LocationA group of islands in the Indian Ocean, 500km (300 miles) southwest of the southern tip of India.
Area298 sq km (115 sq miles).
Population338,000 (UN, 2005).
Population Density1134 per sq km.
CapitalMalé.
Population: 70,000 (2005).
GovernmentRepublic since 1965. Gained independence from the UK in 1965.
Recent history: Islam is a central feature of the country’s life and is now supervised by a Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, working under direct
presidential control. With no formal political parties, the Maldives’ politics are personality based; no credible threat to President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has emerged in the 25 years during which he has held power, not least because dissent is firmly repressed by Gayoom’s security forces. The only overt sign of discontent in recent years came in September 2003 when the death of several prisoners sparked riots in the capital. Nonetheless, after the riots were quelled, Gayoom – underpinned by his reputation for good economic management – went on to secure a record sixth term of office at the presidential poll in November 2003.
Under the revised constitution which came into effect in 1998, the legislature, or
Majlis, has 48 members. Of these, 40 are directly elected for a five-year term in multi-seat constituencies, and the remaining eight are Presidential appointees. The president holds executive power assisted by an appointed ministerial cabinet. Outside the capital, however, considerable power is exercised by the atoll chiefs (Atholhu Verins), who are appointed by the president.
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, re-elected 2003.
TelephoneCountry code: 960.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Handsets can by hired by the day.
InternetThe Internet can be accessed from most areas of the Maldives. Malé, the capital, has an Internet cafe and almost all resorts facilitate the sending and receiving of e-mails.
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 (website:
www.aafathisnews.com.mv),
Haveeru Daily (website:
www.haveeru.com.mv) and
Miadhu News (website:
www.miadhu.com) have English sections.
• Information about local events is widely available on all the resort islands.
Radio• The government decided in 2005 to allow license applications from would-be private radio broadcasters.
• The government controls the state radio station
Voice of Maldives.
• Radio Eke is also state owned.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Islamic New Year.
31 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
21 Apr National Day.
22 Apr The Day Maldives Embraced Islam (forwarded from 21 Apr).
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
13 Sep Ramadan begins.
13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
20 Dec Hajj Day.
20 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
10 Jan Islamic New Year.
20 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
Apr* The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
27 Apr National Day.
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
2 Sep Ramadan begins.
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
Dec* Hajj Day.
9 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
29 Dec Islamic New Year.
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.
*TBC
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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