In accordance to Clause 84 of the Constitution, President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Qayyoom will deliver the annual Presidential Statement today. He is to deliver the Statement at 10.00 am today. President Yameen has arrived in the Majlis. He is being welcomed into the Majlis now.
Majlis President has concluded today's session of the Majlis, without stating a date for the next session of the Majlis
Abdullah Shahidh: Will respond to the Presidential Statement. Majlis Laws mandate that the Majlis Majority Leader deliver a Statement in response within 14 days of the President's Statement. We will give time for members to campaign in the upcoming Majlis elections.
President Yameen has concluded his Statement.
President: We have to respect the autonomy of other nations and facilitate easier procedures for students in foreign nations. Legislative bills are being compiled on major 8 areas and will table these bills in Majlis. We need the collaboration of Majlis. We have to hold on to the principles of Islam steadfastly. The Government will focus on maintaining the said principles.
President: We will give priority to stabilize the economy and will give preference to enact measures to combat the challenges facing the economy. Will seek to cement trust for investors. The bill of Economic Zones will be tabled in the Majlis within a month. Without jobs for youth in the key economic sectors, those sectors cannot be improved.
President: We have to create a society free from drugs. We have to develop people in this field and will reach that target in two years. Each citizen will have access to housing, land reclamation needs to be carried out. We have introduced a housing scheme for this. The Government plans to extend the services of Police in the islands. We have established systems where people above 65 years do not have to be in queues to receive services. We have enacted measures to solve the issue where phones in Government offices are not answered.
President: The work on the Multipurpose Hospital will begin this year. Due to Unlimited Aasandha the wellness of the citizens will increase. Medicine is being transported to the islands via STO. Special needs persons have been integrated into the system. The aim of the Government is to create a system of wellness and security.
President: The State needs the cooperation of the Majlis. We have fulfilled the pledges we had made within the first 100 days of our rule.
Maintaining the levels of debt at a steady level is a priority. Inflation levels are in check. Due to the high levels of import expenditure, the current account debt is high
President Yameen: I have come to state the status of the Nation. When I assumed office, the stability of the Nation was lost. We have reversed that. The economic status was also similar. We have enacted measures to reverse that as well. The state debt in 2013 was 27 billion. External debt was at 6 billion, internal debt was at 16 billion
Shahidh noted the life threatening attack on Feydhoo Constituency MP Alhan Fahmy in the recess period of Majlis. He added that other MP's are also under similar attacks and threats. He also remarked that one more MP will not be taking part in the ceremony as he is under the guardianship of the State.
Majlis President Abdullah Shahidh is delivering his statement to the Majlis.
Shahidh: In today's session, the President will deliver his Statement to the Majlis
The ceremony has started with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
This is the last sitting of the Majlis for the present term. In today's session of the Majlis only the Presidential Statement will be delivered.
Ambassadors of Foreign Nations to the Maldives and Majlis Members are in the Majlis for the first session of the year, where President Yameen will deliver his Presidential Statement.
President Yameen has arrived in Majlis, to be greeted by Majlis President Abdullah Shahidh and Secretary General. Many dignitaries and opposition Party members have also greeted the President.