Velana Airport Reopens West Side Parking Lot After Closure Over Unspecified Security Concerns

Velana International Airport has reopened its west side parking lot as of 14 September 2025, restoring access to a key facility that had remained closed for nearly two months.

The closure, which began in mid-July during the inauguration of the airport’s new international terminal, was officially attributed to “security concerns” although no specific threat was ever publicly disclosed.The reopening comes under a temporary arrangement, according to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

While MACL maintains that the parking lot closure was necessary for safety and operational reasons, the absence of detailed public communication has drawn quiet criticism from stakeholders. Despite citing “security concerns” as the reason for the extended closure, no formal advisories were issued and no technical faults were publicly acknowledged.

The absence of any tangible threat or operational justification has led many to conclude that the decision may have stemmed less from actual security risks and more from internal reluctance to open the parking facility, a position that remains unspoken but increasingly difficult to defend.