Seaplane Base in Gan International Airport. PHOTO/TMA
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has delayed his visit to the southernmost atoll of the Maldives, Addu.
This formal visit was previously scheduled for this Tuesday to inaugurate the new runway and seaplane base of Gan International Airport.
According to Addu International Airport Company (AIA)’s deputy general manager Ibthishama Saeed, the event is delayed due to incomplete preparations.
“Some works of Customs and Immigration are still pending; we expect them to be completed by next month,” said Ibthishama.
Several media outlets have published news of the president’s impending visit which the President’s Office have not denied. Moreover, the citizens of Addu City have also decorated the roads with national flags to welcome President Yameen.
However, the President’s Office’s spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali told Mihaaru that the Office has never revealed any information regarding the Addu City visit.
“If the president schedules any official visit, the information will be revealed within the formal structure,” said Muaz.
President Yameen has increased the number of visits to atoll islands ever since control of the divided ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) was handed from its leader and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to President Yameen by the judicial courts. He attended a rally of his faction of PPM held in the island of Dhuvaafaru in Raa atoll on Friday night.