City Council introduces new legislation on Advertisement in Mal

A new regulation made by Malé City Council and published on the government gazette on Thursday has made it unlawful to stick or put on display any kind of advertisements in Malé unless the content be approved beforehand by the City Council.

The new regulation, titled “Regulation on Using the Roads for making Announcements and Advertisements”, stated that any advertisement or announcement must be submitted to the City Council and approved before it can be displayed at any public place.

The new regulation prohibits using keeping advertisements on government buildings and roadside walls unless it be by a government authority using the building or wall as its office.

The regulation also prohibits putting on display any kind of pictographic advertisements in a way that would disturb worshipers in mosques, and prohibits littering roads with advertisements as well.

Under the new regulation, the City Council may fine any party in breach with an amount between MVR 500 and MVR 5000. Also, the Council would remove any advertisements unapproved, and may demand all expenses incurred in such removal from the party responsible for the advertisement.