Government working to restore Maldivian nationalism to its rightful place: Heena

This government is working diligently to restore Maldivian nationalism to its rightful place, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Walid said on Saturday evening.

She made the remarks at the official ceremony held to mark the 900th anniversary of the Maldives’ conversion to Islam.

Heena extended her greetings to the Maldivian people on the occasion, describing the day King Dharumavantha laid the foundations of an Islamic state as the most significant and defining moment in the long history of the Maldives.

Reflecting on the transformation that followed the nation’s conversion to Islam in Rabi-ul-Aakhir 548 AH, Heena said the shift brought major positive changes to Maldivian society, introducing good practices, ending harmful ones, and shaping a distinctly Islamic Maldivian culture.

ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ އިސްލާމްވިތާ 900 އަހަރު ފުރުމުގެ މުނާސަބަތުގައި ބާއްވާ ރަސްމީ ޖަލްސާގެ ތެރެއިން.
މިޖަލްސާގައި މަރުޙަބާއާއި ޝުކުރު ދެންނެވީ ފަންނާއި ސަގާފަތާއި ތަރިކައާ ބެހޭ ވަޒީރު ހީނާ ވަލީދު. pic.twitter.com/0yUSzd1tsf

— Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage (@MoDLCH) September 12, 2026

“An Islamic Maldivian culture was born and developed in this country. It has positively influenced our thinking and our language. These changes clearly show that Islam is the foundation of Maldivian nationalism,” she said.

Heena added that archaeological studies and historical findings continue to affirm that the Maldives is an ancient civilisation thousands of years old, and that the positive changes brought by Islam in the beliefs and lives of Maldivians remain evident today.

The minister said further research is essential to preserve Maldivian identity, and noted that the government is implementing special programmes to build a capable generation of Maldivians who can undertake such work.