Daily budget of MVR 76,564 proposed for Muleeaage expenses

The government proposed an annual budget for 2023 allotted MVR 28,651,359 as the budget for Muleeaage, the Official Residence of the President.

According to the budget presented to the parliament by the Ministry of Finance, the presidential residence requires MVR 705,200 in capital expenses and MVR 27,946,159 in operational costs. Therefore, the recurrent expenses when divided over the year, Muleeaage costs the state MVR 74,564 daily, the highest proposed budget in the last 3 years.

Additionally, the government has proposed a budget of MVR 6.5 million for Hilaaleege, the Official Residence of the Vice President.

While the government allotted hefty budgets for the presidential residence, the Finance Ministry estimated a budget deficit of MVR 8 billion for next year. Moreover, the Finance Minister Ameer Ibrahim stated that should the government fail to generate further tax income through increased tax rates, the budget deficit may even surpass MVR 14 billion.

The government used the cost of development projects as an excuse to push the tax bill at the parliament, however, looking at the budget for 2023, it paints a picture of extravagant on recurrent spending.