A NATION ON THE SEA
A mere 298 square kilometers make up the twenty-six atolls of the Republic of Maldives. With its immaculate beaches and luxury resorts, Maldives is best known as a tropical getaway for tourists looking for a place to relax. Unsurprisingly, tourism is one of the country's biggest industries.
The Maldives' official language is Dhivehi, but English is commonly used as well.
The Maldives' official language is Dhivehi, but English is commonly used as well.
HISTORY
Historically, the Maldives has been closely connected with its neighbors, India and Sri Lanka, and with the Arab world. Many Maldivian immigrants, past and present, can trace their roots to India or Sri Lanka. Even the earliest known residents of the Maldives were exiled Sinhalese.
Middle Eastern traders would inspire the 12th century conversion to Islam and the sultanship that would last into the 20th century. To this day, the country's official religion is Sunni Muslim. |
First as a tributary to British controlled Ceylon, then as an internally self-governed British Protectorate, the Maldives has felt the effects of linguistic and non-linguistic colonialism. The Maldives gained its independence in 1965, following the conclusion of World War II.
The political situation in the Maldives has been difficult in the period after liberation. In 1978, President Mamoon Abdul Gayoon took power and abolished all opposing political parties. In the 2004 Black Friday Riots, his government even went as far as to suspend the Maldivian Constitution. After thirty years in power, Gayoon was removed from office following the ratification of the new constitution and multi-party election in 2009.
Unfortunately, the political turmoil has not ended with Gayoon's rule. The winner of the 2009 democratic election, President Mohammed Nasheed, was forced out of office in 2012 under questionable circumstances and replaced briefly by President Mohammed Hassan. In the special elections the following year, President Abdulla Yameen took the presidency, after a controversial election. President Yameen has been criticized both within the Maldives and on the world stage for his undemocratic actions. In 2018, declared of a state of emergency and made an attempt to seize the Maldivian Supreme Court.
The political situation in the Maldives has been difficult in the period after liberation. In 1978, President Mamoon Abdul Gayoon took power and abolished all opposing political parties. In the 2004 Black Friday Riots, his government even went as far as to suspend the Maldivian Constitution. After thirty years in power, Gayoon was removed from office following the ratification of the new constitution and multi-party election in 2009.
Unfortunately, the political turmoil has not ended with Gayoon's rule. The winner of the 2009 democratic election, President Mohammed Nasheed, was forced out of office in 2012 under questionable circumstances and replaced briefly by President Mohammed Hassan. In the special elections the following year, President Abdulla Yameen took the presidency, after a controversial election. President Yameen has been criticized both within the Maldives and on the world stage for his undemocratic actions. In 2018, declared of a state of emergency and made an attempt to seize the Maldivian Supreme Court.
As of September of this year, 2018, Yameen has been forced to step down following a presidential election that saw an approximately ninety-percent turn out rate for eligible Maldivian voters. President Ibrahim Solih has officially become the Seventh President of the Maldives as of November.
|
|
POPULATION
The Maldives has seen a huge surge in population in recent years due in large part to the increase in tourism and foreign workers in the tourism industry. Population projections for 2018 number at 512,000, approximately three-fifths of whom are predicted to be males. "Maldives in Figures: Monthly Statistics, October 2018." 2018 |
GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT
A collection of corral-reef islands, the Maldives ranks 220th in country size: a total of 298 square kilometers of land. 644 km of this land is made up of stretching coastlines. The Maldives maintains a tropical climate year round; it is ever pleasant, but for the exception of monsoon season in the late summer months.
|
The highest point in the Maldives is only five meters above sea level; global warming and the melting icecaps remain a major concern for the government and people of the Maldives.
In fact, the 8th tee, golf course on Villingi Island is the highest point in the Maldives at a mere five meters above sea level! |
Gregory Ritchie, 2018