Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed has announced his decision to forgo a flat allocated under the Government’s housing scheme.

The minister, listed as a co-applicant with his wife Maryam Taufeeqa, stated that he would relinquish the flat, citing the need to prioritise families who may require housing more urgently.

The revised list of beneficiaries for 4,000 flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme was released following a review by the current Administration. A total of 1,820 individuals were deemed eligible, with 1,423 meeting the criteria for a three-room flat and 397 qualifying for a two-room unit. The Minister, who was included in the list, confirmed that while he and his wife qualified for a three-room flat, they had decided to withdraw from the scheme.

The Government has opened a complaints process for the published list, allowing grievances to be submitted from March 1 to 31, 2025. Applicants can raise concerns about their applications via the ‘Gedhoruverin Portal’, while objections regarding individuals on the list can be submitted through email.