The Parliament spent MVR 23 million for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's swearing-in ceremony on November 17, official records have shown.
The Parliament has disclosed details of the expenditure following a Right to Information (RTI) request from an individual.
Records show a total of MVR 23,228,735.58 was the cost of the ceremony.
These include;
- MVR 22,938,980.75 for preparing the Republic Square
- MVR 33,210 for national flags and presidential flags
- MVR 152,195.23 for invitation cards, administrative programs, color cards and security cards
- MVR 24,235 for preparing the oaths
- MVR 80,114.40 for the construction of the stage sections at the Parliament as Plan B in case of bad weather
The military Welfare Company (SIWEC) was entrusted with the arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony.
The ceremony was held at the Republic Square,
Some 3,500 people, including 190 senior officials from 46 countries, attended the ceremony. They include senior officials of the previous and new governments, state dignitaries and members of Parliament.
After the swearing-in ceremony of the President and Vice-President and the ministers, a banquet was held at Kurumba Maldives Resort. The banquet was attended by senior officials of the new government and foreign dignitaries.
However, the Parliament did not disclose the cost of the banquet as it was not arranged by the Parliament.
The swearing-in ceremony of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the National Stadium cost MVR 10 million.
