Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, has announced that arrangements are in place to bring over 2,500 containers of goods currently stranded at Sri Lankan ports to the Maldives within the coming week.

Speaking at a press conference held today by the special ministerial committee established by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to manage the domestic impacts of the Middle East conflict, Minister Saeed noted that international shipping routes have been significantly altered due to regional tensions.

"According to information from MPL, more than 2,500 delayed containers currently in Sri Lanka will be transported to the Maldives via three vessels next week," Saeed stated.The Minister explained that Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) is undertaking special efforts to mitigate challenges in importing goods caused by shifting shipping routes. He expressed confidence that these measures would resolve the current congestion in the supply chain.

According to Minister Saeed, the volume of goods imported to the Maldives so far this year has increased by 19% to 20% compared to the same period last year. Regarding market prices, he noted that the cost of essential food items rose by only 1.95% in March.

The Minister further highlighted that statistics show a significant decrease in the prices of certain commodities. Specifically, the price of vegetables has dropped by 5%, while the price of fruits has decreased by 15.56%.

Saeed concluded by stating that the government’s primary goal is to stabilize market prices and prevent inflation driven by global market fluctuations.