Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Yumna Maumoon has said that a law to enable measures to be taken against destruction of heritage sites or Maldivian cultural artefacts should be constructed. As such, she said that discussions are currently ongoing with the Attorney General regarding this law.

Minister Yumna said this while speaking to the press regarding the matter yesterday. In an answer to a question, she said that it is the Ministry’s responsibility to consult relevant authorities and draft a Bill to take measures against those that may harm heritage sites.

As such, she noted that research will be carried out on how the crime of destroying a heritage site is treated under the Penal Code as well. The Minister added that while talks had been held with the Attorney General recently regarding the matter, the Bill will also be open to public feedback prior to being submitted at Parliament.

She noted that protecting Maldivian heritage and historical sites is a campaign pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. She said that as such, she intends to act under this pledge.

The Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, said that the Bill protecting heritage sites would include a fine and punishment, as measures taken for violating a heritage site.

She said that the case of damages to the outer wall surrounding the old “Hukuru Miskiy” has also been submitted to Maldives Police Service for investigation.

The Minister noted that six Maldivian masjids have been included in the Interim World Heritage Site list. She noted that efforts should be directed towards Maldives making it from the interim list to the permanent list of the World Heritage Sites.