MVR 49 Million Spent on State Travel

State travel expenditure has reached MVR 49.9 million.

Figures released by the Ministry of Finance show that MVR 49.9 million was spent on travel from January 1 to June 10. MVR 49.1 million was spent within the same duration the previous year.

Government officials in the past year were hardly able to travel due to COVID-19. However, state trips have resumed, with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih having visited three countries earlier this year. Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid is currently visiting the USA, the trip amounting to over MVR 2 million.

Last year, the government used only MVR 141.3 million out of the allocated MVR 237.8 million due to COVID-19. This year, MVR 50 million was allocated for out-of-state travel.

During President Solih's first year of presidency, MVR 16.4 million was spent on his expeditions alone. He had claimed that he enjoyed traveling outside of the country.