The Cabinet has reached key decisions to strengthen public awareness of the risks of tobacco and nicotine, advance plans for the generational smoking ban, and drive development projects forward.

During its meeting on Sunday, 16 August 2026, the Cabinet received updates from the Sub-Committee tasked with leading the national awareness campaign on tobacco and nicotine hazards and reviewing cigarette import tariffs. In light of the Sub-Committee's presentation, the Cabinet decided to channel the generational ban through the school system as part of the national campaign, with the Ministry of Health, Family, and Welfare leading the effort, working closely with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Skills Development, and establishing an oversight mechanism for the campaign.

To ensure active grassroots engagement across the country, the Ministry of Health will appoint a community focal point on every inhabited island in the Maldives. The opening phase of the campaign will bring on board at least one civil society organisation from each atoll, alongside several organisations across the Greater Malé area.

The Cabinet also moved to broaden the campaign's reach by partnering with local youth associates and sports figures. To this end, dedicated targets will be set to ensure athletes remain entirely tobacco-free, supporting a broader requirement that only tobacco-free athletes may represent national teams.

During the same session, several ministries shared updates on development projects, leading to further decisions.

Accordingly, the Cabinet agreed to secure all necessary support from relevant authorities to upgrade the Home for People with Special Needs in K. Guraidhoo into a fully equipped, state-of-the-art facility offering comprehensive care.

Additionally, to address security concerns, measures will be taken to ensure legal and administrative action against the registered owners of mobile SIM cards smuggled into correctional facilities. To strengthen SIM issuance regulations nationwide, unskilled foreign workers will be limited to a single SIM card, with replacements for damaged or lost cards issued solely through an established police-cleared process.

The Cabinet also resolved to pursue targeted measures to lower the number of individuals held in pre-trial detention, working towards positioning the Maldives among nations with the lowest such rates.

Finally, the Cabinet decided to tackle the growing problem of copper wire theft driven by high export values, while Island Aviation Services Limited (IAS) will review and reduce the airfares charged to tourists.