Yameen alleges plans to sell Hanimaadhoo airport to India’s Adani Group
He said that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with Adani Group’s chairman during his recent state visit to Singapore.
Former President Abdulla Yameen has accused the government of planning to sell the Hanimaadhoo International Airport to India’s Adani Group.
The allegation was made during a People’s National Front (PNF) rally on Thursday evening, where Yameen responded to a speech by former Minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamal, who raised concerns over reports that the CIP/VIP terminal at Velana International Airport may be handed over to a Dubai-based company on a long-term basis.
Yameen claimed that the nearly completed Hanimaadhoo Airport is being handed over to Adani Group, citing Indian assistance in the airport’s development. He said that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with Adani Group’s chairman during his recent state visit to Singapore.
“As far as I know, this time [President Muizzu] met the chairman of the Adani Group among those he met in Singapore,” Yameen said. “According to the news, the Hanimaadhoo airport is being sold to the Adani Group.”
The government has not publicly responded to the claim.
Yameen also referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the Maldives on 26 July to mark the country’s Independence Day. He said Modi is expected to offer a USD 500 million credit line to the Maldives, which he described as part of what he called a growing debt burden from India.
Yameen said that while the government may present the credit line as support for new development projects, such projects would largely be implemented by Indian contractors with Indian-supplied materials and equipment.
“The state will have to pay interest at the same high price,” he said. “We are talking about USD 500 million. Just throwing sweets on sore feet.”
The development of Hanimaadhoo Airport began during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, financed through a USD 136 million credit line from India’s Exim Bank. The project includes the construction of a 2.46-kilometre runway and a terminal capable of serving 1.3 million passengers annually, including aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
Earlier this week, the government announced that 88 percent of the project has been completed and is expected to be finished by September.
