold Parliament sessions during Ramadan was made due to the reduced time available for sessions. Another reason for deciding not to hold sessions was that the last 10 days of Ramadan are designated as government holidays. Last week, the General Committee of the Parliament passed a resolution to amend the Parliament’s rules to go on recess during Ramadan and to start the first session of each year’s Parliament in January.

This amendment was proposed by PNC member Abdullah Rifau (Bochey) of the Maafannu South constituency. The General Committee of the Parliament passed it with the votes of PNC members. However, MDP members opposed it. According to the Parliament’s rules, the Parliament’s session is divided into three parts. The first session runs from February 1 to May 15. The second session runs from June 1 to August 15.

And the third session runs from October 1 to the end of November.

Vice President Hussein Mohamed Latheef has returned to Male’ after concluding his official visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he participated in the “World Governments Summit 2025”. During this trip, the Vice President attended the Plenary Session of the World Governments Summit 2025 and the Global Government Excellence Award. He also participated in the Governments Experience Exchange Forum and the Climate Change Forum held on the sidelines of the summit.

According to information provided by the President’s Office, during this trip, the Vice President delivered a speech at the Climate Change Forum held as part of the “World Governments Summit 2025”. In his speech, he stated that climate disasters do not wait for political consultations and that just as the intensification of storm power is not linked to economic currents, the rise in temperature is not a phenomenon that occurs based on regional boundaries. Joining the Vice President at this forum were Her Excellency Amna Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and His Excellency Max Andonirina Fontaine, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Madagascar.

Jumhooree Party leader and Member of Parliament for Maamigili constituency, Gasim Ibrahim, has built a mosque for the people of ADh. Maamigili. The mosque, named Masjid Al-Dhikra, was built at the request of the island’s residents and council.

The foundation of the mosque was laid on December 14 of last year. The construction of the mosque took a total of 57 days. Gasim, who has been serving as the Member of Parliament for the Maamigili constituency for many years, continues to work on the development of Maamigili and ADh. Fenfushi. He also continues to provide assistance to the residents of these islands in various ways. Gasim is a highly popular figure among the residents of both islands.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said today that he is saddened by the condition of Rasrani and Sultan Park and that he will restore the beauty of these two places. President Dr. Muizzu said this after visiting Rasrani and Sultan Park to inspect their condition. The President was accompanied by his wife Sajida Mohamed and their youngest son during the visit to the two places today.

Rasrani and Sultan Park are under the supervision of the Male’ City Council. However, many members of the public have complained that these places are not being maintained properly.

In a post on “X”, President Dr. Muizzu said that he is saddened by the condition of Rasrani and Sultan Park and that both places are deteriorating. He stated that these two places bring immense happiness and joy to the citizens in the crowded Male’.

“For the information of the citizens of Male’ and all residents living in Male’, I would like to announce that the government will undertake special efforts to restore the beauty and vibrancy of these two places and make them even better than before,” the President said.

Sultan Park and Rasrani are two places that were developed during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, when President Muizzu was serving as the Housing Minister. It was a project carried out under President Muizzu’s special supervision to provide contentment to the citizens in the crowded environment of Male’.

Minister of State for Cities and Administrative Areas and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, has stated that political differences of opinion should not hinder the services that must be provided to citizens. Adam Shareef said this in response to complaints from many members of the public that the Male’ City Council has been negligent in maintaining Rasrani and Sultan Park, which are under the council’s supervision, and that these areas are not being maintained properly.

In a tweet, Adam Shareef said that services should be provided to citizens through the decentralized system, taking into account what the citizens want, and that political differences of opinion should not be an obstacle to this.

“While the decentralized system is a system that facilit decentralized system is a system that facilitates providing services closest to the citizens as they desire, and understanding and considering what the citizens want, this system should pave the way for development and civilization. Differences in political ideology should not be a hindrance to providing the services that must be given to citizens,” Adam Shareef said.

The Minister noted that the true benefit of multi-party democracy to the nation comes from operating within the decentralized system. He also said that the hope is that all institutions will follow the example set by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in implementing his robust policy of strengthening the decentralized system and financially empowering the councils, in both words and actions.

Rasrani and Sultan Park, two places where many citizens of Male’ go to spend time with their families and relax, have become very dilapidated. President Muizzu has also expressed his sadness upon seeing the condition of these two places.

The President has assured the public that he will restore the beauty of these two places. These two areas, which were developed during President Yameen’s administration when he was in the Male’ City Council, are being maintained by the Male’ City Council. However, since Mayor Adam Azim took over the council, many people have been saying that there has been negligence in repairing and maintaining these two places.