A fuel tanker has run aground on Athamana reef (formerly Galufalhu), where land reclamation is currently underway to develop a modern convention and event centre.
Adhadhu understands that the vessel ran aground at Athamana, located approximately 2.5 kilometres northwest of Male'.
Neither the Maldives Police Service nor the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has issued an official statement regarding the incident so far.
Athamana is being developed to serve as a premier venue for conferences and events, intended to replace Dharubaaruge in Male'. The lagoon was originally granted to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) as compensation after land plots from Hulhumale' were allocated under the "Binveriya" housing scheme.
However, the government recently took over the event centre project from HDC, with the Finance Ministry now overseeing the work. The government is proceeding with the development based on the "Noovilu" concept, which was unveiled as part of HDC’s 2024 "Transforming Tomorrow" master plan.
According to the development plan for the 60-hectare lagoon, 19.8 hectares of land will be reclaimed from the shallow areas surrounding the deep central areas.
Adhadhu has also received information that the government is considering relocating the proposed International Financial Centre—originally planned for Hulhumale' Phase 2 (Urban Isle)—to this site once reclamation is complete. However, this has not yet been confirmed by an official source.
