President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has implemented a significant Cabinet restructuring, dissolving the Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development. The ministry’s functions have been redistributed among other government bodies to streamline operations.
Key planning responsibilities previously handled by the Housing Ministry have been reassigned to the Ministry of Finance, which has been renamed the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Moosa Zameer will continue as the head of this newly rebranded ministry.
Housing-related functions have been transferred to the Construction Ministry, now restructured and renamed the Ministry of Higher Education, Skills Development, and Labour. Dr. Abdulla Muththalib will lead this ministry, while Dr. Ali Haidhar, the former Minister of the dissolved Housing Ministry, has been appointed as the new Minister of Higher Education, Skills Development, and Labour.
In another significant change, Dr. Mariyam Mariya, previously in charge of the Higher Education Ministry, will now serve as the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare. This appointment follows Dr. Rameela’s resignation due to health concerns.
The decision to dissolve the Housing Ministry comes in response to widespread criticism over delays in publishing the list of beneficiaries for the Binveriya and Gedhoruveriya housing schemes initiated under the previous administration. The restructuring aims to address these shortcomings while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government functions.
