The government could not explain the efforts made to recover outstanding MVR 13 billion owed by resorts and businesses in land rent and taxes.

President's Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed did not respond to numerous phone calls and messages seeking comment.

Last year, President Mohamed Muizzu said the government would take legal action to recover money owed by resorts and businesses.

Outstanding amount

• Land rent: USD 513 million
• TGST: USD 102 million
• GST: MVR 3.3 billion
• Corporate income tax: MVR 1 billion

“This money alone can solve our debt problem,” Muizzu said, referring to the government's deteriorating financial situation.

Muizzu said he believed the government would get half of the money without going to court and that letters had been sent to the companies that owe the money.

"We will hopefully get this money to ensure the economic sovereignty of the country and save it from debt. We want to do what we have to do within the system," Muizzu said at the Independence Day ceremony in 2025.

Muizzu earlier claimed that the Finance Ministry will publicise the details of the pending bills to the public and businesses, but this has not yet been done.

He also ciamed that his administration would recover the money lost during the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal. But the government has not announced the recovery of any missing funds.