A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
All grilled: Sushma Swaraj, M.J. Akbar and S. Jaishankar attended the meeting on December 21. NEW DELHI: Despite the recent Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement and moves by the Yameen government favouring Chinese investment, the Modi government says it remains firmly committed to its “Neighbours First” policy and has bolstered defence cooperation with Male in the […]
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Sunday described neighbours India as Maldives’ closest ally appealing for restraint in criticism and asking to not engage in negativity towards India, especially in the media. Speaking after inaugurating a new harbour in Noonu Atoll Velidhoo island, president Yameen reiterated that his government would never entertain negative sentiments towards […]
In 1884, real estate magnate John Jacob Astor IV purchased what was then the largest yacht in the world. He named it Nourmahal—shortened to Norma—after the heroine in a Thomas Moore poem; he eventually passed it down to his son, and later it was loaned to the U.S. Navy during World War I. In honor […]
President Abdullah Yameen has attempted ease the tense ties between India and the Maldives, stating that India is the closest nation to the Maldives. This is the first time recently, where President Yameen had addressed the bilateral relations between the two nations. Speaking in the gathering in Velidhoo island in Noonu Atoll, President Yameen chose […]
Six Sri Lankan fishermen whose fishing craft met with an accident in the deep seas of the Maldives are found to be safe. A wife of one of those fishermen told ‘Hiru News’ that the fishermen are now in an island there. The fishing craft ‘Lakpriya 1’ had left the island from Beruwala Fisheries Harbour […]
Ambassador facing travel restrictions New Delhi appears to be weighing diplomatic options after Male reportedly placed restrictions on the movement of the Indian Ambassador to the Maldives. Asked to comment on reports that travel restrictions had been imposed on the Indian High Commissioner, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said, “I don’t think […]
Snowbirds and bon vivants rejoice! The Grand Park Kodhipparu in the glistening South Asian archipelago of the Maldives has opened its doors this month—just in time for you to book your much-needed winter getaway. The nature-centric resort features 120 luxury villas and overwater bungalows brought to life by renowned hospitality interior design firm Hirsch Bedner […]
The Commercial Bank of Maldives (CBM), a subsidiary of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, recently opened its second branch in the Maldives, a little over a year since it commenced operations in the archipelago. The new branch is located in Hulhumalé, the reclaimed island that is connected by road to the airport island of […]
It’s confirmed now – the government of Maldives, headed by President Yameen Abdul Gayoom, has restricted the movements of Indian High Commissioner in Maldives, Akhilesh Mishra. Maldives’ Local Government Authority had issued an order on 11 December, saying that “all” foreign diplomats posted in the Maldives would henceforth require a prior approval of the home […]