Maldives

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Republic of Maldives

( Maldivian)
Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya

Flag Emblem

Anthem: Qaumii salaam

National Salute

MENU
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Location of Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

 Capital Mal
and largest city

Official languages Maldivian (Dhivehi)

Ethnic groups(2011) 100% Maldiviansa[1][2][3]

Religion Islam

Demonym Maldivian

Government Unitary presidentialconstitutional

republic

President Abdulla Yameen

Vice President Abdulla Jihad[4]
Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed[5]
Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed[6]

Legislature People's Majlis

Independence
from the United Kingdom 26 July 1965
Current constitution 7 August 2008

Area
Total 298[7] km2(115 sq mi) (206th)
Water (%) 0

Population
July 2015 estimate 393,253[8] (175th)
2014 census 341,356[9]
 Density 1,102.5/km2(2,855.5/sq mi) (11th)

GDP (PPP) 2017 estimate

Total $5.853 billion[10](162nd)
Per capita $16,275[10] (69th)

GDP (nominal) 2017 estimate

Total $3.578 billion[10]
Per capita $9,948[10]

Gini (20052013) 37.4[11]

medium

HDI (2014) 0.706[12]

high 103rd

Currency Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR)

Time zone Maldives Time(UTC+5)

Date format dd/mm/yy

Drives on the left

Calling code +960

ISO 3166 code MV

Internet TLD .mv

a. Excluding foreign nationals.

The Maldives (/mldivz/, /mldivz/, i/mldavz/ or /mldavz/),[13] officially the Republic of

Maldives (Maldivian:


,
Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya), is a South Asian island
country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. It lies southwest of India and Sri
Lanka. The chain of twenty-six atolls stretches from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to the Addu
City in the south. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), the
Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries, as well as the smallest Asian
country by both land area and population, with a little over 393,500 inhabitants. Mal is the capital
and most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island" for its central location.
The Maldives archipelago is located atop the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine
mountain range in the Indian Ocean, which also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the
Chagos and the Lakshadweep.[14] With an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in)
above sea level,[15] it is the world's lowest country, with even its highest natural point being the lowest
in the world, at 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in).[15] Due to the subsequent risks posed by rising sea-levels, the
government pledged in 2009 to make the Maldives a carbon-neutral country by 2019.[16][needs update]
The Maldives have been historically and culturally linked to the Indian subcontinent since the fourth
century BCE. The Maldivian archipelago was Islamised in the 12th century and consolidated as
a sultanate, developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. From the mid 16th-
 century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers, with the
Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom was
achieved in 1965 and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's
Majlis. The ensuing decades have been characterised by political instability, efforts at democratic
reform,[17] and environmental challenges posed by climate change.
The Maldives is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC). It is also a member of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and the Non Aligned Movement. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an
upper middle income economy.[18] Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and
remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. Along with Sri
Lanka, it is one of only two South Asian countries rated "high" on the Human Development
Index (HDI),[19] with its per capita income the highest among SAARC nations.
The Maldives was a Commonwealth republic from July 1982 until its withdrawal from the
Commonwealth in October 2016 in protest of international criticism of its records in relation to
corruption and human rights.

Contents
[hide]

1Toponymy
2History
o 2.1Ancient history and settlement
o 2.2Buddhist period
o 2.3Islamic Period
o 2.4Colonial period
o 2.5Independence and Republic
o 2.621st century
3Geography
o 3.1Protected areas of Maldives
o 3.2Climate
o 3.3Environmental issues
o 3.4Marine ecosystem
4Government
o 4.1Law
o 4.2Human rights
o 4.3Foreign relations
o 4.4Military
o 4.5Administrative divisions
5Economy
o 5.1Tourism
o 5.2Fishing industry
6Demographics
o 6.1Religion
o 6.2Languages
o 6.3Population by locality
7Culture
8Transportation
9Education
10See also
11References
 12Further reading
13External links

Toponymy[edit]
See also: Names of Maldives
The name Maldives may derive from the Malayalam words maala (garland) and dweepu (island) or
the Tamil maalai (garland / evening) and theevu (island),[20] or (Maala Divaina,
"Necklace Islands") in Sinhala.[21] The Maldivian people are called Dhivehin. The
word theevu (archaic heevu, related to Tamil , dheevu) means "island", and Dhives (Dhivehin)
means "islanders" (i.e., Maldivians).[citation needed]
The ancient Sri Lankan chronicle Mahawamsa refers to an island called Mahiladiva ("Island of
Women", ) in Pali, which is probably a mistranslation of the same Sanskrit word meaning
"garland".
Jan S Hogendorn, Grossman Professor of Economics, theorises that the name Maldives derives
from the Sanskrit mldvpa (), meaning "garland of islands".[20] In Tamil, "Garland of Islands"
can be translated as Malai Theevu ().[22] In Malayalam, "Garland of Islands" can be
translated as Maladweepu (). In Kannada, "Garland of Islands" can be translated
as Maaledweepa ( ). None of these names is mentioned in any literature, but classical
Sanskrit texts dating back to the Vedic period mention the "Hundred Thousand Islands"
(Lakshadweepa), a generic name which would include not only the Maldives, but also
the Laccadives, Aminidivi Islands, Minicoy and the Chagos island groups.[23]
Some medieval travellers such as Ibn Battuta called the islands Mahal Dibiyat ( ) from
the Arabic word mahal ("palace"), which must be how the Berber traveller interpreted the local name,
having been through Muslim North India, where Perso-Arabic words were introduced to the local
vocabulary.[24] This is the name currently inscribed on the scroll in the Maldive state emblem. The
classical Persian/Arabic name for Maldives is Dibajat.[25][26] The Dutch referred to the islands as
the Maldivische Eilanden (pronounced [mldivis i lnd(n)]), while the British anglicised the local
name for the islands first to the "Maldive Islands" and later to "Maldives."
Garcia da Orta writes in his conversational book [27] first pulbished in 1563 as follows: "I must tell you
that I have heard it said that the natives do not call it Maldiva but Nalediva. In the Malabar
language nale means four and diva island. So that in that language the word signifies "four islands,"
while we, corrupting the name, call it Maldiva."

History[edit]
Main article: History of the Maldives
Ancient history and settlement[edit]
Main article: History of the Maldives Early Age
The first Maldivians did not leave any archaeological artifacts. Their buildings were probably built of
wood, palm fronds and other perishable materials, which would have quickly decayed in the salt and
wind of the tropical climate. Moreover, chiefs or headmen did not reside in elaborate stone palaces,
nor did their religion require the construction of large temples or compounds.[28]
Comparative studies of Maldivian oral, linguistic and cultural traditions and customs confirm that the
first settlers were people from the southern shores of the neighboring Indian
subcontinent,[29] including the Giraavaru people mentioned in ancient legends and local folklore about
the establishment of the capital and kingly rule in Mal.[30]
A strong underlying layer of Dravidian population and culture survives in Maldivian society, with a
clear Tamil-Malayalam substratum in the language, which also appears in place names, kinship
terms, poetry, dance, and religious beliefs. Malabari and Debal seafaring culture led to Malayali (and
possibly Sindhi) settling during the Indus valley civilisation.[2]
The earliest written history of the Maldives was marked by the arrival of Sinhalese people in Sri
Lanka and the Maldives (Mahiladvipika) circa 543 to 483 BC, as reported in the Mahavansa. Their
settlement marks a significant change in demographics and the development of the Indo-Aryan
language Dhivehi language.[citation needed]
Buddhist period[edit]
Main articles: History of the Maldives Buddhist period, and Buddhism in the Maldives

Isdhoo Lmfnu is the oldest copper-plate book to have been discovered in the Maldives to date. The book
was written in AD 1194 (590 AH) in the Evla form of the Divehi akuru, during the reign of Siri Fennaadheettha
Mahaa Radun (Dhinei Kalaminja).

Despite being just mentioned briefly in most history books, the 1,400-year-long Buddhist period has
a foundational importance in the history of the Maldives. It was during this period that the culture of
the Maldives as we now know it both developed and flourished. The Maldivian language, the first
Maldive scripts, the architecture, the ruling institutions, the customs and manners of the Maldivians
originated at the time when the Maldives were a Buddhist kingdom.[31]
Before embracing Buddhism as their way of life, Maldivians had practised an ancient form
of Hinduism, ritualistic traditions known as rauta, in the form of venerating the Surya (the ancient
ruling caste were of Aadheetta or Suryavanshi origins).
Buddhism probably spread to the Maldives in the 3rd century BC at the time of Emperor Ashoka's
expansion, and became the dominant religion of the people of the Maldives until the 12th century
AD. The ancient Maldivian Kings promoted Buddhism, and the first Maldive writings and artistic
achievements, in the form of highly developed sculpture and architecture, are from that period.
Nearly all archaeological remains in the Maldives are from Buddhist stupas and monasteries, and all
artifacts found to date display characteristic Buddhist iconography. Buddhist (and Hindu) temples
were Mandala shaped, they are oriented according to the four cardinal points, the main gate being
towards the east. Local historian Hassan Ahmed Maniku counted as many as 59 islands with
Buddhist archaeological sites in a provisional list he published in 1990.
Islamic Period[edit]
See also: History of the Maldives Islamic Period, Islam in Maldives, and List of sultans of the
Maldives
A Plaque in Juma Mosque, Mal, Maldives, on which Yusuf Tabrizi's name is written. Yusuf Tabrizi was a
Persian who is said to have converted Maldives in 12th century AD to Islam.

The importance of the Arabs as traders in the Indian Ocean by the 12th century may partly explain
why the last Buddhist king of Maldives Dhovemi converted to Islam in the year 1153 (or 1193),
adopting the Muslim title of Sultan Muhammad al Adil, and initiating a series of six Islamic dynasties
that lasted until 1932 when the sultanate became elective.The formal title of the Sultan up to 1965
was, Sultan of Land and Sea, Lord of the twelve-thousand islands and Sultan of the Maldives which
came with the style Highness. The person traditionally deemed responsible for this conversion was
a Sunni Muslim visitor named Abu al Barakat, stemming either from the Maghreb (as according
to Ibn Battutah[32]), from the Somalian port of Berbera,[33] or from the Persian town of Tabriz.[34] His
venerated tomb now stands on the grounds of Hukuru Mosque, or miski, in the capital of Mal. Built
in 1656, this is the oldest mosque in Maldives. Following the Islamic concept that before Islam there
was the time of Jahiliya (ignorance), in the history books used by Maldivians the introduction of
Islam at the end of the 12th century is considered the cornerstone of the country's history.
Compared to the other areas of South Asia, the conversion of the Maldives to Islam happened
relatively late. Arab Traders had converted populations in the Malabar Coast since the 7th century,
and the Arab invader Muhammad Bin Qsim had converted large swathes of Sindh to Islam at about
the same time. The Maldives remained a Buddhist kingdom for another five hundred years after the
conversion of Malabar Coast and Sindh - perhaps as the south-westernmost Buddhist country.
Arabic became the prime language of administration (instead of the Persian and Urdu), and
the Maliki school of jurisprudence was introduced, both hinting at direct contacts with the core of the
Arab world.
Middle Eastern seafarers had just begun to take over the Indian Ocean trade routes in the 10th
century and found Maldives to be an important link in those routes as the first landfall for traders
from Basra sailing to Southeast Asia. Trade involved mainly cowrie shells - widely used as a form of
currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast - and coir fiber. The Bengal Sultanate,
where cowrie shells was used as legal tender, was one of the principal trading partners of the
Maldives. The Bengal-Maldives cowry shell trade was the largest shell currency trade network in
history.[35] The other essential product of the Maldives was coir, the fibre of the dried coconut husk,
resistant to saltwater. It stitched together and rigged the dhows that plied the Indian Ocean.
Maldivian coir was exported to Sindh, China, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf.
Colonial period[edit]

18th-century map by Pierre Mortier of The Netherlands depicting with detail the islands of the Maldives.

In 1558 the Portuguese established a small garrison with a Viador (Viyazoru), or overseer of
a factory (trading post) in the Maldives, which they administered from their main colony in Goa. Their
attempts to impose Christianity provoked a local revolt led by Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al-
Azam and his two brothers, that fifteen years later drove the Portuguese out of Maldives. This event
is now commemorated as National Day. In the mid-17th century, the Dutch, who had replaced the
Portuguese as the dominant power in Ceylon, established hegemony over Maldivian affairs without
involving themselves directly in local matters, which were governed according to centuries-old
Islamic customs.
The British expelled the Dutch from Ceylon in 1796 and included Maldives as a British protected
area. The status of Maldives as a British protectorate was officially recorded in an 1887 agreement
in which the sultan accepted British influence over Maldivian external relations and defence while
retaining home rule, which continued to be regulated by Muslim traditional institutions in exchange
for an annual tribute. The status of the islands was akin to other British protectorates in the Indian
Ocean region, including Zanzibar and the Trucial States.
In the British period the Sultan's powers were taken over by the Chief Minister, much to the chagrin
of the British Governor-General who continued to deal with the ineffectual Sultan. Consequently,
Britain encouraged the development of a constitutional monarchy, and the first Constitution was
proclaimed in 1932. However, the new arrangements favoured neither the aging Sultan nor the wily
Chief Minister, but rather a young crop of British-educated reformists. As a result, angry mobs were
instigated against the Constitution which was publicly torn up.
Maldives remained a British crown protectorate until 1953 when the sultanate was suspended and
the First Republic was declared under the short-lived presidency of Muhammad Amin Didi. While
serving as prime minister during the 1940s, Didi nationalized the fish export industry. As president
he is remembered as a reformer of the education system and a promoter of women's rights. Muslim
conservatives in Mal eventually ousted his government, and during a riot over food shortages, Didi
was beaten by a mob and died on a nearby island.

An RAF Short Sunderland moored in the lagoon at Addu Atoll, during WWII

Beginning in the 1950s, the political history in Maldives was largely influenced by the British military
presence in the islands. In 1954 the restoration of the sultanate perpetuated the rule of the past. Two
years later, the United Kingdom obtained permission to reestablish its wartime RAF Gan airfield in
the southernmost Addu Atoll, employing hundreds of locals. In 1957, however, the new prime
minister, Ibrahim Nasir, called for a review of the agreement. Nasir was challenged in 1959 by a
local secessionist movement in the three southernmost atolls that benefited economically from the
British presence on Gan. This group cut ties with the Maldives government and formed an
independent state, the United Suvadive Republic with Abdullah Afif as president and Hithadhoo as
capital. One year later the Suvadive republic was scrapped after Nasir sent gunboats from Mal with
government police, and Abdulla Afif went into exile. Meanwhile, in 1960 the Maldives had allowed
the United Kingdom to continue to use both the Gan and the Hitaddu facilities for a thirty-year period,
with the payment of 750,000 over the period of 1960 to 1965 for the purpose of Maldives' economic
development.The base was closed in 1976 as part of the larger British withdrawal of permanently
stationed forces 'East of Suez'.[36]
Independence and Republic[edit]
Abdul Majeed Didi, Sultan of the Maldives (19451952).

In line with the broader British policy of decolonisation on 26 July 1965 an agreement was signed on
behalf of His Majesty the Sultan by Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan, Prime Minister, and on
behalf of Her Majesty The Queen by Sir Michael Walker, British Ambassador designate to the
Maldive Islands, which ended the British responsibility for the defence and external affairs of the
Maldives. The islands thus achieved full political independence, with the ceremony taking place at
the British High Commissioner's Residence in Colombo. After this, the sultanate continued for
another three years under Muhammad Fareed Didi, who declared himself King rather than Sultan.
On 15 November 1967, a vote was taken in parliament to decide whether the Maldives should
continue as a constitutional monarchy or become a republic. Of the 44 members of parliament, forty
voted in favour of a republic. On 15 March 1968, a national referendum was held on the question,
and 93.34% of those taking part voted in favour of establishing a republic. The republic was declared
on 11 November 1968, thus ending the 853-year-old monarchy, which was replaced by a republic
under the presidency of Ibrahim Nasir. As the King had held little real power, this was seen as a
cosmetic change and required few alterations in the structures of government.

Mamoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Maldives (19782008).

Tourism began to be developed on the archipelago by the beginning of the 1970s. The first resort in
the Maldives was Kurumba Maldives which welcomed the first guests on 3 October 1972. The first
accurate census was held in December 1977 and showed 142,832 persons residing in
Maldives.[37] Political infighting during the '70s between Nasir's faction and other political figures led
to the 1975 arrest and exile of elected prime minister Ahmed Zaki to a remote atoll. Economic
decline followed the closure of the British airfield at Gan and the collapse of the market for dried fish,
an important export. With support for his administration faltering, Nasir fled to Singapore in 1978,
with millions of dollars from the treasury.
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom began his 30-year role as President in 1978, winning six consecutive
elections without opposition. His election was seen as ushering in a period of political stability and
economic development in view of Gayoom's priority to develop the poorer islands. Tourism
flourished and increased foreign contact spurred development. However, Gayoom's rule was
controversial, with some critics saying Gayoom was an autocrat who quelled dissent by limiting
freedoms and political favouritism.[38]
A series of coup attempts (in 1980, 1983, and 1988) by Nasir supporters and business interests tried
to topple the government without success. While the first two attempts met with little success, the
1988 coup attempt involved a roughly 80-person mercenary force of the PLOTE Tamil militant
group who seized the airport and caused Gayoom to flee from house to house until the intervention
of 1600 Indian troops airlifted into Mal restored order.
A November 1988 coup was headed by Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee, a small-businessman. On the
night of 3 November 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and
flew them over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) to the Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed
at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the government rule at Mal within hours. The brief,
bloodless operation, labelled Operation Cactus, also involved the Indian Navy.
21st century[edit]
Main article: History of the Maldives 21st century

People in Mal removing sand bags from a nearby construction site, to be used as a barrier to protect their
homes from the flood, shortly after being hit by the tsunami generated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

The ousted democratically elected president Mohamed Nasheed.

On 26 December 2004, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the Maldives were
devastated by a tsunami. Only nine islands were reported to have escaped any flooding,[39][40] while
fifty-seven islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, fourteen islands had to be totally
evacuated, and six islands were destroyed. A further twenty-one resort islands were forced to close
because of tsunami damage. The total damage was estimated at more than US$400 million, or
some 62% of the GDP.[41][42] 102 Maldivians and 6 foreigners reportedly died in the tsunami.[38] The
destructive impact of the waves on the low-lying islands was mitigated by the fact there was no
continental shelf or land mass upon which the waves could gain height. The tallest waves were
reported to be 14 feet (4.3 m) high.[43]
During the later part of Gayoom's rule, independent political movements emerged in Maldives, which
challenged the then-ruling Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party, MPP) and
demanded democratic reform. The dissident journalist and activist Mohamed Nasheed founded
the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in 2003 and pressured Gayoom into allowing gradual political
reforms.[44] In 2008 a new constitution was approved and the first direct presidential
elections occurred, which were won by Mohamed Nasheed in the second round. His administration
faced many challenges, including the huge debt left by the previous government, the economic
downturn following the 2004 tsunami, overspending (by means of overprinting of local
currency rufiyaa), unemployment, corruption, and increasing drug use.[45][unreliable source?] Taxation on
goods was imposed for the first time in the country, and import duties were reduced in many goods
and services. Social welfare benefits were given to those aged 65 years or older, single parents, and
those with special needs.[38]
Social and political unrest grew in late 2011, following opposition campaigns in the name of
protecting Islam. Nasheed controversially resigned from office after large number of police and army
mutinied in February 2012. Nasheed's vice president, Mohammed Waheed Hassan, was sworn in as
President.[46] Nasheed was later arrested,[47] convicted of terrorism, and sentenced to 13 years. The
trial was widely seen as flawed and political. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called
for Nasheed's immediate release.[48]
The elections in late 2013 were highly contested. Former president Mohammed Nasheed won the
most votes in the first round, but the Supreme Court annulled it despite the positive assessment of
international election observers. In the re-run vote Abdulla Yameen, half-brother of the former
president Gayoom, assumed the presidency.[44] Yameen introduced increased engagement
with China, and promoted a policy of connecting Islam with anti-Western rhetoric.[44] Yameen
survived an assassination attempt in late 2015.[49] Vice president Ahmed Adheeb was later arrested
together with 17 supporters for "public order offences" and the government instituted a broader
crackdown against political dissent. A state of emergency was later declared ahead of a planned
anti-government rally,[50] and the people's Majlis accelerated the removal of Vice president Ahmed
Adeeb.[51][52]
Though the popular image of the Maldives is that of a holiday paradise, its radicalised youths are
enlisting in significant numbers to fight for ISIL militants in the Middle East.[53]

Geography[edit]
Main article: Geography of the Maldives
Malhosmadulhu Atoll seen from space. "Fasdutere" and Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll can be seen in this
picture.

The Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, along the north-
south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making this one of the
world's most dispersed countries. It lies between latitudes 1S and 8N, and
longitudes 72 and 74E. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a
submarine ridge 960 kilometres (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean
and runs north to south.
Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship
navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives.
For administrative purposes the Maldivian government organised these atolls into twenty
one administrative divisions. The largest island of Maldives is Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or
Hahdhummathi Maldives. In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the
reef (collectively called Link Road) and the total length of the road is 14 km (9 mi).
Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with maximum and average natural ground levels of only
2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) and 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, respectively. In areas where
construction exists, however, this has been increased to several metres. More than 80 per cent of
the country's land is composed of coral islands which rise less than one metre above sea level.[54] As
a result, the Maldives are at high risk of being submerged due to rising sea levels. The UN's
environmental panel has warned that, at current rates, sea level rise would be high enough to make
the Maldives uninhabitable by 2100.[55][56]
Protected areas of Maldives[edit]
Protected areas of Maldives are administrated by Ministry of Environment and Energy and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Maldives. There are 31 protected areas in Maldives.[57]
Climate[edit]
Sunset in the Maldives

The Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) under the Kppen climate classification, which is
affected by the large landmass of South Asia to the north. The presence of this landmass causes
differential heating of land and water. These factors set off a rush of moisture-rich air from the Indian
Ocean over South Asia, resulting in the southwest monsoon. Two seasons dominate Maldives'
weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeastern monsoon and the rainy season
which brings strong winds and storms.
The shift from the dry northeast monsoon to the moist southwest monsoon occurs during April and
May. During this period, the southwest winds contribute to the formation of the southwest monsoon,
which reaches Maldives in the beginning of June and lasts until the end of August. However, the
weather patterns of Maldives do not always conform to the monsoon patterns of South Asia. The
annual rainfall averages 254 centimetres (100 in) in the north and 381 centimetres (150 in) in the
south.[58]
The monsoonal influence is greater in the north of the Maldives than in the south, more influenced
by the equatorial currents.

[hide]Climate data for Mal (19812010)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

30.3 30.7 31.4 31.6 31.2 30.6 30.5 30.4 30.2

Average high C (F)
(86.5) (87.3) (88.5) (88.9) (88.2) (87.1) (86.9) (86.7) (86.4)

28.0 28.3 28.9 29.2 28.8 28.3 28.2 28.0 27.8

Daily mean C (F)
(82.4) (82.9) (84) (84.6) (83.8) (82.9) (82.8) (82.4) (82)

25.7 25.9 26.4 26.8 26.3 26.0 25.8 25.5 25.3

Average low C (F)
(78.3) (78.6) (79.5) (80.2) (79.3) (78.8) (78.4) (77.9) (77.5)

114.2 38.1 73.9 122.5 218.9 167.3 149.9 175.5 199.0

Average rainfall mm (inches)
(4.496) (1.5) (2.909) (4.823) (8.618) (6.587) (5.902) (6.909) (7.835)

Average precipitation days ( 1.0 mm) 6 3 5 9 15 13 12 13 15

Average relative humidity (%) 78.0 77.0 76.9 78.1 80.8 80.7 79.1 80.5 81.0

Mean monthly sunshine hours 248.4 257.8 279.6 246.8 223.2 202.3 226.6 211.5 200.4

Source #1: World Meteorological Organization[59]

Source #2: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 19611990)[60]

Environmental issues[edit]
The white sandy beaches of Maldives

See also: The Island President

According to former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives are ranked the third most
endangered nation due to flooding from climate change.[61] In March and April 2012, Nasheed stated,
"If carbon emissions were to stop today, the planet would not see a difference for 60 to 70 years." "If
carbon emissions continue at the rate they are climbing today, my country will be under water in
seven years." He called for more climate change mitigation action while on the American television
shows The Daily Show[62] and the Late Show with David Letterman.[63]
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2007 report predicted the upper limit of the sea
level rises will be 59 centimetres (23 in) by 2100, which means that most of the republic's 200
inhabited islands may need to be abandoned.[64] One study appears to show that the sea level in the
Maldives dropped 2030 centimetres (812 in) throughout the 1970s and '80s, although later studies
failed to back this up.[65] The observed rate of sea level rise is only 1.71.8 millimetres per year.[66]
In November 2008, President Mohamed Nasheed announced plans to look into purchasing new land
in India, Sri Lanka, and Australia because of his concerns about global warming, and the possibility
of much of the islands being inundated with water from rising sea levels. The purchase of land will
be made from a fund generated by tourism.[67] The President has explained his intentions: "We do
not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for
decades".[68] On 22 April 2008, then President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom pleaded for a cut in
global greenhouse gas emissions, warning that rising sea levels could submerge the island nation of
Maldives.[69][70]
By 2020, Maldives plans to eliminate or offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions. At the 2009
International Climate Talks, President Mohamed Nasheed explained that:
For us swearing off fossil fuels is not only the right thing to do, it is in our economic self-interest...
Pioneering countries will free themselves from the unpredictable price of foreign oil; they will
capitalise on the new green economy of the future, and they will enhance their moral standing giving
them greater political influence on the world stage.[71]
Other environmental issues include bad waste disposal and beach theft. Although the Maldives are
kept relatively pristine and little litter can be found on the islands, no good waste disposal sites exist.
Most trash from Male and other resorts is simply dumped at Thilafushi.[72]
Marine ecosystem[edit]
Further information: Wildlife of Maldives
Oriental Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus) at Meeru Island, North Male Atoll

Maldives soft coral

Maldivian waters are home to several ecosystems, including a variety, 187 species, of vibrant coral
reefs. This area of the Indian Ocean, alone, houses 1100 species of fish, 5 species of sea turtles, 21
species of whales and dolphins, 400 species of molluscs, and 83 species of echinoderms. The area
is also populated by a number of crustacean species: 120 copepod, 15 amphipod, as well as more
than 145 crab and 48 shrimp species.[73]
Among the many marine families represented are Pufferfish, Fusiliers, Jackfish, Lionfish, Oriental
Sweetlips, reef sharks, Groupers, Eels, Snappers, Bannerfish, Batfish, Humphead Wrasse, Spotted
Eagle
Rays, Scorpionfish, Lobsters, Nudibranches, Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Squirrelfish, Soldierfish, Glassfi
sh, Surgeonfish, Unicornfish, Triggerfish, Napoleon wrasses, and Barracudas.[74][75]
These coral reefs are home to a variety of marine ecosystems that vary from planktonic organisms
to whale sharks. Sponges have gained importance as five species have displayed anti-tumor and
anti-cancer properties.[76]
In 1998, sea-temperature warming of as much as 5 C (9.0 F) due to a single El Nio
phenomenon event caused coral bleaching, killing of the nation's coral reefs.[77]
In an effort to induce the regrowth of the reefs, scientists placed electrified cones anywhere from 20
60 feet (6.118.3 m) below the surface to provide a substrate for larval coral attachment. In 2004,
scientists witnessed corals regenerating. Corals began to eject pink-orange eggs and sperm. The
growth of these electrified corals was five times faster than untreated corals.[77] Scientist Azeez
Hakim stated:
before 1998, we never thought that this reef would die. We had always taken for granted that these
animals would be there, that this reef would be there forever. El Nio gave us a wake-up call that
these things are not going to be there for ever. Not only this, they also act as a natural barrier
against the tropical storms, floods and tsunamis. Seaweeds grow on the skeletons of dead coral.[74]
Again, in 2016, the coral reefs of the Maldives experienced a severe bleaching incident. Over 95% of
coral around the islands died, and, even after six months, 100% of young coral transplants had died.
The surface water temperatures reached an all-time high in 2016, at 31 degrees Celsius in May.[78]
Recent scientific studies suggest that the faunistic composition can vary greatly between neighbour
atolls, especially in terms of benthic fauna. Differences in terms of fishing pressure (including
poaching) could be the cause.[79]

Government[edit]
Main article: Politics of the Maldives

Independence Square in Mal

Maldives is a presidential republic, with the President as head of government and head of state. The
President heads the executive branch and appoints the cabinet which is approved by the People's
Majlis (Parliament). Following the introduction of a new constitution in 2008, direct elections for the
President take place every five years, with a limit of two terms in office for any individual. The current
President is Abdulla Yameen.[80] Members of the unicameral Majlis serve five-year terms, with the
total number of members determined by atoll populations. At the 2009 election, 77 members were
elected. The People's Majlis, located in Male, houses members from all over the country.[3]
The republican constitution came into force in 1968, and was amended in 1970, 1972, and 1975. On
27 November 1997 it was replaced by another Constitution assented to by the President Gayoom.
This Constitution came into force on 1 January 1998. All stated that the president was the Head of
State, Head of Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Police of the
Maldives. A third Constitution was ratified in 2008, which separated the judiciary from the head of
state.
Law[edit]
See also: Judiciary in the Maldives
According to the Constitution of Maldives, "the judges are independent, and subject only to the
Constitution and the law. When deciding matters on which the Constitution or the law is silent,
judges must consider Islamic Shari'ah". Article 15 of the Act Number 1/81 (Penal Code) gives
provision for hudud punishments.[81] Article 156 of the constitution states that law includes the norms
and provisions of sharia.[82]
Islam is the official religion of the Maldives and open practice of any other religion is forbidden and
liable to prosecution. Article 2 of the revised constitution says that the republic "is based on the
principles of Islam". Article nine says that "a non-Muslim may not become a citizen"; article ten says
that "no law contrary to any principle of Islam can be applied". Article nineteen states that "citizens
are free to participate in or carry out any activity that is not expressly prohibited by sharia [Islamic
law] or by the law".
The requirement to adhere to a particular religion and prohibition of public worship following other
religions is contrary to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Maldives has recently become
party[83] and was addressed in Maldives' reservation in adhering to the Covenant claiming that "The
application of the principles set out in Article 18 of the Covenant shall be without prejudice to the
Constitution of the Republic of the Maldives."[84]
Human rights[edit]
Main article: Human rights in the Maldives
Human rights in the Maldives is a contentious issue. In its 2011 Freedom in the
World report, Freedom House declared the Maldives "Partly Free", claiming a reform process which
had made headway in 2009 and 2010 had stalled.[85] The United States Bureau of Democracy,
Human Rights and Labor claims in their 2012 report on human rights practices in the country that the
most significant problems are corruption, lack of religious freedom, and abuse and unequal
treatment of women.[86] In February 2013, the court sentenced a 15-year-old rape victim to 100
lashes and 8 months of house arrest for having had extra-marital relations. The conviction was
based on the confession of the girl shortly after being raped by her stepfather[87]
Foreign relations[edit]
Main article: Foreign relations of the Maldives

Former Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim at an Indian naval base in Kochi.

Since 1996, the Maldives has been the official progress monitor of the Indian Ocean Commission. In
2002, the Maldives began to express interest in the commission but as of 2008 had not applied for
membership. Maldive's interest relates to its identity as a small island state, especially economic
development and environmental preservation, and its desire for closer relations with France, a main
actor in the IOC region.
The Maldives is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation,
SAARC. The republic joined the Commonwealth in 1982, some 17 years after gaining independence
from the United Kingdom. In October 2016, Maldives announced its withdrawal from the
Commonwealth[88] in protest at allegations of human rights abuse and failing democracy.[89]The
Maldives enjoys close ties with Commonwealth members Seychelles and Mauritius. The Maldives
and Comoros are also both members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Military[edit]
Main article: Maldives National Defence Force
Fire & Rescue Service boats.

The Maldives National Defence Force is the combined security organisation responsible for
defending the security and sovereignty of the Maldives, having the primary task of being responsible
for attending to all internal and external security needs of the Maldives, including the protection of
the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the maintenance of peace and security. The MNDF
component branches are the Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Special Forces, Service Corps and the
Corps of Engineers.
As a water-bound nation much of the security concerns lie at sea. Almost 99% of the country is
covered by sea and the remaining 1% land is scattered over an area of 800 km (497 mi) 120 km
(75 mi), with the largest island being not more than 8 km2 (3 sq mi). Therefore, the duties assigned to
the MNDF of maintaining surveillance over Maldives' waters and providing protection against foreign
intruders poaching in the EEZ and territorial waters, are immense tasks from both logistical and
economic view points.
The Coast Guard plays a vital role in carrying out these functions. To provide timely security its
patrol boats are stationed at various MNDF Regional Headquarters. The Coast Guard is also
assigned to respond to the maritime distress calls and to conduct search and rescue operations in a
timely manner. Maritime pollution control exercises are conducted regularly on an annual basis for
familiarisation and handling of such hazardous situations.
Administrative divisions[edit]
Main article: Administrative divisions of the Maldives
Each administrative atoll is marked, along with the thaana letter used to identify the atoll. Natural atolls are
labelled in light blue. Full view of the map.

The Maldives has twenty-six natural atolls and few island groups on isolated reefs, all of which have
been divided into twenty-one administrative divisions (twenty administrative atolls and Mal city).[90]
Each atoll is administered by an elected Atoll Council. The islands are administered by an elected
Island Council.
Between 2008 and 2010 the Maldives had 7 provinces each consisting of the following
administrative divisions (the capital Mal is its own administrative division):

1. Mathi-Uthuru Province; consists of Haa Alif Atoll, Haa Dhaalu Atoll and Shaviyani Atoll.
2. Uthuru Province; consists of Noonu Atoll, Raa Atoll, Baa Atoll and Lhaviyani Atoll.
3. Medhu-Uthuru Province; consists of Kaafu Atoll, Alifu Alifu Atoll, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll and Vaavu
Atoll.
4. Medhu Province; consists of Meemu Atoll, Faafu Atoll and Dhaalu Atoll.
5. Medhu-Dhekunu Province; consists of Thaa Atoll and Laamu Atoll.
6. Mathi-Dhekunu Province; consists of Gaafu Alifu Atoll and Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.
7. Dhekunu Province; consists of Gnaviyani Atoll and Addu City.
In addition to a name, every administrative division is identified by the Maldivian code letters, such
as "Haa Alif" for Thiladhunmati Uthuruburi (Thiladhunmathi North); and by a Latin code letter. The
first corresponds to the geographical Maldivian name of the atoll; the second is a code adopted for
convenience. As there are certain islands in different atolls that have the same name, for
administrative purposes this code is quoted before the name of the island, for example: Baa
Funadhoo, Kaafu Funadhoo, Gaafu-Alifu Funadhoo. Since most Atolls have very long geographical
names it is also used whenever the long name is inconvenient, for example in the atoll website
names.[91]
The introduction of code-letter names has been a source of much puzzlement and
misunderstandings, especially among foreigners. Many people have come to think that the code-
letter of the administrative atoll is its new name and that it has replaced its geographical name.
Under such circumstances it is hard to know which is the correct name to use.[91]

Economy[edit]
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Main article: Economy of the Maldives

Mal harbour

Graphical depiction of Maldives's product exports in 28 color-coded categories.

In ancient times the Maldives were renowned for cowry shells, coir rope, dried tuna fish (Maldive
Fish), ambergris (Maavaharu), and coco de mer (Tavakkaashi). Local and foreign trading ships used
to load these products in Sri Lanka and transport them to other harbours in the Indian Ocean.
Historically Maldives provided enormous quantities of cowry shells, an international currency of the
early ages. From the 2nd century AD the islands were known as the 'Money Isles' by the
Arabs.[92] Monetaria moneta were used for centuries as a currency in Africa, and huge amounts
of Maldivian cowries were introduced into Africa by western nations during the period of slave
trade.[93] The cowry is now the symbol of the Maldives Monetary Authority.
The Maldivian government began an economic reform programme in 1989, initially by lifting import
quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalised regulations
to allow more foreign investment. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5% per year for more than a
decade. Today, the Maldives' largest industry is tourism, accounting for 28% of GDP and more than
60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is the second leading sector.
The Maldivian economy is to a large degree based on tourism. In late December 2004, the major
tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $400 million.
As a result of the tsunami, the GDP contracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-
tsunami reconstruction, and development of new resorts helped the economy recover quickly and
showed an 18% increase on 2006. 2013 estimates show Maldivians enjoy the highest GDP (PPP)
per capita $11,900 (2013 est) among south Asian countries.
Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the
limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labour. Tourism gave a major
boost to the country's fledgling traditional cottage industries such as mat
weaving, lacquer work, handicraft, and coir rope making. New industries that have since emerged
include printing, production of PVC pipes, brick making, marine engine repairs, bottling of aerated
water, and garment production.
Tourism[edit]

Filitheyo island beach with tall palm trees and blue lagoons

Main articles: Tourism in the Maldives and Diving in the Maldives

The Maldives remained largely unknown to tourists until the early 1970s. Only 185 islands are home
to its 300,000 inhabitants. The other islands are used entirely for economic purposes, of which
tourism and agriculture are the most dominant. Tourism accounts for 28% of the GDP and more than
60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from
import duties and tourism-related taxes.
The development of tourism fostered the overall growth of the country's economy. It created direct
and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries. The first
tourist resorts were opened in 1972 with Bandos island resort and Kurumba Village (the current
name is Kurumba Maldives),[94] which transformed the Maldives economy.

The resort island of Landaa Giraavaru (Baa atoll)

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the emergence of tourism in 1972 transformed the economy,
moving rapidly from dependence on fisheries to tourism. In just three and a half decades, the
industry became the main source of income. Tourism was also the country's biggest foreign currency
earner and the single largest contributor to the GDP. As of 2008, 89 resorts in the Maldives offered
over 17,000 beds and hosted over 600,000 tourists annually.[95]
The number of resorts increased from 2 to 92 between 1972 and 2007. As of 2007, over 8,380,000
tourists had visited Maldives.[96]
Visitors to the Maldives do not need to apply for a visa pre-arrival, regardless of their country of
origin, provided they have a valid passport, proof of onward travel, and the money to be self-
sufficient while in the country.[97]
Most visitors arrive at Mal International Airport, on Hulhul Island, adjacent to the capital Mal. The
airport is served by flights to and from India, Sri Lanka, Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Istanbul, and major
airports in South-East Asia, as well as charters from Europe. Gan Airport, on the southern atoll
of Addu, also serves an international flight to Milan several times a week. British Airways offers
direct flights to the Maldives around 23 times per week.
Fishing industry[edit]
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Main article: Fishing industry in the Maldives

A mechanised traditional inter-island dhoni stripped of its sails

For many centuries the Maldivian economy was entirely dependent on fishing and
other marine products. Fishing remains the main occupation of the people and the government gives
priority to the fisheries sector.
The mechanisation of the traditional fishing boat called dhoni in 1974 was a major milestone in the
development of the fisheries industry. A fish canning plant was installed on Felivaru in 1977, as a
joint venture with a Japanese firm. In 1979, a Fisheries Advisory Board was set up with the mandate
of advising the government on policy guidelines for the overall development of the fisheries sector.
Manpower development programmes began in the early 1980s, and fisheries education was
incorporated into the school curriculum. Fish aggregating devices and navigational aids were located
at various strategic points. Moreover, the opening up of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the
Maldives for fisheries has further enhanced the growth of the fisheries sector.
As of 2010, fisheries contributed over 15% of the country's GDP and engaged about 30% of the
country's work force. Fisheries were also the second-largest foreign exchange earner after tourism.

Demographics[edit]
Mal, the capital of the Maldives

Demographics of the Maldives, from 2000 to 2012

Main article: Demographics of the Maldives

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The largest ethnic group are Dhivehis, native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands comprising
today's Republic of Maldives and the island of Minicoy in Union territory of Lakshadweep, India.
They share the same culture and speak the Dhivehi language. They are principally an Indo-
Aryan people, closely related to the Sinhalese having traces of Middle Eastern, South
Asian, Austronesian and African genes in the population.
In the past there was also a small Tamil population known as the Giraavaru people. This group have
now been almost completely absorbed into the larger Maldivian society but were once native to the
island of Giraavaru (Kaafu Atoll). This island was evacuated in 1968 due to heavy erosion of the
island.
Some social stratification exists on the islands. It is not rigid, since rank is based on varied factors,
including occupation, wealth, Islamic virtue, and family ties. Instead of a complex caste system,
there was merely a distinction between noble (bfulhu) and common people in the Maldives.
Members of the social elite are concentrated in Mal.
The population doubled by 1978, and the population growth rate peaked at 3.4% in 1985. At the
2006 census, the population had reached 298,968,[98] although the census in 2000 showed that the
population growth rate had declined to 1.9%. Life expectancy at birth stood at 46 years in 1978, and
later rose to 72. Infant mortality has declined from 12.7% in 1977 to 1.2% today, and adult literacy
reached 99%. Combined school enrolment reached the high 90s. The population was projected to
have reached 317,280 in 2010.[99]
As of April 2008, more than 70,000 foreign employees, along with 33,000 illegal immigrants,
comprised more than one third of the Maldivian population.[citation needed]. There are 40,000 Bangladeshis
in the Maldives, making them the largest group of foreigners working in that country.[100] Other
immigrants include Filipinos in the Maldives as well as various Western expatriates.
Religion[edit]
See also: Islam in the Maldives, Buddhism in the Maldives, and Freedom of religion in the Maldives
Maldives religions (2010)[101]

Islam 98.4%
other 1.6%

Mosque in Hulhumal

After the long Buddhist[102] period of Maldivian history, Muslim traders introduced Sunni Islam.
Maldivians converted to Islam by the mid-12th century. The islands have had a long history
of Sufic orders, as can be seen in the history of the country such as the building of tombs. They were
used until as recently as the 1980s for seeking the help of buried saints. They can be seen today
next to some old mosques and are considered today as cultural heritage.
Other aspects of tassawuf, such as ritualised dhikr ceremonies called Mauldu (Mawlid)
the liturgy of which included recitations and certain supplications in a melodical toneexisted until
very recent times. These Mauldu festivals were held in ornate tents specially built for the occasion.
At present Islam is the official religion of the entire population, as adherence to it is required for
citizenship.
According to Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta, the person responsible for this conversion was a Sunni
Muslim visitor named Abu al-Barakat, sailing from Morocco. He is also referred to
as Tabrizugefaanu. His venerated tomb now stands on the grounds of the Friday Mosque, or Hukuru
Miskiy, in Mal. Built in 1656, this is the country's oldest mosque.
Languages[edit]

Thaana script

The official and common language is Dhivehi, an Indo-Aryan language having some similarities
with Elu, the ancient Sinhalese language. The first known script used to write Dhivehi is Eveyla
akuru script which is found in historical recording of kings (raadhavalhi). Later a script called Dhives
akuru was used for a long period. The present-day script is called Thaana and is written from right to
left. Thaana is said to have been introduced by the reign of Mohamed Thakurufaanu.
Population by locality[edit]

e
Largest localities in Maldives
by registered population as of July 4, 2012

Rank Name Division Po

1 Mal Mal
2 Addu City Addu Atoll
3 Fuvahmulah Gnaviyani Atoll
4 Kulhudhuffushi Haa Dhaalu
5 Thinadhoo Gaafu Dhaalu
Mal 6 Naifaru Lhaviyani
7 Hinnavaru Lhaviyani
8 Gan Laamu
9 Dhuvaafaru Raa

Addu City 10 Dhidhdhoo Haa Alifu

Culture[edit]

Electric bulbul tarang playing

Main article: Culture of the Maldives

See also: Music of the Maldives and Maldivian folklore

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Since the 12th century AD there were also influences from Arabia in the language and culture of the
Maldives because of the conversion to Islam and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian
Ocean. This was due to the long trading history between the far east and the middle
east. Somali travellers discovered the island for gold in the 13th century, before the Portuguese.
Their brief stay later ended in a bloody conflict known by the Somalis as "Dagaal Diig Badaaney" in
1424.
However, unlike the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka and most of the Arabs, Africans and Europeans whose
influence can be seen in borrow-words, material culture, and the diversity of Maldivian phenotype,
Maldivians do not have the highly embedded patriarchal codes of honour, purity, corporate marriage,
and sedentary private property that are typical of places where agriculture is the key form of
subsistence and social relations have been built, historically, around tribute taking.[citation needed]
Reflective of this is the fact that the Maldives has had the highest national divorce rate in the world
for many decades. This, it is hypothesised, is due to a combination of liberal Islamic rules about
divorce and the relatively loose marital bonds that have been identified as common in non- and
semi-sedentary peoples without a history of fully developed agrarian property and kinship
relations.[103]

Transportation[edit]

TMA Terminal

Velana International Airport is the principal gateway to the Maldives. International travel is available
on a number of major airlines. Two Maldives based airlines also operate international flights.
Privately owned MEGA Maldives Airlines has Boeing 737 and 767 aircraft and operates frequent
services to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Government owned Island Aviation
Services (branded as Maldivian) operates to nearly all of Maldives domestic airports with several
Dash-8 aircraft and one A320 with international service to Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, India,
and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
In Maldives there are three main ways to move around: by domestic flight, by seaplane or by
boat.[104] For several years there were two seaplanes companies operating: TMA, Trans Maldivian
Airways, and Maldivian Air Taxi, but these merged in 2013 under the name TMA. The seaplane fleet
is entirely made up of DHC-6 Twin Otters. There is also another airline, flyMe, which operates using
ATRs to domestic airports, principally Maamagili and some others. The typical Maldivian boat is
called dhoni. Depending on the distance of the destination island to the airport, resorts organise
domestic flight plus boat transfers, seaplane flights directly to the resort island jetty, or speedboat
trips for their guests. There are also locally run ferries by large dhoni boats. Speedboats and
seaplanes tend to be more expensive, while travel by dhoni, although longer, is relatively cheaper
and convenient.

Education[edit]
The Maldives National University is one of the country's three institutions of higher education. Its
mission statement is as follows:
 To create, discover, preserve and disseminate knowledge that are necessary to enhance the lives
and livelihoods of people and essential for the cultural, social and economic development of the
society so that this nation shall remain free and Islamic forever.[105]
In 1973, the Allied Health Services Training Centre (the forerunner of the Faculty of Health
Sciences) was established by the Ministry of Health. The Vocational Training Centre was
established in 1974, providing training for mechanical and electrical trades. In 1984, the Institute for
Teacher Education was created and the School of Hotel and Catering Services was established in
1987 to provide trained personnel for the tourist industry. In 1991, the Institute of Management and
Administration was created to train staff for public and private services. In 1998, the Maldives
College of Higher Education was founded. The Institute of Sharah and Law was founded in January
1999. In 2000 the college launched its first degree programme: Bachelor of Arts. On 17 January
2011 the Maldives National University Act was passed by the President of the Maldives; The
Maldives National University was named on 15 February 2011.[106]

See also[edit]

Geography portal

Asia portal

South Asia portal

SAARC portal
Maldives portal

Islands portal

Outline of Maldives
Index of Maldives-related articles
27596 Maldives, a minor planet named after the nation
Commonwealth of Nations
List of island countries
Maldives Ancient Desalination System

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Further reading[edit]
Divehiraajjege Jgrafge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Ssan. Mal 1999.
H. C. P. Bell, The Maldive Islands, An account of the Physical Features, History, Inhabitants,
Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883, ISBN 81-206-1222-1.
H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands; Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy.
Reprint Colombo 1940. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Mal 1989.
H.C.P. Bell, Excerpta Maldiviana. Reprint Colombo 1922/35 edn. Asian Educational Services.
New Delhi 1999.
Divehi Trkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahi Trikhah Khidmaiykur Qaum Markazu. Reprint
1958 edn. Mal, Maldives 1990.
Christopher, William (183638). Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, Vol. I.
Bombay.
Lieut. I.A. Young & W. Christopher, Memoirs on the Inhabitants of the Maldive Islands.
Geiger, Wilhelm. Maldivian Linguistic Studies. Reprint 1919 edn. Asian Educational Services.
Delhi 1999.
Hockly, T.W. The Two Thousand Isles. Reprint 1835 edn. Asian Educational Services. Delhi
2003.
Hideyuki Takahashi, Maldivian National Security And the Threats of Mercenaries, The Round
Table (London), No. 351, July 1999, pp. 433444.
Malten, Thomas: Malediven und Lakkadiven. Materialien zur Bibliographie der Atolle im
Indischen Ozean. Beitrge zur Sdasien-Forschung Sdasien-Institut Universitt Heidelberg, Nr.
87. Franz Steiner Verlag. Wiesbaden, 1983.
Vilgon, Lars: Maldive and Minicoy Islands Bibliography with the Laccadive Islands. Published by
the author. Stockholm, 1994.
Clarence Maloney, People of the Maldive Islands, Orient Black Swan, 2013
Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders : a study of the popular culture of an ancient ocean
kingdom, NEI, 1999
Xavier Romero-Frias, Folk Tales of the Maldives, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, 2012
Djan Sauerborn, The Perils of Rising Fundamentalism in the Maldives, International Relations
and Security Network (ISN), Zrich, September 2013
Djan Sauerborn, Failing to Transition: Democratization under Stress in the Maldives, South Asia
Democratic Forum (SADF), February 2015
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