|
|
|
| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Republic of Maldives : Flattest country in the world What would your reaction be, if someone tells you that your country is sinking and most likely to be wiped off from the map eventually? Well, the people of Maldives are actually facing this critical situation. However, reports say the sea level has actually lowered in recent decades. The Republic of Maldives is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls (islands). It is located in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India, about 700 kilometres south-west of Sri Lanka. The 26 atolls cover an area featuring 1,192 islands, roughly 200 of which are inhabited by people. It is believed that the country's name stands for the "Palace" or "Mountain Islands", or it might mean "a thousand islands". The islands came under colonial rule later with the Portuguese arriving in 1558, the Dutch in 1654, and the British in 1796. In 1965, Maldives declared its independence from Britain, and in 1968, the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic. The Maldivian ethnic identity is a blend of the cultures of the peoples who settled on the islands, reinforced (strengthened) by religion and language. The earliest settlers were probably from southern India. Those who spoke Indo-European followed them from Sri Lanka in the fourth and fifth centuries BC. In the 12th century AD, sailors from East Africa and Arab countries came to the islands. Originally Buddhists, Maldivians were converted to Sunni Islam in the mid-12th century. Islam is the official religion of the entire population. Strict adherence to Islamic precepts and close community relationships have helped keep crime low and under control. The official and common language is Divehi, an Indo-European language related to Sinhala, the majority language of Sri Lanka. The written script is called Thaana and is written from right to left. English is used widely in commerce and increasingly as the medium of instruction in government schools. Different social levels exist on the islands. This structure is not rigid, since rank is based on varied factors, including occupation, wealth, Islamic virtue, and family ties. Members of the social elite (upper classes) are concentrated in Male,. Outside the service industry, this is the only location where the foreign and domestic populations are likely to interact. The tourist resorts are not on islands where the natives live, and casual contacts between the two groups are discouraged. Maldivian culture is derived from a number of sources, among them, its proximity to Sri Lanka and South India, its conversion to Islam in the 12th century, and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian Ocean. Most Maldivians are of Sri Lankan and Southern Indian origin, although there are elements of Arabian, African, and Indonesian origins as well. Maldivian culture shares many aspects with Sri Lanka and Kerala, namely a strong matriarchal (female headed) tradition. The Maldives is an almost exclusively Islamic society.Islam was introduced in 1153. It is common to hear Maldivians refer to their country as a "100 per cent Muslim country". The isolation (separation) of Maldives from the historical centres of Islam in the Middle East and Asia has allowed some pre-Islamic beliefs and attitudes to survive. There is a widespread belief in jinns, or evil spirits. For protection against such evils, people often resort to various charms and spells. The extent of these beliefs has led some observers to identify a magico-religious system parallel to Islam known as fanditha, which provides a more personal way for the islanders to deal with either actual or perceived problems in their lives. This country is without much natural resources, but development of tourism has fostered the growth of its economy. Today, tourism is the country's biggest foreign exchange earner. The flag of the Republic of Maldives is red with a large green rectangle in the centre bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag. It is the official and most commonly used symbol of the Maldives and was adopted on July 25, 1965. The Maldives holds the record for being the flattest country in the world, with a maximum altitude of only 2.3 metres. A tsunami in the Indian Ocean caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake caused parts of Maldives to be covered by sea water and left many people homeless. After the disaster, cartographers are planning to redraw the maps of the islands due to alterations caused by the tsunami. The people and the government are worried that Maldives would be wiped out from the map eventually. Capital City: Male Independence Day: July 26, 1965 (from UK) Government type: Republic Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials Religion: Sunni Muslim Population: 339,330 Made up of Sinhalese, Dravidians, Arabs and Africans Currency: Rufiyaa (MVR) |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
