Court orders halt to lease of islands near Komandoo

Civil Court has issued an injunction to halt the lease of Medhurah, Dhigurah and Mairah (Dhiguvelidhoo) – three uninhabited islands near Sh. Komandoo that were opened for tourism development in January.

The injunction was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by Premier Equities Pvt. Ltd.

Premier Equities filed the lawsuit claiming Tourism Ministry breached a contract signed with the company back in 2008 on development of a resort in L. Bodufinolhu and L. Gasgandu Finolhu, and a training resort in two plots of land in L. Gan.

Premier Equities said they engaged in discussions with the Tourism Ministry regarding allowing them the lease of Medhurah, Dhigurah and Mairah as settlement.

Tourism Ministry had amended its bid document for the development of tourist resorts in Maldives to include the three islands on January 16.

The Civil Court has therefore issued an injunction to suspend the implementation of the portion of Tourism Ministry’s announcement which pertained to the three islands.

Tourism Ministry has issued the invitation for tender for the three islands during the campaign for the Komandoo by-election.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had indicated that the three islands would be leased for tourism development last year.

And during the campaign, PPM leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom pledged to have an airport developed in the three islands in the next PPM administration.