Everything you need to know about Maldives: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Maldives: Coral Country in the Indian Ocean
The Buddhists seafarers from India and Sri Lanka first settled in the Maldives in the 5th century BC. Around 11th century AD Maldives came in contact with Islamic power and soon the influence of Islam permeated the whole nation. For long period of time Maldives was under the suzerainty of Sri Lanka. In the first half of 18th century British developed trading relation with Maldives and in 1887 it became a British protectorate. The British granted sovereignty to Maldives in 1965 following which it adopted a republican form of government in 1952 but again the sultanate was restored in 1954. But in 1968 republic was again restored as a result of public referendum.
Culture and Cuisine of Maldives:
The culture of Maldives is made up of many diverse cultures brought by the seafarers who settled in Maldives. Buddhist influence in the Maldives culture is the result of contact with Sri Lanka whereas British and Portuguese culture also influenced the Maldives later on. After the long Buddhist period Muslim traders introduced Sunni Islam that continues to have a strong hold till today. However certain portions of Sufism can also be seen in the Maldives.
Maldivian cuisine has also been influenced by the Sri Lankan and Indian cuisines. The delicate preparation of Maldives cuisine with rich use of spices gives titillating tastes. Fish in addition to other delicious seafood’s is the most significant part of cuisine in Maldives. Some of the chief fishes cooked are baracuda, trevallies and tuna that are served with different types of curries.
Economy of Maldives:
The Maldives economy is based on three principal activities: fishing, tourism and shipping. Traditional industries consist of local boat or dhoni building, handicrafts such as mat-weaving, jewelry-making and lacquer work. Tourism remains the major source of foreign currency and the major support for the Maldives economy. In recent years the Maldives government has gone for economic liberalization and privatization to achieve rapid modernization.
Tourist Attractions of Maldives:
Maldives is considered as one of the best tourists destinations due to the presence of silvery sandy beaches fringed with coconuts & palm tress, vast expansion of blue water of Indian Ocean and world class tourists’ facilities. Maldives is famous for it’s under water coral garden and gives the best glimpses of marine beauty during deep water diving.
Male: is the capital of Maldives. It is a busy city and famous for its picturesque mosques and narrow winding streets. Male is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Maldives due to old-fashioned beauty and several shopping arcades.
Grand Friday Mosque: Masjid-al-Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu-al-A zam is the biggest mosque of Maldives. Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar constructed this grand architecture in 1656 that gives the glimpse of bygone times
Male, June 18 (IANS) The Maldives anti-corruption watchdog has ruled out any corruption in the deal to award the country's only operational international airport to Indian infrastructure giant GMR group, a media report said Tuesday.
Washington, June 11 (ANI): A luxury underwater hotel is set to be built on the remote and postcard perfect tropical island of Kuredhivaru in the Maldive Islands, with the National Ministry of Tourism giving the green signal to the ambitious plan last week.
Kolkata, June 9 (IANS) Kolkata will reverberate with distorted notes of electric guitars and thick sounds of bass and drums on June 15 when metal bands from the Maldives, France and Dubai will come together for a musical extravaganza in the city.
Bangkok, June 9 (IANS) Twenty-year-old K. Srikanth outplayed top seed Boonsak Ponsana to triumph at the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold badminton event here Sunday and win the first major title of his blossoming career.
New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Former Maldives president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is on a three-day visit to India, officials said here Tuesday.
Male, June 3 (IANS) The Maldives has assured the US that the presidential election scheduled to be held in September will be free and fair.
Bangkok, June 1 (IANS) Thailand and Sri Lanka have agreed to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation on religion, trade and investment, and education, Xinhua reported Saturday.
Bangkok, May 30 (IANS) Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will pay official visits to Sri Lanka and Maldives from Friday to Sunday, the foreign ministry said.
United Nations, May 10 (IANS) A senior UN official stressed that the upcoming elections in the Maldives represent an important opportunity to move forward with its democratic transition.
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) The envoys of four nations -- Ecuador, the Maldives, Lithuania and Malawi -- presented their credentials to President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan here Thursday.
New Delhi, May 9 (ANI): Four envoys presented their credentials to President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here today.
Abu Dhabi, May 3 (IANS/WAM) Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the UAE, and Air France have announced a number of new codeshare destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe for the summer of 2013.
New York, April 25 (ANI): A senior Commonwealth advisory group should recommend the organization shift the venue of its November 2013 Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from Sri Lanka unless the government makes prompt, measurable, and meaningful progress on human rights, Human Rights Watch said today.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) The recent incursion by the Chinese army into Indian territory is a serious issue and the government must take it up at the top level, the BJP demanded Wednesday.
New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Strong tremors rocked large parts of north India, including the national capital and its adjoining areas, Tuesday evening following a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the Pakistan-Iran border. Following is the list of some of the major quakes in India in the last 10 years.
New Delhi, Apr. 15 (ANI): Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Monday said India stands committed to enhance defence co-operation with Maldivies.
New Delhi, April 15 (ANI): Maldives's Defence Minister Colonel Mohamed Nazim met his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony here on Monday in an endeavor to further strengthen bilateral and military ties between the two nations.
Male, April 10 (IANS) India has assured the Maldives of stronger ties between both countries, the Maldivian government said Wednesday.
Washington, April 7 (ANI): Huvafen Fushi, a luxury resort in the Maldives that claims to have the world's first underwater spa, is offering an innovative new menu of wellness packages.
New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said the Indian government's "quiet diplomacy" stood vindicated in the row with Italy and worked in taking a balanced line on Sri Lanka despite pressure to take a far tougher stance. He also maintained that Prime Manmohan Singh might still go to Pakistan if he had a "sense of comfort" that such a visit will result in a "substantive engagement" and "delivery".
New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) The fundamentals of India's relations with its neighbours are strong and any turbulence is a passing fancy, said External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid here Monday.
Manila, March 27 (IANS) The Philippines defeated Turkmenistan 1-0 to earn a spot in next year's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup in the Maldives.
Situated right on top of our planet, the Arctic Ocean has been frozen since times immemorial. Desolate, frigid and mysterious, it remained insignificant. However, of late, the Arctic is increasingly attracting global media coverage. For a single reason: it is melting rapidly. The consequences of which will be transnational and transoceanic, many of which cannot even be envisaged at this juncture.
New Delhi, March 15 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday sought a parliamentary debate on India's foreign policy.
New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Legends have blasted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the national team's dismal performance in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers earlier this month.
New Delhi, Mar. 12 (ANI): Indian diplomat-cum-poet Abhay K has been given the SAARC Literature Award for 2013 along with four other luminaries - poet Suman Pokhrel of Nepal, script writer and poet Farheen Chaudhary of Pakistan, Abdul Khaliq Rashid of Afghanistan and novelist Daya Dissanayake of Sri Lanka.
New Delhi, Mar. 8 (ANI): With former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed walking out of police custody as his trial for alleged illegal detention of a judge has been deferred by a month, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Friday said the latest developments are a part of that country's legal system, and added that New Delhi wants a strong democracy in Male.
New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) An unusually aggressive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday took on the BJP saying the Congress-led UPA performed better than the BJP-led NDA and hoped the ruling alliance would be voted back to power in 2014.
Yangon, March 6 (IANS) India's qualifying hopes for the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 finals suffered a huge set-back Wednesday as they went down 0-1 to hosts Myanmar in their last qualifying match in Group A at the Yangon Youth Training Centre here Wednesday.
New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday expressed concern over the "political instability" in the Maldives and said India would continue to monitor the situation there as it was for a democratic and prosperous nation.
Yangon, March 6 (IANS) A 75th minute strike by substitute Soe Min Oo sank India as Myanmar won 1-0 and booked a ticket for the prestigious AFC Challenge Cup 2014 finals after edging out India at the Yangon Youth Training Centre here Wednesday.
New Delhi, Mar. 6 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Wednesday appealed for peace in Maldives in wake of the recent arrest of former President Mohamed Nasheed.
New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday expressed concern over the "political instability" in the Maldives and said India would continue to monitor the situation there as it was for a democratic and prosperous Maldives.
Male, March 6 (IANS) Dozens of opposition demonstrators were arrested in the Maldivian capital Male Wednesday as violent protests broke out in the island nation following the arrest of former president Mohamed Nasheed Tuesday.
Male, Mar. 5 (ANI): Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has been arrested and will face charges of abuse of power during his tenure.
Yangon (Myanmar), March 5 (IANS) A draw against hosts Myanmar would see India top the group and qualify for AFC Challenge Cup 2014 in Maldives but coach Wim Koevermans says his team will only be going for a win when the two sides face off here Wednesday.
Male, March 4 (IANS) The Maldives parliament convened Monday for the first time this year amidst uproar by members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
London, Mar 2 (ANI): The Maldives government has said it is seeking to halt the public flogging of a 15-year-old girl who had been repeatedly raped by her step-father following outrage.
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday proposed a hike of over 16 percent in the external affairs ministry budget in 2013-14 at Rs.11,719 crore ($2.154 bn), with aid to neighbouring countries getting special focus.
London, Feb 27 (ANI): A 15-year-old rape victim in Maldives has been sentenced to 100 lashes for engaging in premarital sex.
Colombo, Feb 26 (IANS) Former longtime ruler of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said Tuesday he will not contest the upcoming presidential elections, ending months of speculation.
Male, Feb. 26 (Xinhua-ANI): Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has had talks with diplomats accredited to the Maldives based in Colombo on the current political situation in the country, Nasheed's spokesman said on Tuesday.
Colombo, Feb 24 (IANS) The US Sunday condemned the attacks on Maldivian journalists after three of them were attacked in capital Male.
Jakarta, Feb 23 (IANS) An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale jolted southwest Maluku province in Indonesia Saturday, Xinhua reported. There were however neither any immediate report of damage to property or casualties and nor was a tsunami warning issued.
Male/New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed left the Indian High Commission in Male Saturday, 11 days after he sought refuge following an arrest warrant against him in a court case.
Male/New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed left the Indian High Commission here Saturday, 11 days after he sought refuge following an arrest warrant against him in a court case.
Male/New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) India Friday said there has been "some forward movement" in resolving the crisis after former president Mohamed Nasheed took refuge at the Indian High Commission in Male.
Male/New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) A court in Male Wednesday cancelled the trial hearing of former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed after police were unable to present him to judicial authorities due to his presence in the Indian High Commission since Feb 13.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) An Indian delegation left for Male amid strained ties with the Maldives after deposed president Mohamed Nhasheed took refuge in the Indian mission there.
Agra, Feb 20 (IANS) The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) is organising a SAARC festival of literature in this Taj city March 10-11.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The BJP Wednesday indicated it wanted parliament to run peacefully, but said the row over Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's "Hindu terror" remark must first be resolved.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) A four-member team of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) left for Male Wednesday to "engage with all stakeholders" following the second arrest warrant issued against former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, who is staying in the Indian High Commission since Feb 13.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) India Tuesday voiced its "very serious concerns" over the bribery allegations in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal during talks between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here as Britain assured it would act on any request for information.
Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) The US State Department's TechCamp was launched in Mumbai Tuesday with an aim to build digital literacy for NGOs, an official statement said.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) India and Britain Tuesday decided to launch negotiations on a civil nuclear agreement and boost trade as visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held wide-ranging talks on a wide gamut of issues, including regional and global issues.
New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) Former Indian Army chief General (retd.) V.K. Singh Saturday said the army will never carry out a coup; it will only defend the nation.
New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) India is not keen to meddle in what is considers the internal affairs of the Maldives, where former president Mohamed Nasheed has taken refuge in the Indian mission, an event that has thrown the Indian Ocean archipelago and its political jousting in the Indian media spotlight and international attention once again.
New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) India denied Friday that it was interfering in the internal affairs of the Maldives, where former president Mohamed Nasheed has taken refuge in the Indian mission.
New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) Amid reports that its high commission website has been hacked, India Friday denied it was trying to comment on the internal situation in the Maldives with its strong statement in the wake of former president Mohamed Nasheed seeking refuge in its mission in Male.
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Thursday spoke to his Maldivian counterpart on the emerging political crisis in the atoll nation after former president Mohamed Nasheed took "refuge" at the Indian High Commission in Male.
Male, Feb 14 (IANS) Maldivian President Mohammed Waheed Hassan must quit and an interim, caretaker government should be set up, former president Mohamed Nasheed demanded Thursday.
Male, Feb 13 (IANS) The political crisis in the Maldives took a dramatic twist when former president Mohamed Nasheed, ousted a year ago amid street violence, Wednesday took refuge in the Indian High Commission here.
Male, Feb 13 (IANS) Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, who once held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight dangers to island-nations from global warming, took refuge at the Indian High Commission here Wednesday after a court ordered his arrest.
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) India Wednesday expressed concern over the "ongoing political instability" in the Maldives and said it was in touch with authorities there after former president Mohamed Nasheed took refuge in the Indian high commission in Male.
Male, Feb 13 (IANS) Mohamed Nasheed, a former president who once held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight dangers to island-nations from global warming, took refuge at the Indian High Commission here Tuesday after a court ordered his arrest.
Males, Feb 13 (IANS) There is "no point" of Mohamed Nasheed being at the Indian High Commission, said a senior Maldives minister who assured that "everything is under control" in his country.
Male, Feb 13 (IANS) Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed who took refuge in the Indian embassy in Male Tuesday witnessed a major change of fortune in his political career with the start of 2012.
Male, Feb 13 (IANS) Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, who once held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight global warming, took refuge at the Indian High Commission here Tuesday after a court issued an arrest order for his failing to attend a hearing in the illegal detention of a judge.
Male, Feb 13 (IANS) Mohamed Nasheed, who stepped down as the president of the Maldives last year and Tuesday took refuge at the Indian High Commission here, hit the world headlines four years ago when he held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight global warming and the threat to his atoll nation.
London, Feb 13 (IANS) Maldives opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed has "done a Julian Assange", said WikiLeaks on Twitter after the former president took refuge at the Indian High Commission in Male.
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday expressed serious concern over the situation in Maldives with senior party leader Sushma Swaraj speaking to National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon on the issue.
Male, Feb. 13 (ANI): Former President of Maldives, Mohammed Nasheed took refuge inside the Indian High Commission in Male on Wednesday, after a court issued an arrest warrant against him.
Male, Feb 13 (IANS) Mohamed Nasheed, who was forced to step down as president of Maldives last year, took refuge at the Indian High Commission here Tuesday after a court issued an arrest order for his failing to attend a hearing in the illegal detention of a judge.
New Delhi/Male, Feb.13 (ANI): Indian Naval Ship 'Kalpeni' is in the Maldives on a five-day joint exercise with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard.
New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) India has taken up "quite strongly" with Maldives the rape of an Indian woman and has been assured of action by its government, an official said Tuesday.
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The central government will ask the Medical Council of India (MCI) to ensure that under-graduate and post-graduate medical curriculum includes autism, a development disorder in children, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Monday.
London, Feb 10 (IANS) The photographs taken by people on a holiday helped scientists track the movements of giant endangered sharks in the Indian Ocean.
New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) With cases of autism showing a significant increase, experts from India, Bangladesh, Thailand and eight other southeast Asian countries will deliberate to identify common challenges.
Male, Feb 7 (IANS) The Maldivian Elections Commission Thursday said presidential elections in the island will be held Sep 7 this year.
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) In their bid to prepare for the Asian Football Confederations (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers, Pakistan's national football team will be playing international friendlies against Nepal and Maldives.
Colombo, Feb 5 (IANS) Christopher Van Hollen, a former US ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, has passed away.
Male, Jan 31 (IANS) The US announced here Thursday that it will assist the Maldives to boost its maritime security.
New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS) Forum of heads of poll bodies of SAARC countries will link their websites to facilitate faster connectivity, coordination and exchange of information, an official said Wednesday.
London, Jan 30 (ANI): Going on a holiday can make you happier and you feel more energy for at least two weeks after you are back, a new study suggests.
Male, Jan.29 (ANI): Maldives Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla has admitted that relations between India and Maldives have deteriorated following the premature cancellation of the GMR airport development contract.
Male, Jan.29 (ANI): The Maldives Government has agreed to conditions proposed by India to relax the clamp on the free on arrival visa granted to Maldivians to visit India.
London, Jan 26 (ANI): Dubai could soon become home to the world's largest underwater hotel.
Islamabad, Jan 25 (IANS) Pakistan's national basketball team has returned home after clinching the silver medal in the second South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) Championship in Dhaka.
Dhaka, Jan 22 (IANS) Bangladesh clinched the South Asian Basketball Association championship defeating the Maldives 69-54 in the final at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium here.
Male/New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) Two Indian naval ships were cruising about 40 km off the Maldives coast on the morning of Feb 7, 2012, hours before then president Mohamed Nasheed was ousted from power. But he decided not to seek India's intervention, a Maldivian newspaper reported.
Colombo, Jan 19 (IANS) Three top US officials will visit Sri Lanka and the Maldives next week amidst concerns of a breakdown in democracy in both countries, the US embassy here said Saturday.
Islamabad, Jan 1 (IANS) Pakistan was the most volatile region for media persons in south Asia in 2012, with 13 journalists losing their lives during the year, a report said.
Los Angeles, Dec 31 (IANS) Singer Rochelle Humes showed off her little baby bump as she posted a picture of herself in a bikini.
Los Angeles, Dec 29 (IANS) The Beckham family had to cut short their 250,000 pounds-worth Christmas break in Maldives due to incessant rain.
London, Dec 25 (IANS) Footballer David Beckham has taken his family to an expensive holiday to Maldive islands.
London, December 24 (ANI): David Beckham is blowing 250,000 pounds taking his family on a Christmas break to tropical paradise.
New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) During his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had raised the matter of the Maldives scrapping an airport deal with GMR, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Friday.
Lucknow, Dec 20 (IANS) In September, a Hyderabadi named P.V. Sindhu created waves in the badminton circuit by defeating reigning Olympic champion and World No.1 Li Xuerui of China in her own backyard at the China Open Super Series.
London, Dec 18 (ANI): Human rights investigators have accused Maldives police force that have been trained by British police officers, (MPS) of serious, repeated civil rights abuses against pro-democracy protesters, opposition MPs and journalists.
New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) India stands steadfast for integration among the SAARC countries, but is clear that "non-economic considerations" should not be allowed to affect the functioning of commercial entities in each other's countries, said Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai here Monday.
