Maldives - History, Economy, Politics, Judiciary, Administrative Divisions, Geography, Demographics, Culture

Official name Republic of Maldives

Local name Dhivehi Jumhuriya Timezone GMT +5 Area 300 km²/116 sq mi population total (2002e) 281 000 Status Independent republic within the Commonwealth Date of independence 1968 Capital Malé Languages Dhivehi (official), Arabic, Hindi, and English widely spoken Ethnic groups Sinhalese (Dravidian extraction mainly), also Arab, Negrito, African influences Religion Almost 100% Sunni Muslim Physical features Island archipelago in the Indian Ocean; comprises c.1190 islands (202 inhabited) in a chain of 20 coral atolls; many small and low-lying with sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms; none of the islands rising above 1·8 m/5 ft; 10% of land arable, 3% forested. Climate Generally warm and humid; wet season created by SW monsoons (Apr–Oct), dry season by NE monsoon (Dec–Mar); average annual rainfall, 2100 mm/83 in; average daily temperature 22°C. Currency 1 Rufiyaa (MVR) = 100 laaris Economy Agriculture; breadfruit, banana, mango, cassava, sweet potato, millet; fishing, shipping, tourism. GDP (2002e) $1·25 bn, per capita $3900 Human Development Index (2002) 0·743 History Former dependency of Ceylon (Sri Lanka); British protectorate, 1887–1965; became a Republic within the Commonwealth, 1953; Sultan restored, 1954; independence outside the Commonwealth, 1965; rejoined Commonwealth, 1982; state of emergency following pro-democracy protests, 2004; governed by a president, a ministers' Majlis (cabinet), and a citizens' Majlis of 48 members elected for five years; many areas strongly hit by tsunami, 2004.

ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމުހޫރިއްޔާ Republic of Maldives
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Gavmii mi ekuverikan matii tibegen kuriime salaam ("In National Unity Do We Salute Our Nation")
Capital	Malé 4°10′N 73°30′E
Largest city	Malé
Official languages	Dhivehi
Government	Republic
- President	Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom
Independence
- from UK	26 July 1965
Area
- Total	298 km² (204th) 115 sq mi
- Water (%)	negligible
Population
- July 2005 estimate	329,000 (176th1)
- 2006 census	298,842
- Density	1,105/km² (9th) 2,862/sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
- Total	$2.569 billion (162nd)
- Per capita	$7,675 (79th)
HDI  (2003)	0.745 (medium) (96th)
Currency	Rufiyaa (MVR)
Time zone	(UTC+5)
Internet TLD	.mv
Calling code	+960
1 Rank based on UN estimate for 2005.

Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives are located south of India's Lakshadweep islands, and about seven hundred kilometers (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka. Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands", or from "mahila dvipa", meaning "island of women". In 1965, Maldives obtained independence from Britain (originally under the name "Maldive Islands"), and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic.

Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of population.

History

Western interest in the archaeological remains of early cultures on Maldives began with the work of H.C.P. But by the fourth century AD, Theravada Buddhism came from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) and became the dominant religion of the people of Maldives. Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands".Also "Mal" is fish "deeb" is land is also a favored suggestion by many islanders.

In the mid-1980s, the Maldivian government allowed the noted explorer and expert on early marine navigation, Thor Heyerdahl, to excavate ancient sites.

Heyerdahl's research indicates that as early as 2000 BC, Maldives lay on the maritime trading routes of early Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Indus Valley civilizations. Heyerdahl's early mosques have now in large part been converted to face Mecca, as Islam gained solidarity in Maldives, in the earlier half of the modern Republic.

According to Maldivian legend, a Sinhalese prince named Koimala was stranded with his bride — daughter of the king of Sri Lanka — in a Maldivian lagoon and stayed on to rule as the first sultan from the House of Theemuge.

Over the centuries, the islands have been visited and their development influenced by sailors from countries on the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean littorals.

Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate for most of its history from 1153 to 1968, Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until July 25, 1965.

In November 1988, Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka invaded the Maldives. After an appeal by the Maldivian government for help, India launched a military campaign to throw the mercenaries out of Maldives.

On 26 December 2004 the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Economy

Current GDP per capita of Maldives registered a peak growth of 26.5% in the 1980s and stabilisied around 11.5% in the 1990s.

Tourism and Fisheries form the two key components of Maldivian economy.

Fisheries

The Maldivian economy was entirely dependent on fishing and other marine products for many centuries.

The mechanization of the traditional fishing boat called "Dhoni" in 1974 was a major milestone in the development of the fisheries industry and the country's economy in general. Moreover, the opening up of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Maldives for fisheries has further enhanced the growth of the fisheries sector.

Tourism

The development of tourism has fostered the overall growth of the country's economy.

Cottage industries

The development of the tourism sector gave a major boost to the country's fledging traditional cottage industries such as mat weaving, lacquer work, handicraft, and coir rope making.

Politics

Politics in the Maldives takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of government.

The unicameral Majlis of the Maldives is composed of fifty members serving five-year terms. however, opposition parties were legalized in 2005 after the elections.But to which the amendments to the acts in the constitution havent yet been brought.The opposition party Maldivian Democtratic Party has tried hard to achieve its goals in amending the existing constitution,which in all major aspects has failed due to the government pressure and hesitaions to stop the process.

Judiciary

Ustaz Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim from Fuvahmulah is the present chief justice of Maldives.

The Maldives have, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Project, undertaken to write the first Muslim criminal code in the history of the world.

Maldives and the Indian Ocean Commission

Since 1996, Maldives has been the official progress monitor of the Indian Ocean Commission.

Administrative Divisions

Maldives has twenty-six natural atolls which have been divided into twenty administrative atolls and one city. The smallest atoll is Gnaviyani Atoll with only one island (the largest island in Maldives). The largest atoll in both Maldives and the whole world is Gaafu Alif Atoll which is just south of the One and a Half Degree Channel.

Each atoll is administered by an Atoll Chief (Atholhu Veriyaa) appointed by the President (Maumoon Abdul Gayoom).

Geography

Maldives holds the record for being the flattest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 m (7½ ft), though in areas where construction exists this has been increased to several metres.

A tsunami in the Indian Ocean caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake caused parts of Maldives to be covered by sea water and left many people homeless.

Demographics

The Maldivian ethnic identity is a blend of the cultures reflecting the peoples who settled on the islands, reinforced by religion and language.

The official and common language is Dhivehi, an Indo-European language related to Sinhalese, the language of Sri Lanka.

Culture

Maldivian culture is derived from a number of sources and factors.

The music of the Maldives, such as Bodu-Beru (literally "Big Drum"), showcase their African roots, and other cultural activities resemble similarity to those of Arab and North Indian regions.

A unique feature of Maldivian society is a very high divorce rate by either South Asian or Islamic standards, which demonstrates the high degree of autonomy that Maldivian women have over their lives.

The Maldives is an almost exclusively Islamic society.

Also see:

Islam in the Maldives Music of the Maldives Arts and Crafts of the Maldives Aafathis Daily - newspaper