President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to hold the third edition of the Viavathi Rajje conference in Gan, Laamu Atoll.
Viavathi Raajje will be held from September 10-12 and will be open to city council mayors, island council presidents, and members of women’s development committees (WDCs) representing Dhaalu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll, Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, as well as Fuvamulah City and Addu City. Over 250 individuals will be participating in the conference, including cabinet ministers, senior government officials, and technical workers. The conference will see participants discuss four main topics, which are fiscal independence, formulating land-use plans, gender equality, and community development. A festival is also scheduled on September 10 to strengthen relations between the participants.
The Viavathi Raajje conference is a platform for local government and WDC representatives to present to President Solih their ideas and concerns and discuss potential solutions. The president believes strongly in empowering local councils to make developmental decisions that affect them with the input of their respective constituents. The conference is held separately for three regions: the northern, central, and southern atolls.
President Solih inaugurated the second edition of the Viavathi Raajje conference in Ukulhas, Alifu Alifu Atoll. The conference, held from May 28-29, aimed to strengthen further President Solih’s efforts to promote his decentralised governance system and ensure the fiscal and legal autonomy of local councils. As such, during the conference, President Solih announced plans to solve the housing issues in the atolls, to disburse 100% of atoll shop revenue to local councils, and to disburse revenue from Green Tax to local councils for development.
President Solih signed the eighth amendment to the Decentralisation Act into law in 2019, at the first edition of the Viavathi Raajje conference, authorising more fiscal and legal autonomy for local councils.