Addu Council alleges lastminute cancellation of fireworks was politically influenced move to discredit them

Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar. (Photo/Addu City Council)

The Addu City Council has publicly condemned the Maldives National Defense Force’s Sifainge Cooperative (SIFCO) following the abrupt cancellation of a fireworks display intended for the Eid al-Fitr celebration and the reopening of Hithadhoo Central Park. Despite having paid for the service months in advance and having prepared the site for the event, the council received notice of a cancellation just hours before the scheduled start time, citing technical issues. The council, currently led by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), contends that the cancellation was a deliberate, politically influenced maneuver designed to discredit their administration and undermine local development efforts.

Addu City Council condemns SIFCO for the last-minute cancellation of a pre-paid fireworks event.
SIFCO cited unspecified technical difficulties via email just hours before the scheduled celebration.
The council suspects the cancellation was a targeted move to politically discredit their administration.
Public disappointment was high, with over 2,000 residents, including many children, attending the event site expecting a show.

The lastminute cancellation of fireworks over Addu City on Friday by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF)’s Sifainge Cooperative (SIFCO) was politically influenced, alleges Addu City Council.

The Addu City Council had organized a fireworks show for 08:30 pm Friday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr and the reopening of the Hithadhoo Central Park.

But the fireworks show was held, sparking criticism against the council on social media.

Sun has been informed that SIFCO sent an email to the council at 05:45 pm Friday, informing the council of the decision to cancel the fireworks over technical issues.

The Addu City Council issued a statement on Saturday condemning the cancellation.

އައްޑޫ ސިޓީ ހިތަދޫ ސެންޓްރަލް ޕާކް ހުޅުވުމުގެ ރަސްމިއްޔާތުގައި އެރުވުމަށް ހަމަޖައްސާފައިވާ ހަވާ ގައުމީ ދިފާޢީ ބާރުގެ ވިޔަފާރި ކުންފުނި ސިފްކޯއިން ރަސްމިއްޔާތު ފެށެން ކުޑަތަން ވެފައިވަނިކޮށް ކެންސަލް ކުރުމުން އެކަން ކުށްވެރިކޮށް އައްޑޫ ސިޓީ ކައުންސިލްގެ ފަރާތުން ނެރޭ ނޫސް ބަޔާން. pic.twitter.com/n8IieZ8N7I
— Addu City Council (@AdduCityCouncil) March 21, 2026

The council said that SIFCO was paid two months back to put up the fireworks, and that the cancellation of the show came after fireworks and other equipment was brought in and the site fully prepared for the show.

The Addu City Council, in which the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) holds a majority, believes the lastminute cancellation of the fireworks was politically influenced.

“The council believes SIFCO violated its contract and removed the items from there after claiming via an email that fireworks weren’t possible due to a technical issue, in order to discredit this council based on unjust orders made through political influence,” reads the statement.

Addu City Council said it does not believe an institutional such as the MNDF, which has a responsibility towards treating all citizens equally, should have acted in such a manner.

The redevelopment of the Hithadhoo Central Park was awarded to a contractor in 2024. According to the council, over 2,000 people, many of them children, attended Friday’s reopening ceremony, hoping to enjoy fireworks.