Portal:Maldives/Selected articles
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/1 Koimala Siri Mahaabarana Mahaa Radun (Dhivehi: ކޮއިމަލާ ސިރީ މަހާބަރަނަ މަހާ ރަދުން) or Koimala (Dhivehi: ކޮއިމަލާ, lit. 'flower lad') or Koimala Kalo (Dhivehi: ކޮއިމަލާ ކަލޯ, lit. 'Lord Koimala') is the last pre-Islamic and the earliest verifiable ruler of the Maldives. He reigned from A.D. 1117 to A.D. 1141.
According to the Isdhoo Loamaafaanu, he unified the Maldives from Minicoy (now a part of India) to Addu in the south under his rule. Local folklores claim that he was the second Muslim ruler, however it is his successor, Dhovemi, who converted to Islam in 1153. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/2 Established on the National Day of the Maldives, the first National Museum of the country was opened on 11 November 1952, by the Prime Minister at the time, Mohamed Amin Didi. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/3 Maldivian mythology or Maldivian folklore is the body of myths, tales and anecdotes belonging to the oral tradition of Maldivians. Even though some of the Maldivian myths were already mentioned briefly by British commissioner in Ceylon HCP Bell towards the end of the 19th century, their study and publication were carried out only quite recently by Spanish writer and artist Xavier Romero-Frias, at a time when that ancestral worldview was quickly disappearing.
The Maldives lie in the warm equatorial area of the Indian Ocean surrounded by very deep waters. This nation is made up exclusively of coral atolls. There are about 1,200 small flat and sandy islands, but only about 200 of them are inhabited. (Full article...)
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The Sultanate of the Maldive Islands was an Islamic monarchy that controlled the Maldives for 815 years (1153–1968), with one interruption from 1953–1954.
Maldives was a Buddhist kingdom until its last monarch, King Dhovemi, converted to Islam in the year 1153; thereafter he also adopted the Muslim title and name Sultan Muhammad al-Adil. Six dynasties would rule over the Maldives until the Sultanate become elective in 1932. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/5 A constitutional referendum was held in the Maldives on 15 March 1968. The main question was whether to convert the state from a constitutional monarchy under Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi to a presidential republic. The referendum was the third on the subject; the first in 1952 had seen the state convert to a presidential system, whilst a second in 1953 reversed the decision and saw the monarchy restored in 1954.
The proposals were approved by over 80% of voters, and a republic was declared on 11 November that year. Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir would become president. (Full article...)
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The 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt was by a group of Sri Lankans and Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufee and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organization from Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives. The attempt was thwarted with Indian assistance in Operation Cactus. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/7 Black Friday (Dhivehi: ކަޅު ހުކުރު), August 13, 2004, was the crackdown by the Maldivian National Security Service (NSS) — later Maldivian National Defence Force — on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives, Malé. This unplanned and unorganized demonstration was the largest such protest in the country's history. Beginning on the evening of August 12, 2004, the demonstration grew and continued until it was forcefully ended on the afternoon of August 13, 2004. Protesters initially demanding the freeing of the pro-reformists arrested on the afternoon of August 12, 2004. As the protest continued to grow, people demanded the resignation of president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had been in power since 1978. What started as a peaceful demonstration ended after 22 hours, as the country's darkest day in recent history. Several people were severely injured as NSS personnel used riot batons and teargas on unarmed civilians.
Pursuant to the powers vested in him by Section 144 of the Constitution — and for only the second time in Maldives history — president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom declared a State of Emergency in Malé and the nearby islands a few minutes after the crackdown. Several members of the Majlis, former cabinet ministers, and many reformists were arrested. As a symbol of unity, President Gayoom pardoned all arrested following the December 26th tsunami. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/8 The 2005 Maldivian civil unrest refers to the civil unrest that broke out in Malé, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and Addu Atoll of the Maldives on August 12, 2005, which led to events that supported the democratic reform of the country. This unrest was provoked by the arrest of Mohamed Nasheed - an open critic of the president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom - and the subsequent demolition of the Dhunfini tent, used by the members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for their gatherings. Supporters of MDP were quick to demonstrate. They started calling for the resignation of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, soon after Nasheed's arrest. Several arrests were made on the first night followed by the demolition of the Dhunfini tent. The demolition complicated the situation further provoking the unrest. The unrest grew violent on the third night, on August 14, 2005, due to the methods used in the attempts by the authority to stop the demonstration.
The unrest continued intermittently for three nights, from August 12 to August 14, 2005. By August 15, 2005, the uprising was controlled with the presence of heavy security around Malé. Almost a fourth of the city had to be cordoned off during the unrest. (Full article...)
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Mariyam Azza (born 20 April 1989) is a Maldivian film actress. She is the daughter of actress Aminath Rasheedha and younger sister to actress turned director Aishath Rishmy. (Full article...)
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Presidential elections were held in the Maldives on 8 and 23 October 2008, the first democratic elections in the country. As no candidate won a majority in the first round, a runoff was held on 28 October between the two candidates among the contestants who received the most votes, incumbent president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed, who received the second most votes after Gayoom in the first round. Nasheed was elected to the office after winning a majority in the runoff, unseating incumbent president Gayoom who held the office for six terms, lasting three decades. (Full article...)
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Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan (Arabic: إبراهيم ناصر; Dhivehi: އިބްރާހިމް ނާޞިރު ރަންނަބަނޑޭރި ކިލޭގެފާނު; 2 September 1926 – 22 November 2008), KCMG, NGIV commonly known as Ibrahim Nasir, was a Maldivian politician who adhered to the non-aligned ideology and was a staunch anti-imperialist. Nasir served as the Prime Minister of the Maldives from 1957 to 1968 under the monarchy, and later the first President of the Second Republic of Maldives from 1968 to 1978. Nasir served two terms (one term consisting of 5 years), then he decided to retire, even though the People's Majlis voted him in for a third term. Nasir is remembered as an independence hero for guiding the Maldives to independence from the British Empire, he is also credited for establishing the tourism industry in the Maldives, as well as rapidly modernizing and developing the country and economy. (Full article...)
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Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (/ɡaɪˈjuːm/ gah-YOOM; Dhivehi: މައުމޫން ޢަބްދުލް ޤައްޔޫމް; born Abdulla Maumoon Khairi; 29 December 1937) is a Maldivian statesman, diplomat and scholar who served as the 3rd president of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. He previously served as the Minister of Transport from 1977 to 1978, and as the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations from 1976 to 1977. After serving six presidential terms, Gayoom became the longest serving president in Asia.
Gayoom was born and raised in Malé. After serving as a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, he returned to the Maldives in 1971 and worked as a teacher at Aminiya School. He was later appointed the manager of shipping department at the government. Gayoom was placed under house arrest in 1973 for criticising the policies of the then-president Nasir. He was later banished to Makunudhoo for four years but was released five months later as part of an amnesty following President Nasir's re-election for a second term. In 1974, he was arrested again for his continued criticism of Nasir's policies, but after 50 days in jail, he was freed and, in 1975, appointed as Special Undersecretary in the Prime Minister's Office. Gayoom later served as the deputy ambassador of the Maldives to Sri Lanka and was appointed deputy minister of transport under minister Hassan Zareer. After serving as deputy minister, he was appointed Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations in 1976. Following the vacancy of minister of transport, Gayoom was appointed to the position. As president Nasir chose not to seek re-election, a vote in the Citizen's Majlis which selected Gayoom as the candidate. In July 1978, Gayoom won the presidential referendum with 92.96% of the vote. (Full article...)
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Mohamed Muizzu (born 15 June 1978) is a Maldivian politician and engineer who has been serving as the 8th president of the Maldives and leader of the Progressive Congress coalition since 2023. He previously served as housing minister from 2012 to 2018, making him the longest-serving housing minister in Maldivian history. Muizzu was the mayor of Malé from 2021 until his resignation in 2023.
Born in Malé, Muizzu studied civil engineering in the United Kingdom and completed his PhD in 2009 at University of Leeds. He was appointed Minister of Housing in 2012 and served until 2018. He then became the Mayor of Malé. As a member of the People's National Congress, Muizzu was nominated as the presidential candidate following the imprisonment of former president Abdulla Yameen on corruption charges. Since Yameen was ineligible to stand for election, Muizzu was selected as his successor. He was the People's National Congress candidate in the 2023 presidential election, where he defeated the incumbent president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Muizzu has received the position of leader of the Progressive Congress coalition, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Maldives National Defence Force in 2023, making Muizzu the first Maldivian President to hold the most positions in the Maldivian history. Further, He served as the Senior Vice President of the Maldives Development Alliance from 2013 to 2018, Deputy leader of Progressive Party of Maldives and Secretary General of the Adhaalath Party from 2010 to 2014. (Full article...)
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Sumuvvul Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu (Dhivehi: ސުމުއްވުލް އަމީރު މުހައްމަދު އަމީން ދޮށިމޭނާ ކިލެގެފާނު; July 20, 1910 – January 19, 1954), popularly known as Mohamed Amin Didi, was a Maldivian politician who served as the first president of the Maldives and as the head of government between January 1, 1953, and August 21, 1953. Amin Didi was also the principal of Majeedhiyya School from 1946 to 1953.
Amin Didi was the leader of the first political party in the Maldives, Rayyithunge Muthagaddim Party. His political program included efforts to modernize the country, including the advancement of women, education in the Maldives, nationalising the fish export industry and an unpopular ban on tobacco smoking. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/16 Izzuddine, Crown Prince of the Maldives (Hassan Izzuddine; 11 July 1901 – 25 September 1940) was the son of the Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. He was named the Crown Prince of the Maldives on February 8, 1931 by his father.
He studied at Royal College Colombo in Ceylon. After spending several years in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), he came back in 1920 and took up residence at Muliaage. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/17 Abdulla, (Ibrahim Faamuladheyri Kilegefan; 16 April 1766 – 7 June 1829) was crown prince of Dhiyamigili dynasty and the Maldives as the son of Sultan Muhammad Ghiyasuddin I of the Dhiyamigili dynasty.
Abdulla was the son of Muhammad Ghiyasuddin I and Queen Aminath Manikufaanu. After protests over the assassination of his father Sultan Muhammad Ghiyasuddin, Prince Abdulla was banished to Fuvahmulah at the age of seven; causing Abdulla not to ascend to the throne. Abdulla was born in Malé, as the heir apparent. (Full article...)
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Muhammed Ghiya'as ud-din (Muhammed Manikufaanu; 15 June 1710 – 7 October 1774), the son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar II, was the sultan of the Maldives from 1767 to 1773. As per the will of his predecessor Dhon Bandaarain, Muhammed Manifufaanu ascended the throne and reigned as Sultan Al-Haj Muhammed Ghiya'as ud-din Iskandar Sri Kula Sundara Maha Radun. He was the last sultan of the Dhiyamigili Dynasty; he was deposed while away on a pilgrimage, and later, on his return trip he drowned, or was murdered by Muhammad Shamsuddeen II. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/19 Izzuddin (Hassan Izzuddin; 14 April 1720 – 1 February 1767), commonly known as Dhon Bandaarain, was the King of the Maldives from December 1759 until his death in February 1767. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/20 The history of the Maldives is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of South Asia and Indian Ocean. The modern nation is formed of 26 natural atolls, comprising 1194 islands. Historically, the Maldives has held strategic importance due to its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives's nearest neighbors are the British Indian Ocean Territory, Sri Lanka and India. The United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and some Indian kingdoms have had cultural and economic ties with the Maldives for centuries. In addition to these countries, Maldivians also traded with Aceh and many other kingdoms in what is today Indonesia and Malaysia. The Maldives provided the primary source of cowrie shells, which were then used as currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. Most likely, the Maldives were influenced by the Kalingas of ancient India. The Kalingas were the earliest region of India to trade with Sri Lanka and the Maldives and were responsible for the spread of Buddhism. Stashes of Chinese crockery found buried in various locations in the Maldives also show that there was direct or indirect trade contact between China and the Maldives. In 1411 and 1430, the Chinese admiral Zheng He (鄭和) visited the Maldives. The Chinese also became the first country to establish a diplomatic office in the Maldives when the Chinese nationalist government based in Taipei opened an embassy in Malé in 1966. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China has since replaced this office.
After the 16th century, when colonial powers took over much of the trade in the Indian Ocean, politics in the Maldives were interfered with by first the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and the French. However, this interference ended when the Maldives became a British Protectorate in the 19th century. The Maldivian monarchs were granted a good measure of self-governance. (Full article...)
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In January 2024, relations between India and the Maldives, traditionally close neighbors with strong historical and cultural ties, became strained due to derogatory remarks made by Maldivian cabinet ministers and concerns over racism directed at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India as a whole.
Reactions in India called for a boycott of vacations to the Maldives. The dispute with the Maldives also led to the death of a young Maldivian teenager who was waiting to be transported to India for medical treatment via an air ambulance. His family's request for evacuation was denied by Maldivian authorities. (Full article...)
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Portal:Maldives/Selected articles/22 The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scandal was a major corruption scandal in the Maldives. In the scheme, more than $90 million was embezzled from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation. The scandal was made public by a 2016 investigation in Al Jazeera. It culminated in the conviction and imprisonment of former president Abdulla Yameen. (Full article...)
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Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik (Dhivehi: ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު ވަޙީދު ޙަސަން މަނިކު; born 3 January 1953) is a Maldivian politician who served as president of the Maldives from 7 February 2012 to 17 November 2013, having succeeded to the office following the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed, under whom he served as Vice President. He had previously worked as a news anchor, a teacher, a principle, a United Nations international civil servant with UNICEF, UNDP and UNESCO, and as member of the Maldivian Parliament.
He assumed the office of president on 7 February 2012, following the resignation of the incumbent, Mohamed Nasheed. Initially, Nasheed claimed that a coup d'état had occurred, however these claims were proved to be false by an independent report from the Commission of National Inquiry. Nasheed initially accepted this report "with reservations", but later refuted it in its entirety. (Full article...)
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Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Dhivehi: އިބްރާހީމް މުޙައްމަދް ޞޯލިޙް; born 1 March 1962), commonly known as Ibu, is a Maldivian politician who served as president of the Maldives from 2018 to 2023.
Solih was first elected to the People's Majlis in 1994, then aged 32 as the MP from his home atoll of Faadhippolhu. He played a leading role in the formation of the Maldivian Democratic Party and the Maldives political reform movement from 2003 until 2008, which led to the country adopting a new modern constitution and the establishment of a multi-party democracy for the first time in its history. Solih was also a senior member of parliament and the Special Majlis which wrote the country's constitution. Solih was elected president of Maldives on 23 September 2018 following the 2018 presidential election. (Full article...)
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Mohamed Nasheed GCSK (Dhivehi: މުހައްމަދު ނަޝީދު; born 17 May 1967), also known as Anni (Dhivehi: އަންނި), is a Maldivian politician and activist who served as president of the Maldives from 2008 until his resignation in 2012. A founding member of the Maldivian Democratic Party, he subsequently served as the 19th speaker of the People's Majlis from May 2019 until his resignation in November 2023. He is the first democratically elected president of the Maldives and the only president to resign from office. He is currently a member of The Democrats.
Born in Malé, Nasheed was educated overseas before returning to the Maldives and becoming involved in political activism. He was first elected to Parliament in 1999 but was later forced to leave office, and was arrested and imprisoned several times during his early career. His arrest in 2005 prompted civil unrest. In the first round of the 2008 presidential election, he won 25% of the votes and later defeated incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had governed the Maldives as president for 30 continuous years. As President, Nasheed played a role in drawing international attention to the threat of climate change to the Maldives. (Full article...)