EC says Maafannu fire will not affect upcoming elections

The Elections Commission (EC) has said that the fire at a warehouse in Maafannu will not affect preparations for next month’s local council elections and referendum.

The elections, scheduled for the 4th of next month, will include a vote on whether to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day.

The fire broke out on Wednesday night at the Prime Godown located at M. Kairuge on Fulooniya Magu. The warehouse, which stored fertilisers and chemicals, was destroyed. The building is located next to an EC polling station.

EC Chairperson Mohamed Zahid, who attended the scene, said the fire occurred in a warehouse adjacent to the commission’s administrative office.

He said documents and equipment required for the election have been moved from the premises to the Social Centre.

“All the documents and equipment related to the election have now been taken out. There will be no disruption to the election process. We will conduct the election on the 4th of next month as planned,” Zahid said.

Zahid said EC operations will continue at the Social Centre until the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) grants permission to re-enter the polling station.

He said the signing of the voter list is currently under way and will continue at the Social Centre according to schedule from Thursday.

“Due to this fire, we will continue our efforts to hold the elections without any hindrance. We have all the documents, all the databases and all the equipment,” Zahid said.