'Aasandha spent MVR 9 mill on Rasfannu running track'

Aasandha Company Limited has revealed that MVR 9 million was spent by the company to develop Rasfannu running track.

Speaking at the Parliament's Committee on State Owned Enterprises (SOE), Aasandha Company's Assistant Managing Director Ibrahim Rasheed said the company's investigations found that it undertook several unlawful actions that did not align with their Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy.

While Aasandha spent MVR 9.5 million to build a running track at Rasfannu under it's CSR policy, the company was instructed in writing by National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) to spend the funds on constructing the running track, he added.

Ibrahim Rasheed said neither Rasfannu nor any property related to Rasfannu were under Aasandha administration, therefore there was no reason for the company to spend such a huge amount of money on Rasfannu.

Biledhoo MP Ahmed Haleem inquired regarding other CSR projects by Aasandha. Ibrahim Rasheed said Aasandha spent MVR 170,000 on the circumcision camp 'Hithaane Camp' conducted by former First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim.

While MVR 100,000 was spent on the 2016 Hithaanee Camp, and MVR 70,000 was spent on the 2017 camp, MVR 1000 is covered by Aasandha per child for the circumcision procedure. Therefore, the additional expenditure spent on the Hithaanee Camp was against regulations, said Rasheed.

Rasheed added that information on all unlawful activities that took place within Aasandha company has been shared with relevant authorities.

Aasandha Company is a state-owned company established to administer and manage the government health insurance scheme. The objectives of the company include operating its business in developing the health sector of Maldives.