Police have asked for vehicles parked around the Tsunami monument site to be removed to allow for renovations under the Male' Scaping Project.
The Tsunami monument, which was earlier in Henveiru, was relocated to 'Thin Ruh Park' in Maafannu during the development of the Sinamale' Bridge. The site has fallen into severe disrepair since.
Police publicized a map showing the area from which vehicles have to be removed. The area covers Boduthakurufaanu Magu from Ameenee Magu to the monument site.
Vehicles are to be cleared from the area before 6pm today.
The Tsunami monument commemorates lives lost and unaccounted for in the December 26, 2024 tsunami.
Once brightly lit, the site has remained in darkness for years due to broken lights. Paving bricks have loosened and the sand under them been swept into the sea.
The site was established when President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was serving as Housing Minister during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration. President Muizzu has also earlier criticized the Male' City Council for failing to properly maintain at such sites, adding that the government will take on the work.
Questioned about the state of disrepair at the site a year ago, Male' City Council responded that they did not have funds in their budget to renovate the place. They said then that the efforts can be taken on only through cooperation and assistance from the government, asserting that the work would begin immediately should the support be extended.
An earlier report regarding the Tsunami monument site prepared by the council stated that due to erosion, the area has to be filled with sand and levelled three to four times a year. They recommended laying new sheet pile as a permanent solution to the issue.
They further stressed the importance of raising the western side sheet pile by two feet as the area sees heavy damage from swell waves during the Southwest monsoon.
