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
Actor Sonakshi Sinha recently went to Maldives and came back completely rejuvenated. In her 4 days trip to Maldives she came back with some 400 pictures which shows how much she loves to travel and capture the exotic places.
India to host 5th Meeting of SAARC Health Ministers. Deliberations to strengthen collaboration among SAARC countries
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) SAARC countries Wednesday adopted a charter for mutual cooperation and set up a forum that will enhance capabilities to conduct free and fair elections.
Ads
Dallas, Apr 30 (ANI): The U.S. based South Asia Democracy Watch (SADeW) has termed the recent conviction of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as an attempt to derail the current democratic process in the country as part of the institutional power struggle.
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Paid news, a recent challenge thrown up before the Election Commission, is a "clandestine deal" between politicians and journalists, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said here Monday.
Male, Apr 28 (ANI): Ousted president Mohamed Nasheed has claimed that the Maldives, which has been hailed for it's democracy, has now taken a nosedive, and he is now looking for international help to sort out the worsening situation in the country.
New York, April 27 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been elected to the executive board of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women or UN Women for a three-year term.
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The Election Commission of India will host the third Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries from April 30 to May 2 here.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) India, Sri Lanka and Maldives have embarked on a five-day maritime exercise off the Maldivian coast to strengthen the capabilities of their coast guards to prevent criminal activities, poaching and piracy in their waters and beyond.
New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) The World Health Organisation (WHO), which is observing the year of intensification of routine immunisation in Southeast Asia, has said the region will adopt a more aggressive strategy to address the issue of low immunisation.
Male, April 19 (Xinhua-ANI): The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) raised strong objections on Thursday over the announcement that presidential elections will be held in July 2013 and not this year.
New Delhi, Apr 18 (ANI): Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday condemned the dictatorship of Islamic radicals, who have penetrated deep into the system of his country's governance.
New Delhi, April 18: Expressing unhappiness over the role of the Indian High Commission officials in Maldives, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday said he was shocked to see how quickly the Indian government recognized the new government.
New Delhi, April 18 (Xinhua-ANI): Ousted Maldivian President Mohammad Nasheed, who is in India on a six-day visit, has said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday as part of his efforts to prove he is the rightful leader of the archipelago nation.
New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed Wednesday claimed he had an opportunity to carry out "a counter-coup" against the present dispensation under Mohamed Waheed with the help from some military officers but rejected it due to his strong democratic roots.
Male, April 18 (IANS) The Maldivian government Wednesday proposed a presidential election in July 2013, three months prior to the earlier schedule.
Male, April 14 (ANI): The Maldives opposition has expressed confidence of a free and fair poll, as voting got underway today for by-elections.
London, Apr 12(ANI): England fast bowler Tim Bresnan, who is currently in the Maldives for his wedding, had to sit tight and hope that the tsunami didn't reach Maldives after news of the earthquake in Indonesia.
Jakarta, Apr 11 (ANI): A massive 8.7 earthquake has struck off the western coast of Indonesia triggering fears of a "devastating" tsunami.
New Delhi/Hong Kong, April 11 (IANS) Many states along India's east coast felt tremors as a high intensity earthquake rocked Sumatra Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. A tsunami warning has been issued in India and 27 other countries
Hong Kong, April 11 (IANS) A tsunami alert has been sounded in 28 places across the world, including India, after a massive earthquake rocked Indonesia Wednesday.
New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) With the political deadlock persisting in the Maldives, ousted president Mohamed 'Anni' Nasheed comes to India next week to seek New Delhi's diplomatic push for early elections in his picture-pretty Indian Ocean island country.
Colombo, April 7 (IANS) The US is in touch with India over the situation in the Maldives, a US embassy official has said.
Beijing, April 5 (IANS) China is going to open its Xisha Islands to tourists in a bid to reassert its sovereignty over a scattering of islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
New Delhi/Male, April 3 (IANS) India Tuesday conveyed to the Maldives the need for pushing reconciliation in the archipelago nation even as Male announced that President Mohammed Waheed Hasan will be coming to New Delhi next month.
New Delhi/Male, April 3 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday held talks with his Maldivian counterpart Abdul Samad Abdulla here as the Maldives government announced that President Mohammed Waheed Hasan will be coming to New Delhi next month.
New Delhi, Apr. 2 (ANI): Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla will meets his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna here on Tuesday.
New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) With the political flux continuing in the Maldives, India is gearing up to hear two contrasting views on the situation in the the Indian Ocean island from Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla Tuesday and ousted president Mohamed Nasheed later this month.
New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) With nearly eight percent of southeast Asia's population above the age of 60 years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Monday said it will draw global attention to ageing to highlight it as a rapidly emerging priority that most countries in the region have yet to address adequately.
New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Nearly two months after a sudden transfer of power in the Indian Ocean atoll nation, Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla arrived here Monday on his first visit abroad to intensify consultations with India on the situation in his country.
Seoul, Mar 27 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yuusuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh have expressed their desire to intensify the bilateral dialogue process for further engagements during their informal meeting on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea.
Seoul, March 27 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani met here Tuesday and said the two countries had charted the right path to resolve their issues and decided to intensify dialogue.
Male, Mar 14 (ANI): Maldivian President Waheed Hassan is facing opposition from his brother, who has accused him of seizing power through "an illegal coup" in February.
Male, Mar 14 (ANI): Maldivian President Waheed Hassan is facing opposition from his brother, who has accused him of seizing power through "an illegal coup" in February.
Islamabad, Mar 3 (ANI): The United States had its Special Forces in India and is working with the Indians to contain the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a senior American military official told a congressional panel.
Islamabad, Mar 3 (ANI): The United States had its Special Forces in India and is working with the Indians to contain the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a senior American military official told a congressional panel.
New Delhi, Feb 29 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai returned here today after a three-day visit to Maldives to take forward the political process and continue India's engagement with all parties concerned.
New Delhi, Feb 29 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai returned here today after a three-day visit to Maldives to take forward the political process and continue India's engagement with all parties concerned.
Male, Feb.13 (ANI): Maldivians have reportedly expressed alarm over the destruction of several historical and priceless Buddhist artifacts on exhibit at the country's National Museum.
Male, Feb 13(ANI): The Maldives are suffering from the effects of the brutal police repression.
Male, Feb 12(ANI): A senior U.S. official has said that both Maldives President Mohammed Waheed Hassan and his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed should avoid violence in the stand- off for control of the Maldives' government.
Male, Feb 12(ANI): Commonwealth officials have said they will hold talks on a stand-off in the Maldives between President Mohammed Waheed Hassan and his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed.
Male, Feb 12(ANI): A senior U.S. official has said that both Maldives President Mohammed Waheed Hassan and his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed should avoid violence in the stand- off for control of the Maldives' government.
Male, Feb 12(ANI): Commonwealth officials have said they will hold talks on a stand-off in the Maldives between President Mohammed Waheed Hassan and his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed.
Male, Feb 11(ANI): The emergence of hard-line Islam in the Maldives, a relatively new development for the country, has sparked off concerns in India that it could be used as a potential base for Islamist militants.
Male, Feb.11 (ANI): Maldivian President, Mohammed Waheed on Saturday ruled out the possibility of early polls in the country.
New Delhi, Feb 10 (ANI): High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to India Abdul Azeez Yoosuf has said that situation in Maldives has not reached the point that there should be any worry about the safety of Indians.
New Delhi, Feb 10 (ANI): Terming the political crisis in The Maldives as its internal matter, the Indian Government on Friday ruled out intervening militarily to normalize the situation in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
New Delhi, Feb 10 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Friday said India favoured peaceful settlement of political uncertainty in neighbouring Maldives through dialogue among all political entities.
Male, Feb.10 (ANI): Ex-Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed has said he will be approaching the country's Supreme Court for justice following a coup, which he claims was engineered by then Vice-President Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan.
Male, Feb 8(ANI): Ex-Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed revealed on Wednesday that he was forced to resign at gunpoint, and urged his successor Waheed Hassan Manik to also step down.
New Delhi, Feb 8 (ANI): The President of Maldives, Dr. Mohammed Waheed, had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today after taking office during which he reaffirmed the special and close ties that Maldives has with India and said that he was committed to upholding the Constitution of that country and the rule of law.
New Delhi, Feb 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has assured the new President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Waheed of continued support to the Maldivian people and cooperation with the Government of Maldives.
Emphasizing amicable relations with The Maldives, Indian external affairs minister S M Krishna on Tuesday said that he hopes all issues surrounding the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed President of the Maldives will be resolved in a peaceful way.
Kunming (China), Feb 7 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Tuesday said India has friendly relations with The Maldives and expressed hope that all issues surrounding the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed as the President of the country will be resolved in a peaceful manner.
Male, Feb.7 (ANI): A coup has reportedly been launched in the The Maldives by the opposition and rogue elements of the police.
New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): Stating that the decision of President Mohamed Nasheed to resign in favour of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed is an internal matter of Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said New Delhi hopes that all issues will be resolved in a peaceful and democratic manner.
New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): India on Tuesday ruled out meddling in the internal matters of The Maldives after President Mohamed Nasheed resigned in favour of a national unity government under the leadership of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan until next year's presidential election.
New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): India on Tuesday ruled out meddling in the internal matters of The Maldives after President Mohamed Nasheed resigned in favour of a national unity government under the leadership of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan until next year's presidential election.
Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Tuesday announced to resign from his post amid huge mounting pressure. He was facing the protest demonstration from across the country after giving the order to arrest the Chief Justice.....
New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): Stating that the decision of President Mohamed Nasheed to resign in favour of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed is an internal matter of Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said New Delhi hopes that all issues will be resolved in a peaceful and democratic manner.
New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): Stating that the decision of President Mohamed Nasheed to resign in favour of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed is an internal matter of Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said New Delhi hopes that all issues will be resolved in a peaceful and democratic manner.
Male, Feb.7 (ANI): A coup has reportedly been launched in the The Maldives by the opposition and rogue elements of the police.
Colombo, Jan 23 (ANI): Sri Lanka has ordered a group of 161 foreign Islamic clerics, including Indians, to leave the country for flouting visa regulations.
Islamabad, Jan 19(ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that recent meetings between Pakistan and India have helped reduce the trust deficit between the two sides.
Islamabad, Jan 19(ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that recent meetings between Pakistan and India have helped reduce the trust deficit between the two sides.
London, Jan 16 (ANI): In newly-released pictures from her recent holiday in the Maldives, Tamara Ecclestone looks tanned and toned as she wades in the crystal-clear water in a revealing Missoni bikini.
London, Jan 16 (ANI): In newly-released pictures from her recent holiday in the Maldives, Tamara Ecclestone looks tanned and toned as she wades in the crystal-clear water in a revealing Missoni bikini.
