Majlis backs supplementary budget; zero changes

People’s Majlis has passed the MVR 493 million supplementary budget requested by the government with zero amendments to the original figure.

The supplementary budget was passed with the vote of 39 out of the 40 parliamentarians present during the Majlis meeting this Thursday. The opposition parliamentarians had boycotted both the debate and voting for the supplementary budget.

The Supplementary Budget Committee had passed the budget with the vote of 13 members, including two opposition parliamentarians.

Minister of Finance, Ahmed Munawwar had said the main reason for the request for the supplementary budget was to prevent any interruption to Aasandha and National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) services. He said the government also needed funds to hold Majlis by-elections this year.

MVR 330 million from the supplementary budget will go to heath sector, MVR 26 million to hold the Majlis by-election, MVR 40 million to run the Kaadedhdhoo Airport, MVR 70 million for school digitalization projects and MVR 27 million for additional expenses.

The projected State budget for 2017, passed by the Majlis last year, had been the biggest budget in Maldivian history at MVR 26.7 billion. The supplementary budget will push State expenses this year to MVR 27.1 billion.