Decree to relocate Hirimaradhoo residents to Hanimaadhoo shortly after MVR 4M project

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Tuesday, has issued a presidential decree to relocate the residents of Hirimaradhoo to Hanimaadhoo, in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, shortly after a MVR 4 million project was initiated at Hirmaradhoo.

The government decided to relocate Hirimaradhoo residents to Hanimaadhoo despite expressed wishes from Hirimadhoo residents to shift to K. Thulusdhoo, near capital Male’, relayed to Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar by Hirimaradhoo Council during a meeting on September 9, 2024.

President Muizzu, during a meeting with Hirimaradhoo residents on August 24^th as part of a tour of Haa Dhaalu Atoll, announced that the government will provide housing for Hirimaradhoo residents willing to relocate to Hanimaadhoo.

However, on November 7th, Buildtech was awarded MVR 4.1 million to establish a waste and resource management center on the island. The government strongly defended the decision, citing the project was initiated as people still reside on the island. In this regard, the government emphasized that essential services will be developed on the island for as long as people reside there.

A little over a month later, President Muizzu, on Tuesday, has issued a presidential decree to relocate the residents of Hirimaradhoo to Hanimaadhoo.

According to the decree, which amended an earlier presidential decree on the matter, it is aimed at determining the electoral constituency for Hirimaradhoo residents for the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee Elections scheduled for April 4, 2026. Since the resettlement is ongoing during the election period, Section 8(h) of the Elections General Act applies, which states that residents being relocated to another island are considered voters of their new island. Consequently, the decree designates Hanimaadhoo as the electoral constituency for Hirimaradhoo residents, allowing the Elections Commission of the Maldives to prepare the Voters’ Registry accordingly.

The President’s Office said the decree is issued under the authority granted to the President under Section 134(a) of the Decentralisation Act.

Once the resettlement is complete and Hirimaradhoo residents are registered in Hanimaadhoo, Hirimaradhoo will be declared uninhabited. The updated list of inhabited islands has been published in the Government Gazette.

The decree will take effect from the date the government officially announces the completion of the resettlement and registration of Hirimaradhoo residents in Hanimaadhoo.