President of Maldives Media Council Hidhayathullah has said lack of a sufficient budget is the biggest challenge the institution faces in trying to further advance the media sector in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the National Art Gallery to commemorate International Press Freedom Day, the president of the media council revealed the budget allocated for the institution is only enough for salaries of the 14-member council and other administrative expenses, including utility bills. He said an insufficient budget is a big challenge in efforts to train media personal and advance the mediums to spread of news and information.
Speaking further, Hidhayathullah said there are 180 media entities registered in Maldives, adding the media council does not have the authority or the facilities to monitor the entities. Highlighting the concerns of the media council were shared with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, he said the council was assured the issues would be solved by the administration during its term in office. He expressed the importance of the council being comprised of full-time members in the future.
Furthermore, Hidhayathullah said the improvement of the Maldives' ranking in the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders was due to abolishing laws that have become a major obstacle in practising journalism in the past few years.
On conclusion, Hidhayathullah highlighted the importance of appreciating and enhancing the efforts of journalists, providing ways for journalists to attain information, education opportunities and sponsors, and ensuring safety and security for journalists.