First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has stated Maldivians must consider their history as a matter of national importance and work actively to protect and study it if the country is to preserve its identity.

The First Lady made these remarks at the awarding ceremony of the Signature Research Scholarship in the field of heritage studies, where 40 scholarships in Maldivian culture and heritage were presented.

She said the Government’s scholarship programme for heritage research is a significant step towards safeguarding the country’s history and heritage, while also helping to build a generation that loves and values the Maldives.

The First Lady expressed concern that although the Maldives has a rich historical legacy, many heritage sites and cultural assets have been lost or destroyed over the years. She noted that this includes both tangible and intangible heritage, such as ancient stories, traditions and historic structures including mosques.

She added that the Maldivian language is also being affected as people increasingly shift towards foreign languages, leading to a weakening understanding of the nation’s history and heritage. She questioned whether the sense of importance and responsibility toward preserving these values is being felt strongly enough.

First Lady Sajidha highlighted the need for more work to document and research Maldivian religion, culture, customs and history, and said the positive qualities of Maldivian people, including their skills, hard work and character, should be meaningfully passed on to future generations.

She stated that the country needs generations who are self-reliant, passionate and patriotic, and emphasised the importance of reviving Islamic values and the Maldives’ traditional customs as part of this effort.