The government has introduced new guidelines on carrying out developmental projects. The new guidelines were published in a directive issued by the President’s Office today.

Under the new guidelines, National Planning Council is mandated with evaluating, prioritising, and approving development projects.

The Council will be chaired by the President and the Department of National Planning will be the secretariat.

The directive identifies all projects undertaken under government budget, foreign loans, foreign grant aids, technical assistance, public private partnerships, and companies with government shares, as development projects.

The directive also includes guidelines on projects that require the coordination of different offices.

According to the directive project concepts or proposals from government offices, atoll councils, island councils, city councils, NGOs, community based organizations, and other private organisations must be submitted to the National Planning Council through the Department of National Planning.