President thanks government's counsels in GMR arbitration case

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has thanked the legal team which represented Maldivian government and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) in the arbitration case against GMR-MAHB Consortium.

President Yameen personally expressed his gratitude during his meeting with the lead consuls – Michael Bloch GC and Kenneth Pereira – in President’s Office this Tuesday morning.

He was accompanied at the meeting by Attorney General, Mohamed Anil, State Minister at the President’s Office, Mohamed Naseer, Deputy Attorney General, Ahmed Usham, Managing Director of MACL, Adil Moosa, and Board member of MACL, Ibrahim Mahfooz.

GMR-MAHB Consortium was contracted to manage Maldivian national airport Velana International Airport (then Ibrahim Nasir International Airport). But the contract was later terminated in November 27, 2012, during former President Dr. Mohamed Hassan Waheed’s administration, after an audit regarding its financial and national safety and security implications.

Arbitration over the termination of contract was overseen by Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).

Attorney General, Anil announced in November, 2016 that Maldivian government paid USD 271 million in settlement to GMR-MAHB Consortium.