No plans to make Hanimaadhoo Airport a military airport: President

The government has said that there are no plans to turn Hanimaadhoo Airport into a military airport.

This comes in relation to a letter being circulated on social media, signed by Minister at President’s Office Mohamed Shareef and addressed to Minister of Transport Ibrahim Ameen, which states that the Economic Committee decided during a meeting in February to turn Hanimaadhoo Airport into a military airport.

Spokesperson at President’s Office Ibrahim Muaz told Sun Online that these are baseless rumours.

He said that Raajje TV reported this story without obtaining a comment from the government, which was irresponsible on the part of the TV station.

“The President’s Office never sent any such letter, and the government hasn’t made any such decision. This was a move to influence votes ahead of the Parliamentary Election,” said Muaz.

He said that the alleged letter regarding a decision by the Economic Committee was signed by Mohamed Shareef, who deals with foreign affairs communications of the President’s Office – which raises further questions about the letter’s authenticity.

The government, in addition to filing a case to court, has called on Maldives Broadcasting Commission to investigate the broadcast by Raajje TV of false information regarding Hanimaadhoo Airport.