State Minister at the Fisheries Ministry Mohamed Muththalib has called on authorities to withhold the license issued to Universal which operated eight tourist resorts in the Maldives.

Mohamed Muththalib is the brother of Construction Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib.

In a Facebook post, Mohamed Muththalib said Universal could not "resist like this" after the company decided not to comply with the change in foreign exchange rules brought by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) to force tourist facilities to exchange dollars in banks in the Maldives.

"Seize Universal's resort permit. How can they resist like this?" he wrote.

Universal operates eight resorts in the Maldives. They are Huvafen Fushi Maldives, Kandolhu Maldives, Dhigali Maldives, Milaidhoo Maldives, Kurumba Maldives, Velassaru Maldives, Kuramathi Maldives and Baros Maldives.

A letter signed by Universal Enterprises Chairman Mohamed Umar Manik (MU Manik) was sent to MMA Governor Ahmed Munawar. It stated that the central bank's decision to force resorts to exchange USD 500 for each tourist regardless of the room rates was unreasonable.

Adhadhu has obtained a copy of the letter. He pointed out that the MMA rules do not meet the realities of the industry and the economic situation in the Maldives and that they were made without consultation.

A senior tourism industry official told Adhadhu on Wednesday night that more than 50 resort operators have sent letters to the MMA saying they will not comply with the new rules.

Among them was a copy of a letter signed by Champa Mohamed Moosa (Uhchu) who owns many resorts in Maldives. Apart from the MMA, the letter has also been addressed to the President's Office, Parliament, Tourism Minister and Maldives Association for Tourism Industry (MATI).