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Maldives spent MVR4 mln for Saudi led mega project in Faafu Atoll

Maldives government had spent MVR4 million for the proposed Saudi led mega project in the archipelago, the state budget for next year has revealed.

According to the state budget proposed for next year, the government had spent MVR4.5 million to kick-start a project named 'Sun Rise' in Faafu Atoll.

However, no additional funds had been allocated for the project this year or next year.

When questioned over the figure, finance ministry said details of the sum spent on the project would be available at the economic ministry.

However, AVAS understand that 'Sun Rise' was the multi million 'mega' project announced by the government last year.

Outgoing Maldives president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in January last year had revealed that the Saudi government was looking to implement a 'mega' project in Faafu Atoll which would be initiated soon.

But the intense opposition criticism had killed the proposed project, he said six months later.

Opposition had alleged that the government was planning to sanction the sale of an entire Atoll to the Saudi royal family for the staggering USD10 billion worth project.

President Yameen however, had revived hopes of implementing the project a month before he lost the presidential election to opposition alliance candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.