Riyaz Mansoor, a former deputy economic minister, said on Raajje TV that the government has sold large parts of the Rasmalé project to foreign parties without telling the public the details, and that this does not benefit Maldivians.
He also made wider claims about the economy. He said a shortage of dollars in the market has been caused by government policy, that foreign funds expected in the budget have not arrived, and that about USD 1 billion estimated for 2025 and 2026 was not received. He said the government is borrowing rufiyaa from domestic banks to cover spending and that it is unclear where dollar income is going.
The report carries no response from the government, and these are Riyaz's assertions rather than verified figures. The government has said Rasmalé is intended for Maldivian housing.
