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Maldives says its economy has recovered to pre-pandemic levels
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said the island country’s economy, guided by the government’s sound economic policies and recovery measures, has successfully recovered to pre-pandemic levels this year.
The president expressed these views on Wednesday while briefing the media at the President’s Office about the progress of the administration’s socio-economic plans.\Noting that the financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in eastern Europe on the Maldives’ economy had been heavy, Solih stated that his government’s sound economic policies and measures had led to substantial economic recovery.
The Maldives’ economy is forecast to grow 12.3 percent this year, while economic growth is expected to be at 7.6 percent next year.The president described the tourism industry’s recovery as the main reason behind the development, saying that tourist arrivals had also reached pre-pandemic levels this year.
The Maldives is also one of the 10 fastest-growing economies after the pandemic, while in 2021 and 2022 it was listed among the top five across the globe, according to the statement of the President’s Office.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the Maldives’ economic activity rebounded strongly from the pandemic-induced contraction, supported by the authorities’ decisive policy measures.However, the IMF warned that the Indian Ocean island nation remains at a high risk of external debt distress and a high overall risk of debt distress.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
The Situation Report released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) at 6:00 AM today (13th December 2025) confirms that 640 persons have died and another 211 persons are missing due to flooding and landslides that took place in Sri Lanka within the past two weeks.
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