Urbanco has said that Thilafushi reclamation project is being carried out according to law and that the removal of the vessels in the lagoon is being carried out after giving owners ample time to remove them.

Urbanco is currently in the process of removing vessels from the lagoon as part of the Thilafushi reclamation project. Since the work is closely linked to the local economy, Urbanco said it is in the process of completing the reclamation of the areas to be reclaimed as per the master plan in a timely manner.

Expressing concern over the Thilafushi reclamation project, the main opposition party, MDP, said in a statement last night that the government is carrying out the project that hinders business operations in the lagoon. MDP added that the Administration is using force with the assistance of Police to remove the vessels in the lagoon.

Addressing the remarks by MDP, Urbanco denied that the project had been put on hold, stating that the project has been ongoing since 18 December.

Urbanco added that the company had announced multiple times for the lagoon area to be cleared and that separate vessel owners had also been informed individually to remove their vessels for the ongoing project. As such, Urbanco had issued announcements regarding the vessel removal on 9 March, 9 April, 27 April and 20 November 2023.

"This project is being carried out in coordination with the relevant ministries as per laws and regulations. All the vessels were given ample time to be removed on their own and the Corporation has issued notices informing them about the removal before starting the removal process," Urbanco said in a statement.

Urbanco further said that a special policy had been framed for the removal of vessels and published in the government gazette on March 9 last year and hence the process is being carried out lawfully.