Speaker Nasheed cancels two official trips to reduce state expenses

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed has announced his decision to cancel two official trips he was scheduled to undertake in order to reduce state expenses.

In starting off today’s parliamentary sitting, Nasheed said that Finance Ministry had also sent the circular regarding reducing state expenditure to People’s Majlis, which they will follow.

Underscoring he has been invited to visit the Commonwealth and Uzbekistan on official capacity, he stressed his decision to cancel the trip in adherence to the circular which instructs against undertaking official trips costing over MVR 5,000.

“Therewith, I intend to cancel these two trips. This as a circular instructs not to undertake trips costing over MVR 5,000,” he had said.

Finance Ministry, on Monday, sent a circular signed by Minister Ibrahim Ameer to government offices instructing to reduce expenditure citing the hike in prices of fuel and other goods due to the economic crisis faced across the world at present which has increase the expenditure of the government.

The circular listed an example of things which can be done to reduce spending. They include halting the creation of new posts and giving promotions.