Opposition threatens to seize Thilafushi land once in power

The opposition PPM/PNC coalition on Thursday urged the government to withdraw its decision to lease land from Thilafushi to foreigners for industrial purposes, warning that such plots will be confiscated once they are in power. 

Fifty plots will be allotted from the newly reclaimed area of Thilafushi for industrial purposes. While 90% of the land is reserved for Maldivians, the land is owned by Maldivians who take the land. The land is given to foreigners on lease for 99 years. The Opposition has expressed dissatisfaction in Parliament over the policy of leasing out land to foreigners.

In a statement, the opposition coalition said it would review the policy of allotting land to foreigners from Thilafushi in their regime next and assured the people that if there was an agreement to allot land, it would be terminated.

Noting that giving long-term land to foreigners from Thilafushi at a price lower than the market price is an opportunity for them to "steal land", the statement said that giving land to foreigners from the area where an international port is to be set up will have an adverse impact on the country's economy as well.

Despite raising ther voice against such illegal transactions made by the government, the coalition said they would always welcome the legitimate investments made by foreigners in the country. They noted how during President Yameen's tenure, a lot of foreign investment was brought to the Maldives and it has benefited the country's economy to a great extent.

The statement said that in a land-scarce country like the Maldives, illegally granting land to foreigners is an injustice to local businesses as well and called on the government to stop its illegal activities. It reiterated that if viewed in the long run, it will have an adverse impact on the country's economy.

As per the information released by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the first phase of allotment of land from Thilafushi for industrial purposes is as follows:

The government aims to reclaim a portion of Thilafushi and convert it into an industrial hub, according to the government, to solve the problem of land scarcity and land rent rise by relocating industrial activities in the Male area to Thilafushi.