Parliamentary sittings to resume on February 25

Parliamentary sittings are set to resume as per normal routine on February 25.

Secretariat of the Parliament reports the decision was made following a meeting by Speaker of Parliament, Qasim Ibrahim with the leaders of the parliamentary groups of political parties represented at the Parliament this Tuesday.

The Parliament had been in recess from December 15 to February 7 – when it was inaugurated for the year 2019 by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking during his address to the Parliament, Solih announced the Maldivian administration planned on submitting several key legislations, and asked the legislative body for its cooperation in passing the legislature.

The administration has now submitted some of the legislation announced by Solih during his address, including the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the legislature to list illicit enrichment as a criminal offense in the Maldivian Penal Code.

The Parliament, when it resumes normal routine on February 25, will have plenty on their platter, including legislation pending from the previous session – the key sunset law to empower the Commission for Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances and the Commission on Corruption and Asset Recovery.

The delay in resumption of normal routine has been attributed to ongoing renovation work on the Parliament premises.