The Government was able to manage state finances without introducing a supplementary budget for the first time in five years due to a series of difficult but necessary policy measures, Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has said.

Speaking at today’s Presser with Spox, the Spokesperson referred to the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises’ Budget Results Statement 2025, which showed that State expenditure remained within the budget approved by Parliament during the last financial year. According to the report, this was the first time since 2021 that the Government had completed a fiscal year without seeking additional budget appropriations through a supplementary budget.

The report showed that total expenditure for the year had been projected at MVR 49.2 billion, while actual expenditure stood at MVR 44.2 billion, resulting in spending that was MVR 5 billion below budget estimates. Revenue, meanwhile, reached MVR 39.9 billion against an original projection of MVR 39.8 billion.

Commenting on the figures, the Spokesperson said one of the Government's biggest achievements was bringing actual revenue and expenditure closer to budget projections after years in which fiscal outcomes had differed significantly from planned targets. He said the results reflected the impact of policy decisions and expenditure controls implemented by the administration.

He also highlighted tax reforms introduced during the past year, particularly changes to tourism-related taxes, as among the key measures that strengthened state finances. He said some of the decisions taken by the Government had not been popular but were necessary to improve the country's financial position and ensure long-term sustainability.

Additionally, he said the Maldives continues to face challenges in maintaining fiscal stability due to debt obligations and changing economic conditions. However, he maintained that the Administration's long-term approach to budget management had produced positive results, adding that failure to take corrective action earlier would have created greater difficulties in the future.