President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to designate Kulhudhuffushi as a city effective from 1st January 2020. He made the declaration under the powers vested onto him under article 37 of the Decentralization Act of Maldives (Law number 7/2010).
The decision was made after Kulhudhuffushi island met all the criteria requirements mentioned in Chapter two of the Decentralization Act of Maldives. The declaration to designate Kulhudhuffushi island as a city has now been published on the government gazette.
Some of the criteria requirements met by Kulhudhuffushi island in qualifying as a city include exceeding a populace of 10,000 people, having established a higher education facility offering education up to first degree level, having established banking services and a commercial harbour in operation, as per the Decentralization Act of the Maldives.
The notable efforts by the administration towards the improvement health services provided in Kulhudhuffushi island will see Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital upgraded to a tertiary level hospital.
The most prominent change brought along with the designation of Kulhudhuffushi as a city will be to pave way for the city council to undertake Public Sector Investment Programmes (PSIP) projects under MVR15 million.
With the designation of Kulhudhuffushi as a city, the number Maldivian cities increases to four.