Govt. instructs a MVR 19.3 million cut in Parliament expenditure

Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, on Monday, requested the Parliament for a MVR 19.3 million cut in its expenditures.

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed announced the reception of the request during the parliamentary sitting on Monday afternoon.

“Minister requests a MVR 19.3 million cut in the Parliament’s expenditures,” said Nasheed.

Nasheed added that he believed a MVR 19.3 million cut was manageable, and had instructed Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla to review the accounts and identify areas where costs can be cut.

The move follows earlier instruction by Finance Ministry to all government offices to cut all unnecessary expenditure and suspend new appointments as cost cutting measures in face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in a drastic hit on the tourism industry, which Maldives is heavily dependent on as a source of income.

13 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resorts. Of the 13 people, five were from Kuredu Island Resort, two from Island Safari-1, two from Sandies Bathala, two from Kuramathi Island Resort, and two from Anantara Dhigu.