Govt to plant 300 trees following Villimale banyan tree removal

President Mohamed Muizzu said on Tuesday that the Environment Ministry has been instructed to plant 300 trees in Villimale after two banyan trees are removed.

The President made the remarks while responding to concerns raised after a meeting with Villimale residents on Sunday. During that meeting, some residents requested the removal of two large banyan trees. The President announced that night that he had decided to proceed with the removal after a show of hands indicated support.

The decision has drawn criticism from some environmentalists and members of the public, including social media posts labelling the President as an “enemy of the environment”.

Speaking at a meeting with residents of Machchangolhi at Ameeniyya School on Tuesday, President Muizzu defended the decision.

“Cutting down trees is not our policy. If a tree affects human life for an essential purpose, removing it according to the rules and regulations is not against planting trees,” he said.

The President said his administration recognises the importance of environmental protection and referred to the government’s target of planting five million trees within five years. He said the removal of two banyan trees in Villimale would be offset by planting 300 new trees.

“If one tree is removed, at least three must be planted. For the two trees in Villimale, I have instructed the Environment Minister to plant at least 300 trees in the area,” he said.

The Environment Ministry is preparing to begin the programme to plant the new trees, he added.

The President also noted:

The President said investment in renewable energy remains part of the government’s sustainable development policy. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that 33% of the country’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2028, which he said would reduce state expenditure on imported fuel and allow savings to be directed to other public needs.