President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, addressing residents during his visit to Landhoo in the northern Noonu Atoll, reaffirmed his administration's commitment to commence a substantial portion of the development pledges made to the island during his presidential campaign within the current year. He underscored that groundwork on many of these commitments had already begun and expressed confidence that practical implementation would follow promptly.
Landhoo marked the fifth island visited on the president's extensive tour of Noonu Atoll, which spans thirteen inhabited islands from 21 to 24 July. In keeping with the tour's broader agenda, the Landhoo visit underscored the administration's intent to respond directly to local concerns and fulfil key electoral promises.
President engages community and outlines strategic priorities
The day's programme featured discussions with the island council, institutional heads, and members of the women's development committee. In addition to these consultations, President Muizzu engaged personally with island residents. The groundbreaking ceremony for a new fitness and recreation centre emerged as a principal highlight of the president's visit to Landhoo.
During his public address, President Muizzu outlined the trajectory of several promised initiatives, assuring residents that a considerable portion of commitments would see visible progress within the year. Work had already commenced in key areas, he said. Among the pledges gaining traction was the upgrade of Landhoo's healthcare centre to a 24-hour facility, with staffing and resource allocation actively underway. Construction of the new fitness and recreation centre had also begun, with the president noting that further sports infrastructure would be developed to meet evolving community requirements.
"I pledged to protect the eroding coastal areas and to develop a designated swimming zone," the president stated. "Even if specific entities have not yet been assigned these projects, work is progressing in phases, with six batches of work already having been awarded."
His remarks continued, "These specific projects will then be incorporated into the seventh batch, which is scheduled to commence. This means that the agreements are expected to be signed in September, with practical work slated to begin in November. Ultimately, this ensures the work will commence this year."
President Muizzu also announced a series of new sports infrastructure projects scheduled to commence in 2026, including the construction of handball courts. Landhoo was specifically identified among the beneficiary islands. The initiative, he said, forms part of the administration's broader effort to honour presidential commitments to sports development, with assurances that all projects will adhere to established standards.
Handball, which the president described as a rapidly growing and increasingly popular sport in the country, has been earmarked in the 2026 national budget under a "New Policy Initiative" to facilitate the construction of courts on islands where facilities are currently lacking. In addition to handball, the president affirmed plans for further infrastructure enhancements, including new football fields, lighting installations, and renovations to existing venues, such as perimeter fencing.
Plans for expanding education and bolstering the local economy
The president expanded his remarks to include education and the local economy. Construction on the school building was progressing, and plans were being developed to increase capacity and enhance staff amenities, steps he said would further strengthen the educational environment on the island.
With respect to economic infrastructure, the president confirmed that work on an ice plant had already commenced and that the requisite foreign funding approvals were in place to enable its completion before year-end. He added that equipment necessary for the installation of a water supply network had already arrived, putting the project in a position to move ahead without undue delays.
In closing, President Muizzu expressed his intention to return to Landhoo in due course and witness the completion of the development works firsthand, reaffirming the government's pledge to deliver sustained progress and meaningful change in the lives of island residents.
Council members raise development concerns and urgent needs
A meeting held at the Landhoo Council Office provided a platform for community representatives to raise priority concerns. Council members, joined by the women's development committee and officials from various institutions, highlighted several pressing challenges. Chief among them were construction delays affecting the school project and the immediate need for additional classrooms to address space constraints. The conversation also touched upon the stalled ice plant initiative and the absence of adequate sports facilities for younger residents.
While acknowledging recent gains, most notably, the transition of the health centre to a 24-hour service and the academic calendar revision, officials pressed for solutions to long-standing issues, including coastal erosion mitigation, a boat launching zone, and the establishment of a permanent police building. In response, President Muizzu pledged a comprehensive review of the items raised and invited accompanying ministers and state enterprise heads to present real-time updates on project statuses during the session.
Groundbreaking of recreation centre marks milestone in sports development
The presidential visit culminated in the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for the new fitness and recreation centre. Overseen by Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu, the event was attended by President Muizzu and senior officials. The centre, commissioned to Fenaka Corporation and expected to be completed within the year, marks a milestone in the island's social development agenda.
The facility will serve as a hub for sports and health activities, offering residents expanded opportunities to participate in structured physical programmes. Once operational, it is expected to host a range of amenities designed to promote wellness, community engagement, and athletic growth. The initiative forms part of the government's nationwide plan to establish fitness centres across the country by the end of next year.
During a prior stop in Ken'dhikulhudhoo as part of the Noonu Atoll tour, President Muizzu reaffirmed this commitment to sports development, referencing upcoming infrastructure projects such as futsal court renovations and the rollout of comprehensive facilities for athletes.
The community welcomes the president's arrival in Landhoo
The president's arrival in Landhoo was met with a warm reception, as residents lined the harbour to greet the delegation. As the fifth destination in his Noonu Atoll tour, Landhoo exemplified the administration's outreach efforts across the country's inhabited islands. The tour includes stops at Maafaru, Hen'badhoo, Holhudhoo, Lhohi, Kudafari, Ken'dhikulhudhoo, Velidhoo, Manadhoo, Magoodhoo, Maalhendhoo, Miladhoo, and Fodhdhoo.