Vaavu atoll Bodufinolhu and the lagoon surrounding the sandbank have been sold for USD 729,000 (MVR 11.2 million).
The sandbank was among 17 islands and lagoons offered for tourism development in May this year. The Tourism Ministry has not yet revealed which of these places has been sold.
A person with knowledge about Bodufinolhu - which is located 7.7 kilometres from Vaavu atoll Thinadhoo - told Adhadhu that four parties submitted bids for the sandbank. The best proposal came from Kaani Hotels, the country's largest local tourism operator.
Tourists in Bodufinolhu.
Thinadhoo council president Shifaq Hussain expressed displeasure over the sale of Bodufinolhu.
"President Muizzu. That's beyond the pale. You have just sold V. Bodufinolhu where resorts and guesthouses from Male' atoll and V. atoll went to earn an income. And that too for a mere USD 729,000. The state's income would have increased manifold even if you had kept it without selling," Shifaq said in a post on X.
Bodufinolhu is the only sandbank in Vaavu atoll that has not eroded, Shifaq said, appealing against selling it for the benefit of just one party.
