Maldives has not received the annual donation of dates from the Saudi Arabian government so far this year, the archipelago's Islamic ministry said Sunday.
Ahead of every Ramadan, the Saudi government donates 50 tons of dates to the Maldives which is then distributed to the people.
A ministry official told AVAS that there was a delay in receiving the donation from the Saudi government.
In 2016, the date donation stirred a huge scandal after the first lady's Sadaqat Foundation distributed 500 boxes of dates from the Saudi donation.
The Saudi government had defended the first lady by saying it was “saddened” to see the controversy over the dates, and said it was “proud” to see the dates being distributed by Fathimath Ibrahim’s NGO, the Sadagat Foundation.
