President Mohamed Nasheed has congratulated the Maldives national cricket team on winning Asian Cricket Council’s Trophy Challenge 2010.

Speaking at a press conference held on Saturday, the President noted victory at the ACC Trophy Challenge was the biggest sports achievement by the national cricket team. He added it would help raise the Maldives position in the world cricket rankings.

The Maldives won by one wicket by playing against Saudi Arabia in the finals. Eight teams competed in the ACC this year. Maldives was in Group B, which also included Saudi Arabia, Brunei and China.

At the press conference, the President responded to questions, which were mainly on the issue of ratification of the amended Public Finance bill and the Supreme Court ruling on the consent by the People’s Majlis for Cabinet appointees.

On the ratification of the amended Public Finance bill, the President stressed the government would “fully comply with Supreme Court verdict” for early ratification.

While noting earlier legal advice on the substantial issues with the bill that could negatively affect government’s social protection programme, the President stressed he would proceed to ratify the bill at the earliest.

The President added speeding up the bill on social protection system currently at the People’s Majlis, would help address government’s concerns with the amendments to the Public Finance Act.
To a question on the issue on People’s Majlis’ consent for Cabinet appointees, the President reiterated government’s full compliance with the ruling by the Supreme Court affirming the necessity of People’s Majlis’ consent for Cabinet ministers to remain in their positions.

Stressing government’s commitment to rule of law, the President hailed the Supreme Court’s job as a great achievement for the democratisation process.

“It makes interpretation of the Constitution much more clear and therefore it should assist governance. I don’t really see it as an obstruction to governance. I see it as giving more clarity to how we may go about it,” said the President.

Speaking on the issue in his weekly radio address on Friday, President said the Supreme Court’s ruling was evidence of a judiciary independent from the government.

Following Supreme Court ruling, all seven appointees who were rejected by the People’s Majlis have now resigned from their positions.