Ministry of Islamic Affairs declared on Tuesday that the development of King Salman mosque being built in capital Male', funded by the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, was temporarily halted.
The ministry had formerly announced in March that the President's Office was attempting to unveil the mosque for the month of Ramadan, which, according to the calendar, begins on Friday of next week.
However, Islamic Ministry's Spokesperson Ismail Afrah confirmed that work on the mosque was on hold due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially scheduled for its public opening in July 2019, the mosque was delayed by the contractor due to difficulties in attaining required funds. The Turkish company Alke-Turmaks, which developed the Tree Top Hospital in reclaimed suburb Hulhumale', is constructing the mosque with a budget of USD 24 million (MVR 370 million).
Set to become the largest mosque in the country, the mosque will be capable of housing 6,000 worshipers. King Salman Mosque will consist of a multi-purpose hall, a library, Centre for the Holy Quran, classrooms and meeting rooms. The mosque is completely funded by the Saudi Kingdom.
Work on the King Salman Mosque commenced in former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration.
As a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19, the state has stopped congregational prayers and weekly Friday prayers in mosques of capital Male', reclaimed suburb Hulhumalé, Vilimalé and some nearby resorts.
Maldives now has 21 confirmed and five active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 16 recoveries.
The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over two million people and claimed over 126,753 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 484,573 people have recovered.
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