President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday ratified amendments made to the decentralization law to accord city status to Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo.
The bill revised Article 51 (b), (c), (d), (e), and (g) of the Decentralization Act.
According to the bill, if less than a year is left in the term of office of the council that represents an island or group of islands when city status is proposed, city status shall be conferred after the election of the newly constituted council.
However, if there is more than one year left for the council's term to end, the island or group of islands shall be designated as a city.
If a city is established encompassing all the islands within an administrative area, the atoll council for that administrative area would be dissolved, the amendment stated. The newly-formed city council shall continue the atoll council's services and assume responsibility for the maintenance of the atoll council's facilities.
The 11th amendment to the decentralization law came into force upon ratification by the President.
Thinadhoo was granted city status on August 31, 2023. Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the announcement at a rally held in Thinadhoo during his visit to the island for his re-election campaign.
After Thinadhoo was designated as a city by a decree issued by President Solih, the island council wrote a letter to Parliament seeking to resolve administrative challenges in vesting new powers with the council. The decentralisation law was amended due to the request.
Thinadhoo was the fifth city designated in the Maldives. In addition to Thinadhoo, city status was accorded to the capital Male' area, Addu and Fuvahmulah in the southernmost atolls, and Haa Dhaal Kulhudhuffushi in the north of the Maldives.
