As the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness instructed national sports associations yesterday to halt sports activities for 20 minutes upon the call to prayer at all sports venues, they have stated that they are working on an enforceable regulation to do so as well.

In a letter sent to sports associations, the ministry stated that they are working on an enforceable regulation where all sports activities are to be suspended for 20 minutes at all sports venues upon the call to prayer.

The letter reads that once the regulation is approved and shared with all associations, all sports tournaments that are organized and held will be exempt.

In a circular sent to sports associations yesterday, the Sports Ministry stated that it has been established as a government policy to suspend all sports activities for 20 minutes at all sports venues upon the call to prayer, and to continue enforcing this measure.

While sharing details regarding the matter, an official from the ministry said that as international tournaments are held in Maldives, it will be taken into account as well.

"We are making the regulation while taking into consideration that it will need to fit the guidelines concerning international tournaments. Arrangements for a system where prayers can be conducted at tournament locations might be made as well," said the official.

It was on the first of this month that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that changes were being brought to suspend sports during prayer times at sports grounds, and that the government is working to arrange prayer facilities at those locations.

Meeting with journalists during the press conference series held consecutively every Monday, the President stated that continuing to play even when the prayer time is expiring while spending time at sports grounds has become a long-standing habit of Maldivians.

Therefore, the President said that since the Maldives is a hundred percent Muslim country, the implementation of practical matters within the community must be based upon that reality.

The President stated that it has been decided to build spaces where prayers can be performed at sports complexes and sports-related buildings constructed by the government, and that this is now in the implementation phase.

The President said that even now, there are no places to perform prayers at Maafannu Stadium and the Sports Ekuveni, where many people go to play sports every day.