President to deliver address today

President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Qayyoom is scheduled to deliver his annual Presidential Address to the Parliament today.

The Presidential Address will focus on the Government policies, planned projects and initiatives for the year and the previous year’s achievements. The Address is delivered annually at the start of the sessions at the Parliament.

This is the third Presidential Address given by President Yameen. Senior Governmental figures and foreign diplomats are to attend the Address.
Unlike previous years, the Address will be given in Dharubaaruge; parliament had not specified a reason for the venue change.

Following his resignation in 2012, MPs and supporters from former President Mohamed Nasheed’s Party, MDP had attempted to stop the President from delivering his Address. They had resorted to protesting both within the Parliament chambers and outside the Parliament grounds.
Parliament said that even though the location had been changed, the rights and privileges granted to MPs will remain as the same.