President's US trip cost MVR 4.1 million

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s visit to the United Nations for the 74th General Assembly cost around MVR 4.1 million according to the statistics published by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The president along with top government officials visited the US from September 17-30 in 2019. It had been rumored that the trip was an immensely costly one. No official word on the expenses of the trip was available when the “Sun” contacted the government regarding the matter.

The information was published by the Information Commissioner upon a request by a private citizen under the right to freedom of information

Expenses of the trip broken down

• Tickets: MVR 2.06 million
• Accommodation and food: MVR 1.8 million
• Excess baggage: MVR 6168
• Pocket Money: MVR 141,595
• Incidental: MVR 98,652
• A trip by a school student to Sri Lanka to obtain a visa: MVR 12,492

The government was criticized for the number of officials who accompanied the president on the trip as unnecessary and costly. Officials on the trip included Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Environment Minister Dr. Hussain Rasheed, President’s Office spokesperson Ibrahim Hood, President’s secretary Fathimath Mohamed Solih and, President’s Secretary Aiminath Shauna.

The president’s speech at the UN was the first by sitting Maldivian president in seven years.