Chief Government Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) stated yesterday that the government will release the budget for HDh. Hanimaadhoo Council along with the budget for Hirimaradhoo, and that the funds they have not received as of yet will be included as well.

Due to the small population on the island, the government announced in February 2025 that the residents of Hirimaradhoo were to relocate to Hanimaadhoo. Due to this, councilors for Hirimaradhoo were not elected during the Local Council Election in April 2026.

Even though the decision was made to relocate the residents of Hirimaradhoo to another island, the government has said that they will establish basic services in Hirimaradhoo as long as people live there.

While the Hirimaradhoo Council has been dissolved and all matters relating to the island have been handed over to the Hanimaadhoo Council, the council went to Hirimaradhoo due to people in the island being unaware of proceedings.

Hanimaadhoo Council President Ali Ahmed told Mihaaru News that the government still has not given the island their budget for one month after the new council took their oaths.

"The island council manages the preschool. They sell gas. They conduct Quran classes. These are all things that require funding. We are waiting until the budget and everything else has been settled," said the council president.

Even though the Hanimaadhoo Council are now in charge, the lack of a budget has resulted in them utilizing their own budget for the expenses of Hirimaradhoo residents, said the council president.

The council president went on to say that administrative staff on the Hirimaradhoo Council were given their salaries from the Hanimaadhoo Council's budget, and the island council had to provide work compensation for outsourced work as well.

"Waste disposal, waste cleaning, waste management, these are things that require compensation. When we checked, each line of work has around 18 staff. The salaries had to be taken from the Hanimaadhoo Council budget as we had no other choice," said the council president.

Concerns rose as there was no possible way for the funds to be given to Hirimaradhoo residents, with the Hanimaadhoo Council having gone to the island to clear up the situation when complaints were filed to the council, as was said by the council president.

The Hanimaadhoo Council has publicized expenditure details from Hanimaadhoo's budget regarding the Hirimaradhoo island office expenses in May. A total of MVR 267,789.43 has been spent from Hanimaadhoo's budget.

"The Local Government Authority (LGA) has decided on a budget for island council administrative staff and electricity bill payments. There are still other matters to be looked into on the island. It will take around four to five years for people to move to this island," said Ali Ahmed.

After their visit to Hirimaradhoo, the Hanimaadhoo Council decided to move forward with the requests of Hirimaradhoo residents. Ali Ahmed stated that they will hold discussions with the relevant administrations in finding the opportunity for those who want to relocate to an island other than Hanimaadhoo.

When asked about the delay in the budget, Spokesperson Shareef said that he agrees there have been delays in handing over the budget. However, he said that when the budget for Hanimaadhoo Council is handed over next month, Hirimaradhoo's budget will be increased and while referring to the Finance Ministry, will include the budget funds that were not handed over previously.

"The budget issue has come about as it was done in a sudden manner and due to the required changes to the framework, along with the changes to the LGA. This issue will not occur again. The Hanimaadhoo Council office will receive their budget from next month onward," said Hussain.

Hirimaradhoo has the smallest population out of the 13 islands in Haa Dhaalu Atoll. According to the latest census, the island has a population of 293 people, which are 157 men and 136 women.

As per the statistics, the Hirimaradhoo population has been falling year after year. The 2014 census showed that the island had a population of 314 people.

While the decision was made to relocate Hirimaradhoo residents to another island, residents of M. Raiymandhoo have also requested the government they be relocated to another island.