Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed on Wednesday, hsa said the government has spent MVR 19 million, since it took charge, on repairing mosques across the Maldives.

At the press conference held on Wednesday, the minister said MVR 15 million out of this total were utilized from the state budget, with the remaining MVR 4 million spent from Mosque Fund.

The minister also revealed several bills related to mosque repairs had not been settled at the time the current administration too charge.

"When this administration took over, the state owed MVR 27 million to contractors for mosque repairs," the minister said.

Shaheem further said that the current administration has cleared several of the outstanding bills incurred during the former government.

Establishment of an assembly for mosques is a key pledge of the current administration's manifesto. The minister on Wednesday confirmed a national assembly on mosques has already been formed.

Dr. Shaheem also claimed a total of 42 projects are currently ongoing under the supervision of Islamic Ministry.