LocationA group of islands in the Indian Ocean, 500km (300 miles) southwest of the southern tip of India.
Area298 sq km (115 sq miles).
Population370,000 (CIA estimate 2007).
Population Density1,242 per sq km.
CapitalMalé.
Population: 83,000 (UN estimate 2003).
GovernmentRepublic since 1965. Gained independence from the UK in 1965.
LanguageThe national language is Dhivehi. English is widely used as a business language in government offices and the commercial
sector. Other languages are widely used within tourist areas.
ReligionThe indigenous population is almost entirely Sunni Muslim.
TimeGMT + 5.
Electricity230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round-pin plugs are used, although square-pin plugs are now becoming more common.
Head of StatePresident Maumoon Abdul Gayoom since 1978.
Recent HistoryPresident Gayoom is Asia’s longest-serving leader, re-elected for a record sixth five-year term in 2003, having first taken office in 1978. The Maldives has been relatively stable under his rule, despite attempted coups in the 1980s. Human rights groups accused Gayoom of running an autocratic state and anti-government violence flared in the streets.
The Maldives was hit by the December 2004 Asian tsunami. Homes and resorts were destroyed, and a major rebuilding program was consequently put into place.
The country aims to hold its first multiparty elections by the end of 2008.
TelephoneCountry code: 960.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent throughout the islands. Handsets can be hired by the day.
InternetThe Internet can be accessed from most areas of the Maldives. Malé, the capital, has several Internet cafes and almost all resorts have Internet connections.
MediaCriticism of the state is limited, and the government occasionally closes media outlets for this reason. Self-regulation by the media has meant that there has been only isolated official action against journalists.
PostAirmail to Western Europe takes about one week.
Post office hours: Sat-Thurs 0730-1330 and 1600-1750.
Press• Local dailies which publish in the Dhivehi language have some English-language pages and concentrate on local and regional topics.
• The Maldives News Bulletin is published weekly in English.
• The other dailies
Aafathis Daily News,
Haveeru Daily and
Miadhu News have English sections.
• Information about local events is widely available on all the resort islands.
Radio• The government controls the state radio station
Voice of Maldives.
• Radio Eke is also state owned.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
26 Feb National Day.
9 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
29 Mar The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
22 Aug Ramadan begins.
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
26 Nov Hajj Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
18 Dec Islamic New Year.
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
26 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
Feb/Mar* National Day.
Mar/Apr* The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
11 Aug Ramadan begins.
10 Sep Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Nov/Dec* Hajj Day.
7 Dec Islamic New Year.
* Date to be confirmed.
NoteMuslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on drinking in public places. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself, although this is generally unlikely to affect life on the resort islands. Eid al-Fitr and Eid el-Kebir may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.
Contact Information:Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB)3rd Floor, H. Aage 12, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Malé, Republic of Maldives
Tel: 323 228.
Website:
www.visitmaldives.com.
High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in the UK22 Nottingham Place, London W1U 5NJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7224 2135.
Website:
www.maldiveshighcommission.orgOpening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700.
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations in the USA800 Second Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 599 6194/5.
Website:
www.un.int/maldives
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