Government asks parliament to approve transfer three branches of government to Defence Ministry

Government has asked the parliament to approve the transfer of Department of Immigration and Emigration, the National Disaster Management Centre and the Aviation Security Command under Ministry of Defence and National Security.

The President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik sent a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament Abdulla Shahid, which requested the parliament to approve the changes. Article 116 of the Constitution requires the President to submit all information relating to the ministries and their areas of jurisdiction to the parliament for approval.

The National Disaster Management Centre was previously under the Ministry of Housing and Environment. It was transferred under the Ministry of Defence and National Security in the 6th of May last year.

Department of Immigration and Emigration, which was under the Ministry of Home Affairs was transferred under the Defence Ministry on the 28th of December 2012.

All air travel security was centralized under Aviation Security Command, which was established under the Defence Ministry last January.

Reasoning the changes, the President wrote to the Speaker that Disaster Management Center and Department of Immigration were transferred under the Defence Minister because the nature of work that the departments undertake requires streamlined coordination and the Defence Ministry was most suitable to provide accommodate these types of work.

President did provide a reason for centralizing the air travel security under the Aviation Security Command. The President’s letter stated that the department has been bestowed with the responsibility to ensure the quality and standard of aviation is maintained in the country and to make sure that the aviation laws, regulations and policies are kept in check.

When the president’s request was present to the parliament floor today, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentary group member and Kulhudhuffushi-south MP Mohamed Rasheed opposed the motion, which was seconded by Madaveli MP Mohamed Nazim.

In turn, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Parliamentary Group Leader Abdulla Mausoom supported the motion, which was seconded by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed.

The motion will be asked for vote at 1:30 this afternoon.