President appeals for the peaceful handover of airport

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has made a general appeal not to impose political influence on the ongoing efforts to hand over the airport from GMR to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

A statement released by the President today stated that it is his wish that the handover efforts are peaceful, and that no unrest is created in the process.

“As the deadline for the airport handover draws near, it is my sincere wish that the handover of the airport by GMR to MACL is peaceful. I call upon all groups,to not politically influence the process, and to refrain from any conflict that might lead to unrest, and that that all groups and parties provide their fullest cooperation to allow this process flow as smoothly as possible,” said the statement.

Highlighting that the GMR contract is in fact a business agreement, the President said that he is confident that the annulment of the agreement will not hinder the close relations between Maldives and India. He also said that Indian nationals working in the airport as well as other Indian nationals living in the country will be fully protected.

“I would like to assure the Indian Government and the Indian nationals working in the airport as well as in various other jobs in the country, that they will be fully protected and that they will be able to live safelyin the Maldives,” said the statement.

The President also assured all employees working in the airport that the termination of this agreement will not affect their jobs.

The President thanked the people for their support during the past nine months concerning the steps taken by the government regarding the GMR issue.

GMR has now decided to hand the airport over to MACL. The company made this decision following a Singapore Court of Appeals ruling which stated that it is possible to annul the agreement.