Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, has announced that construction of the Central Prison Complex is set to commence this month, marking a major step in the Government's efforts to reform and modernise the country's correctional system.

Speaking on the initiative, Minister Ihusaan said the new complex would consolidate prison services currently operated across multiple islands into a single facility designed to prioritise rehabilitation and reintegration.

He noted that the existing prison infrastructure does not adequately support rehabilitation programmes, making it difficult to deliver effective reform services to inmates. He said that the new complex would provide comprehensive correctional and rehabilitation services under one roof while improving overall prison management.

The minister added that some prison facilities are expected to be relocated to the new complex within the next two years. He added that the government aims to develop the Maldives Correctional Service into a model institution that reflects international best practices.

He also announced plans to introduce legal amendments allowing inmates to earn a one-day reduction in their sentence for each day spent participating in approved rehabilitation programmes. The proposed changes are expected to be approved by Parliament and implemented within the next three months.

As part of the broader reform agenda, the Government also plans to establish Hope Island, a dedicated rehabilitation centre for juvenile offenders, in Uthuru Thila Falhu alongside the Central Prison Complex.

The project will involve reclaiming approximately 30 hectares of land and constructing a range of facilities, including residential units, a drug rehabilitation centre, a halfway house, education and vocational training facilities, a medical centre, a mosque accommodating up to 1,000 worshippers, and other support services.

The Central Prison Complex is expected to address longstanding challenges associated with operating multiple prison facilities while strengthening the country's focus on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.