The government received MVR 38 million in fines in the first four months of this year, according to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).

This marks a 40 percent increase compared with the same period last year, when the state collected MVR 27 million in fines.

The authority said MVR 20 million was collected in fines in May alone, making it the highest monthly figure recorded so far this year.

As of April, total revenue stood at MVR 14 million, of which 660,000 was in US dollars.

Overall revenue for the first four months of the year increased by MVR 2 billion compared with the same period last year.

However, total revenue in April was lower than in the same month last year, mainly due to a decline in tourism goods and services tax (TGST) receipts.

Authorities said the tourism sector had been affected over the past two months due to instability linked to the Middle East conflict.