Maldivian government has the authority to take over airport: Singapore Court

The highest court of Singapore, the Court of Appeal, has annulled the Singapore High Court’s order issued last Monday, which said that the Maldivian government should allow GMR to proceed at the airport as per the agreement between the Maldivian government and GMR; and ruled that the Maldivian government has the authority to take over the airport.

This ruling came at a hearing at the Court of Appeal today, on the case appealed by the Maldivian government in relation to the order issued by Singapore High Court on Monday.

Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor told Sun Online that the highest court in Singapore has decided today that the Maldivian government has the authority to take over the airport from GMR. She said that details will be shared as soon as more information is received.

The Maldivian government said on Monday following the order by Singapore High Court, that such an order cannot be issued against an independent state, and that even though GMR had requested the Singapore Court for an order which states that the Maldivian government cannot take over the airport, the Court had not issued any such order.

The seven-day notice period given by the government to GMR after it decided to terminate the agreement with the company, will expire at midnight on Friday. The government has said that from Saturday morning onwards, the airport will be managed by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).