The Parliament of the Maldives has rejected the amendment bill to the Maldives Sports Act.
The bill was sent to the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs for review, following which the committee members voted against approving the bill. It was then rejected after 35 of the 60 parliamentarians present at the sitting voted against it, and 21 voted in favour.
The bill was submitted in 2020 by Parliamentarian Hassan Latheef, who served as the Minister of Youth and Sports during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed. The objectives of the bill included eliminating the conflicts which exist between and within local sports institutions, and democratising such institutions to ensure its operations are carried out in a transparent manner. The bill also aimed to establish a system to maintain sports facilities in a sustainable manner, and reduce the financial burden on the state to establish and maintain such facilities.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof and 18 sports associations have criticised the bill for requiring the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) to hold the elections for sports associations. Some also noted the positive points of the bill, including giving more authority to Maldives Sports Corporation Limited.