All land-for-reclamation deals with foreign parties revoked: President

All agreements made by the former administration with foreign parties which offered land in exchange for reclamation services have been revoked and the plots have been taken back, said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

"Now there will be no Maldivian land given to foreigners in exchange for reclamation. The land has been taken back. Many days have passed in this," President Muizzu said in a press conference at the President's Office.

The President said the Rasmalé reclamation project was originally awarded on a land-for-reclamation basis, but that the agreement has since been cancelled as well.

He said he does not believe in the policy of allocating land from Maldives in exchange for the companies spending on reclamation projects, and added that his administration would not adopt such an approach.

According to the President, the reclamation of Giraavaru Falhu is also delayed because of this. He also said that the agreement for reclaiming Hulhumalé Phase 3 has also been cancelled because the former administration had given out land in exchange for the project.

President Muizzu said his administration is working to find multiple contractors to complete the Rasmalé reclamation project this year, and that preparations are underway to start the Uthuru Thilafalhu reclamation.

The government has decided to build a central prison on Uthuru Thilafalhu when the land is reclaimed.