President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited Dharubaaruge on December 16, 2024 to review the operations of the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, and the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure.

The ministries have been temporarily relocated to Dharubaaruge following a fire that caused extensive damage to their original premises.

During his visit, the President toured the allocated spaces and addressed Ministry employees. In his remarks, he described the fire as having caused incalculable damage, highlighting the significant personal and professional losses experienced by the staff. He acknowledged the difficulties they are facing but praised their resilience, patience, and determination to resume work under challenging circumstances.

The President spoke about the ongoing efforts by Government agencies to improve the temporary office environment. These efforts include increasing the availability of toilets, establishing cafeteria services, and replacing essential equipment such as electronics and computer systems lost in the fire. He assured employees that the Government remains committed to creating a functional and supportive workspace as soon as possible.

It was also decided that no commercial properties would be leased for ministry operations. Instead, services will continue to be provided from Government facilities until a permanent solution is identified. This approach aims to maintain continuity while avoiding unnecessary costs.

Following his address, President Dr Muizzu met with the task force responsible for relocating the ministries to Dharubaaruge. He reviewed the progress of their work and expressed his gratitude to Government-owned companies and other organisations for their assistance in restoring operations and supporting affected ministries.

The President later visited Galolhu School to inspect preparations for resuming City Council services, which had also been disrupted. He engaged with staff to understand their needs and to assess the progress being made in re-establishing normal operations.